Snowed In Survival Guide: Kansas City
School's canceled. Roads resemble an ice rink. Families are bundled up inside once again as we wait out Kansas City's full-fledged Blizzard. With hyper kids climbing the walls, anxious parents eager for a bit of sunshine, and entire families trying to cope through another bout of cabin fever, we've compiled our Top Tips and Tricks for Surviving a Snowstorm!
Snowed In Survival Guide: Kansas City
Tour Kansas City... From the Comfort of Home!
We live in the Digital Age and many of Kansas City's attractions are rallying to the call with mobile apps and websites so you can experience the best of KC from your own home! When you are anxious to get out of the house, but you simply can't... try some of Kansas City's virtual tours.
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Virtual Guide: This is one of the best mobile apps and digital guides on the web. Browse the Museum Collections where you can view famous works of art, read about them, or listen to an informative audio tour guide at your leisure. Best of all, pick and choose what you want to see and when you want to see it.
- Sporting KC's Brand New Stadium Virtual Tour: Sporting KC, Kansas City's new soccer team will inaugurate the first authentic American soccer stadium in June 2011. As you look forward to summer and sunny days, take a virtual tour of the brand new state-of-the-art stadium!
- KC Strings Video Tour: At KC Strings in Merriam, master craftsmen create world renowned stringed instruments right before your eyes. On a snowy day, you can watch live videos of the shop and the masters at work.
Choose Book Worms NOT Couch Potatoes
When we're snowed in, it is tempting to spend the days curled up on the sofa, but it's best if you choose a good book instead of the television for entertainment. If you've already exhausted the family book collection, have no fear our local libraries and storytellers are here... even if that means virtually!
- Dial a Story: Are you tired of reading The Cat in the Hat? Try Dial A Story, a FREE program offered by the KC Public Library. Librarians read aloud a popular story while children can listen on the phone (816.701.3456) or online, and you don't have to live in Kansas City to enjoy it!
- RAFT - Read Aloud Family Time: The Mid-Continent Public Libraries offer an abundance of terrific online resources from eBooks to audio books... all for FREE, but our favorite winter highlight from MCPL is R.A.F.T. R.A.F.T. is a program that rewards families for reading together as they earn their own copy of The Jungle Book.
- Listen to Priscilla Howe's Stories: Kansas City Parent Magazine featured local storyteller Priscilla Howe as one of our Unsung Heroes this year. Your children will delight in listening to stories from Priscilla's online collection.
- Tumblebook: If you're looking for new titles to read and a trip to the library or bookstore is too dangerous on the ice, check out Tumblebook. This terrific website is an online library offering children's books your kids can read online, audio books you can listen to, and great activities and games to encourage a love for reading.
Cook the Day Away
Children love to cook! Ready to try something new that they're guaranteed to love? We've rounded up some of our kid-tested favorites for winter days:
- Snow Shovel Cookies
- Pirate Pizza Coins
- Crockpot Recipes
- Peanut Butter Honey Playdough
- Hearty Winter Soups
Creative Cabin Fever Busters
Everybody likes to pop bubble wrap, but not everyone has experienced the fun of dancing on bubble wrap! Anyone can make a paper airplane, but not every paper airplane enters the family paper airplane air show. Take traditional Cabin Fever Busters up a notch with our list of fun ideas from A-Z and once you complete the alphabet, dig into the your fave games for an unforgettable family Game Night with your very own Kansas City Memory Game or try a few ideas for FREE fun at Home. Our fave? Make a big bowl of Oobleck!
Snow Play: More than Angels
Snow angels are tradition, but they're not the only option for snow day play! When you build Frosty, don't limit yourself to carrots and coal. Try to build new characters of grand scale. Add to your creations with a little snow art. Fill a water bottle with water and a couple drops of food coloring. Paint the snow, your snowmen, and sculptures for a colorful landscape to brighten your winter days. Top off the fun with a snowball fight and make a snow fort. For a tasty treat, make Snow Ice Cream or turn the blizzard into an educational opportunity with these tips for Snow Science.
Indoor Classics
When was the last time your children spent an afternoon painting with watercolors? Do you usually reserve the hula hoop for Summer Days? Dig out some forgotten favorites for indoor winter fun.
- Make a Masterpiece: The fridge may not need another masterpiece right now, but Grandma and Grandpa would LOVE getting homemade Valentines in the mail. Try one of these 3 Simple ideas for Homemade Valentines.
- Keep 'em Moving: Kids need to exercise or they become restless, and this is especially true when you're snowed in! Karin Spencer shares great ideas for Indoor Exercise with Simple Props to keep 'em moving!
Do you have a great Snowed In Survival Tip to share? Post your favorite idea on the Kansas City Parent Magazine Facebook page. We may consider it for future publication!
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Winter Fun in Kansas City!
Beat the winter blahs with creative ideas for all ages!