Winter in Central Ohio is in full force. The last week of January 2026 was one for the books. Schools across counties were closed for the week as snow covered the streets and temperatures plummeted below zero. Many children were undoubtedly thrilled while parents, on the other hand, had to figure out what to do with them. Schools and some businesses closed, but many parents still had to go to work. Parents who work from home had to do so while also managing the children. Stay-at-home parents had to pivot their schedules to account for the extra time with the kids. Every parent out there is affected by snow days, and the more they happen, the trickier life becomes. At A Grade Ahead, we are here to help! Join us in reading this article where we explore why snow days are difficult and how to cope with them.
Maintain a Routine
Growing up in Central Ohio, I personally remember spending snowy evenings staring at the TV monitoring the local weather. I anxiously awaited my district to be listed among the school closures scrolling at the bottom of the screen. Now that I have kids of my own, I dread finding out that schools are closed. For a parent of school-aged children, nothing throws a wrench in the plan like receiving a message about “inclement weather.” Parents’ schedules and kids’ daily routine come to a screeching halt.
It is very easy for snow days to turn into lazy days laced with low productivity. I am personally guilty of allowing my kids to stay up late and sleep in when snow days happen. I am also guilty of sleeping in when I don’t have to accompany my youngest to the bus stop. Eventually I start my day while the children gravitate to their tablets and couch-life. The other week, after a couple back-to-back snow days, it became clear this is not the best way to operate. Upon realizing that whole week would be cancelled, I desperately missed the routine of school days.
Adjust to the Situation
My husband and I both work from home, so we did not have to plan for childcare. Our daily routine, however, was still disrupted. To create normalcy, I focused on the tasks I needed to get done and planned for my children accordingly. When I was working from home, I told the kids to work on their schoolwork. After work, I did chores around the house, and I made the kids help. At lunch time, we all ate together at the table. If I had an errand to run, I brought the kids along. Since the kids’ routine was gone, I created one for them. This improved my mood and theirs as well.
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Prevent Cabin Fever
Another drawback of snow days is cabin fever: the detrimental effects of staying inside for an extended period. That last week of January was full of weather advisories warning Ohioans to stay inside. The level 3 snow emergencies in several counties forbid non-emergency vehicles from driving on the road. When we stay cooped up inside for several days, we miss going outside.
To avoid cabin fever, I went outside at least once every day, and I encouraged my kids to do the same. Living in Central Ohio, we always invest in winter weather gear. My husband and I make our kids bundle up and play in the snow. With the right attire, physical movement, and proper supervision, kids can have a great time playing outside in wintertime.
I also got my kids out of the house by bringing them on errands. Once the roads were safe, we drove to the store. I had my third grader help with our grocery trip. She had a blast! She practiced writing and reading skills by creating and managing a shopping list. As we shopped, she even brought a clipboard with the list she made to check off items. She got some physical activity by pushing the cart around the store, and she helped bag items at the checkout. It felt great to leave the house, complete an errand, and educate my child all at once. Involving children in day-to-day errands is a great way to combat cabin fever.
Avoid Learning Setbacks
As I just mentioned, I was thrilled to incorporate learning into my child’s snow day. Parents as well as teachers know that back-to-back snow days can disrupt learning. Since they are not physically in school, it is difficult for children to study. Motivating your child to do schoolwork on a snow day can be frustrating. As with any break from school, snow days can cause students to fall behind.
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When several snow days occur in a row, it is important for parents to communicate with teachers. Parents with children in elementary school should pay attention to emails and school webapps for messages from teachers. Most teachers are happy to assign optional work for their students or suggest at-home learning activities. In many school districts, kids in middle school and high school can communicate with their teachers. Middle-schoolers and high-schoolers can vary greatly when it comes to independence with schoolwork. If your child struggles to communicate with teachers or understand assignments, it’s a good idea to help them out. Be sure to monitor your child’s activity to prevent them from missing assignments.
Have a Backup
Apart from what teachers may assign, there are simple ways parents can keep kids learning on snow days. My personal favorite go-to assignments are silent reading and math-fact fluency practice. Parents should encourage their children to read for at least twenty minutes a day. Encourage your child to choose a book or magazine they enjoy. This is a great way to foster a love of reading. For math, a simple activity for elementary aged children is flashcard practice. Children in grades 1-2 may practice addition and subtraction while children in upper-elementary can practice multiplication and division. Some children love flashcards, while others find them tedious. You can always spice up flashcard practice by turning it into a game like memory match, math war, or a scavenger hunt. Reading books and practicing math facts are two effective activities to keep children’s minds engaged on snow days.
Winter of 2026 is proving to be very wintry indeed! At A Grade Ahead, we are ready to help your children stay on task this season and all year. Do you live in an area affected by severe winter weather? What are some ways your family copes with snow days? We would love to hear from you in the comments below!
Author: Amanda Hutson, Curriculum Assistant at A Grade Ahead
