Most kids love snow, but parents often get stressed out by winter weather. Whenever there is a possibility of snow, sleet, ice, and freezing rain, follow WSET Weather to stay updated.
Find Your Family Snow Day Fun HERE for outdoor snow games, indoor activities, planning snow day fun, crafts and more!
Don't get caught without a plan. Here's 10 ways to prepare for winter weather.
- Charge all devices. Keep your phones, laptops, and other devices charged. If you also have an external charger, make sure it's ready too.
- Gas up your vehicle. Fill up your vehicle with gas before the winter weather hits. During widespread power outages, it may be impossible to find operating gas pumps.
- Watch where you park. Speaking of your vehicle, be sure not to park under a tree. Freezing rain and ice can cause tree limbs to fall.
- Flashlights and batteries ready. Know where your flashlights are and make sure you have working batteries. Camplights are also great for lighting the dark.
- Stock up on non-perishable food and snacks. Make sure you have bread, peanut butter, crackers, fruit, chips, and other simple foods that don't require refrigeration.
- Wash clothes and dishes. Get caught up now on laundry and dishwashing. If you lose power, you'll have clean clothes to wear and clean dishes for meals.
- Check snow gear. Make sure every family member has winter clothing: coat, boots, gloves, and a warm hat that fit. Snow pants or sweatpants are nice for the kids too.
- Have the right tools in the right place. Keep an ice scraper and snow brush inside the house so you can clean off your vehicle more easily. Other essentials include: snow shovel, rock salt or ice melt, sleds or snow tubes. Keep them all in a closet or a corner of your basement. Optional: a big bowl for making snow cream (recipe here)
- Make a childcare plan. Schools may be closed or delayed on any given day. Plan ahead for childcare, especially if you're an essential worker. Here are some childcare tips.
- Plan non-electronic things to do for fun. Playing in the snow is great for a while, but kids will eventually come indoors. Be ready for them with crafts, board games, books, and other indoor fun. Let your child help plan a special snow day meal, with or without power.
**Bonus tip: Buy a bag of ice to store in your freezer if you have space. If not, freeze ice packs and water in paper cups or plastic bags to help keep cold foods cold during sustained power outages. Keep the refrigerator door closed if the power's out. Use a cooler with ice packs to keep cold snacks such as cheese sticks, fruit, and veggies to avoid opening the refrigerator door.**
**If you live in a home served by well water, you'll also want to fill jugs with water and fill your bathtub so you'll have drinking and cooking water as well as water for washing and flushing. Wells are operated with electricity, so you won't have water if you don't have electricity.**
***IMPORTANT*** DO NOT use a grill inside your house! DO NOT warm up inside a car in the garage! Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real thing. Tragically, people die every year when they try to warm up after power outages. Don't do it. Pile on blankets, dress in layers, and stay in one room with doors closed to keep as warm as possible.
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