I’m on the hunt for some fun things to do with kids on snowy days. Here are a few things I’ve found

Snow Cream
Put a bowl out night before snow. Mix into bowl of fresh snow one can evaporated milk, 2 tbsp vanilla extract, 1 cup sugar (can also add choc syrup or any other thing for that matter). Eat immediately! (Thanks Trish!)

Slippery Tug-of-War
Everybody grabs their saucer sleds and divides into two sides. Take hold of either end of a long rope and pull. Try to pull your opponents over to your side without sliding toward them.

Snow Shapes
Wet, dense snow is like sand, in that it can be formed into shapes. Bring out your sandbox toys, buckets, Tupperware containers and other molds and make a snow castle or anything else your imagination comes up with.

Snow Bodies
Lie on the ground and form a snowman shape around you. Then try a mermaid’s tail, an angel with wings, a butterfly and other characters. Make sure your kids are bundled up well for this one!

Snow Paint
Make some homemade snow paint using water and food coloring, fill some spray bottles and let your children express their artistic sides in the snow. With a sharp stream on the spray bottle or in a squeeze bottle, kids can write their names in the snow or make a large message in the yard

Take a nature walk
In a nearby park or even your backyard. Look for tracks and try to identify what left them. Think of what each animal might be looking for in the snow.

Snowball Fight
Split into teams: adults vs. kids, boys vs. girls, or whatever works for your group of 2 to 20 and build your forts. Then stock on up “ammo” and let the battle begin!

Tree Decorator
Decorate a tree with yummy treats for the neighborhood wildlife. One idea: smear peanut butter over a plain unpainted pine cone, and roll it in bird seed. Hang it in the tree with a bit of yarn.

Snow Lantern
Click on the link below to find out how. It’s awesome!

An easy and delicious dessert for your family and friends.

Ingredients
6 apples (or 6 cups of apple slices)
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
Whipped cream or ice cream

Instructions
To peel an apple safely, your child should hold the fruit in one hand, grip a vegetable peeler in the other, and push the peeler away from himself.

Heat oven to 375 degrees and lightly butter an 8 or 9-inch-square baking pan. Peel, core, and slice the apples and arrange them evenly in the prepared pan.

Place the oats, brown sugar, flour, spices, and salt in a sealable plastic bag, close, and shake until combined. Cut the softened butter into 1-inch pieces and add to the oat mixture. Close the bag again and knead or squeeze until the mixture holds together.

Instead of using a bowl to mix the crumb topping, use a sealable plastic bag. This will cut back on dirty dishes and let young bakers–even preschoolers–lend a hand.

Open the bag and crumble the topping evenly over the apples. Bake the apple crisp for 40 to 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the juices begin to bubble around the edges. Cool slightly, then serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Serves 6.

So many things to do for Valentine’s Day. Here are a few ideas.

1. Make a batch of red play dough. Let your child use it to make pretend heart cookies. (Art)

2. Give your child some small heart candies to count. (Math)

3. Make real heart cookies using ready-made sugar cookie dough. (Cooking)

4. Have your child sign his name on his valentines. (Writing)

5. Show your child how to fold paper in half and cut out simple heart shapes. (Cutting)

6. Help your child read her Valentines. (Reading)

Instructions
1. To make them, cut out the shapes shown from card stock or scrapbooking paper.

2. Glue on photocopied pictures of your child and googly eyes, then add details with marker (we also added a computer printout message to the card at upper right).

For faster assembly, you can make one card, then photocopy it multiple times before adding the eyes.

More messages:
We see eye to eye
Eye think you’re fun
To a good pupil

When leaving the kids at home is NOT an option :)

“Exposing kids to colors, shapes, and textures in the market makes them more open to new tastes” says Bridget Swinney, R.D. author of Baby Bites.

1. Focus on Touch — Have your child hold a big, dimply orange or a fuzzy little kiwi. Ask her to describe how it feels, looks, and smells.

2. Let your child make some noise — Give him a box of pasta to shake, and then point out the difference between regular and whole wheat pasta.

3. Look at labels — Once your preschooler recognizes numbers up to ten, have her pick the cereal with the most fiber (you’ll need to point at the label for her.) Say, “Fiber helps you poop better.”

4. Be a tour guide –Point out all the food aisles, then say, “I like the produce area the best, because fruits and veggies help you grow big and strong.”

5. Offer Choices — Ask if you should buy apples or mangoes for a snack. Also let him pick some new veggies for the family to try.

6. Play the color game — See if your child can find three kinds of purple produce (such as grapes, eggplant, cabbage or potatoes)

7. Try a sample dish — Your child is more likely to eat something if he sees other people lining up for a bite.

8. Check out a local farmer’s market — Most vendors will be happy to talk to kids about their harvest.

9. Take a wiff — Vegetable stands are great places to have your child sniff garlic green onions, cilantro, and mint. Ask him, “Do you think this would make our tuna taste better?”

10. Shapes — Ask your child to find 3 circles, triangles, squares, etc. Looking for shapes everywhere from the produce department to the floor tiles will keep his eyes roaming. Then change to colors.