Brrrrr! Bitter winds are howling. Tiny frozen crystals dance from the cloudy sky. Slippery ice covers every surface. It can only mean one thing: a snow day!
For some, there’s nothing better than building snowmen, making snow angels and waging war in the form of snowball fights. But for others, the winter wonderland puts us in the mind of hibernation! With many schools across the region closed this week for winter weather, we knew this was the perfect time to hear from dads about the joys and challenges of snow days. This week on the Good Dads Blog, we’ve gathered memories and advice from real dads who’ve juggled work and play when school is canceled.
High-Octane Slip-N-Slide
Way before there was such a sport as “drifting” in cars, I would take my teenage sons to a parking lot and do donuts and drift on the ice and snow in our car. We would turn off all the traction control and put it in two-wheel drive, so we would spin and slide for what seemed like hours but was probably ten minutes.
Today both of my sons drive manual transmission cars and feel very confident driving on snow and ice where they live in Colorado. They always comment appreciably on their ice driving lessons—which was really just having a lot of safe fun where we couldn’t hit anything.
I might be the biggest kid! I still can’t resist a little power drift in the snow.
– Jim Towery, entrepreneur and immediate past president, Good Dads board of directors
Virtual Learning with Teens
When my children were young, snow days were all about sledding. Then we’d retreat inside to bake cookies, drink warm coffee and snuggle up with a movie (usually Megamind).
Nowadays snow days look different. School isn’t totally canceled for my three teenagers today, as their teachers have made assignments available online. So, they can’t just sleep all day! (Thankfully they’re awake by now, 11:30 a.m.) Part of snow days for me is figuring out what to feed all these people. I don’t want to risk a trip to the grocery store, so I’ll make do with what we have at home. Waffles and omelets for lunch, it is!
– Todd Dudenhoeffer (World’s Greatest Dad in this author’s opinion)
Sledding & Cocoa
Snow days mean one thing for me: heading to the big hill in our neighborhood for some sledding. Watching my boys race down the hill brings back my own childhood snow day memories in a rush. Coming back inside to warm up with hot chocolate by the fireplace is the perfect way to end it.
– Joshua Wemple, business owner and Good Dads board president
Making the Most of Snow
When our children have been called off school because of snow, I like to incorporate the snow into activities throughout the day. For instance we have snow coloring that the kids use to “paint” in the snow. We also make snow cream, a snow-derived ice cream treat. The kids are tasked with bringing in a couple bowls of clean snow and we assist them in adding in the other ingredients to complete the snow cream.
– D’Markus Thomas-Brown, Good Dads Regional Director, Columbia
Teachers Love Snow Days, Too!
Back in the stone age before virtual learning, snow days were the best. Teachers loved them. We would listen to the radio announcers reading the cancellation lists, hoping to hear our district’s name—just like our students! If the call was made before bedtime the night before, it meant we could sleep in maybe even until 6:00 a.m.!
During the day, we would be able to catch up on paper grading or lesson planning. We could play cards or board games with the kids. If outside conditions allowed it, we would all go out to shovel the snow as a family or maybe build a snowman. Of course, to warm up, hot chocolate and marshmallows were a must!
Snow days were special then because it caused everyone to slow down and pay attention to each other. It meant we could spend time doing things together as a family, even if it was something as simple as eating a bowl of soup and a toasted cheese sandwich.
– Jim Millsap, Good Dads Strong Schools Coordinator
Winter Camp
There’s something magical about a snow day—the kind where the world slows down, wrapped in a thick, white blanket. As I watch my grandchildren sledding down the hill, their laughter echoing through the crisp winter air, I can’t help but be transported back to my own childhood winters in Pennsylvania.
Growing up, snowstorms weren’t just weather events; they were adventures. Some of my favorite memories come from the blizzards that would transform our little world into a wonderland. The moment the flakes started falling, my excitement would build, knowing that soon school would be canceled, and the real fun would begin.
My dad was always the first one outside after a storm, shovel in hand, clearing a path through the towering drifts. But he didn’t just clear snow—he created magic. He built snow forts so sturdy they felt like castles, and igloos with hidden nooks. He could make the perfect snowballs and hurl them an unbelievable distance. His snowmen weren’t just simple figures; they had personality, complete with scarves, hats, and sometimes even a borrowed carrot from the kitchen.
Mom had her own way of making winter special. She taught us the art of making snow angels—flopping back into the untouched snow, waving our arms and legs, and then carefully standing up to admire our icy imprints. She made sure we had warm mittens and hot chocolate waiting for us when we came back inside, our cheeks pink from the cold.
Now, as I stand at the top of the hill, watching my grandchildren race each other to the bottom, I see those same winter joys being passed down. The laughter, the rosy cheeks, the thrill of a perfect sled run—some things never change. And while I may not be the one tumbling through the snow these days, I take just as much joy in watching their adventures unfold.
Snow days will always hold a special place in my heart, a reminder that the simplest moments—indoor gatherings, warm cocoa, and a hill covered in fresh powder—are often the ones we cherish most.
– Benjy Lampert, retired anesthesiologist and Good Dads board member
Are you the type to grab your gloves and rush outside in search of the best sledding hills — or are you more likely to be found under a mountain of blankets with a cup of cocoa during winter weather? We want to hear from you! Share your favorite snowy memories with us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured in a future blog.
