Snowy winter mornings in the Hudson Valley may be magical in
beauty but juggling on-the-spot childcare during school snow days and holidays
can be a trick.
Rather than scrambling at arrival of an unexpected school
closure or scheduled school holiday, follow these tips on how to manage your
kids when they're at home on a typical school day, scheduled or not.
Put a plan in place. When it comes to
canceled school days, a ready plan is critical, especially for working parents.
Be prepared by creating a go-to list of designated people that can pick-up your
child at school in the event of an early dismissal or emergency. Talk with
people you know who can be called on in moment's notice, perhaps a trusted
family member, stay-at-home friend, retired colleague, parent in your child's
school, or close friend.
It's also important to pay attention to
the forecast. Knowing when inclement is on the way and likely to cause school
closures allows parents to plan for childcare and fun activities on those days.
One local physician and single mother of three said covering
for coworkers when they need it can go a long way in setting up the reverse
when you need it for last-minute events, like a school snow day. For instance,
if a coworker has planned vacation or personal time, volunteer to cover for her
during that time, possibly with the agreement that your coworker will return
favor on a snow day or other school closure.
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This physician's well-thought plan for sudden school
closures includes bringing her kids to a private babysitter, having one child's
daycare take on the other school-aged sibling, and offering another parent a
free babysitting night in exchange for watching her children so she can get to
work. If the roads aren't in ideal driving condition, she takes them to a
neighbor's house to prevent exposing them to hazardous road conditions.
Keep kids entertained at home and in the neighborhood.
Erin Burton of Rosendale has materials on hand for five-to-six at-home
arts-and-crafts projects for her son to complete in case they find themselves
snowed in. She also holds cooking lessons in the kitchen with her
three-year-old son, where they cook new foods together.
When it is safe to travel on the roads, Burton and her son
enjoy local restaurants for lunches or dinners or try new restaurants in nearby
towns. She also plans playdates with friends when there is a scheduled day off
from school, including warmer weather outdoor fun, like going for walks on the
rail trail, taking their bikes out, and packing picnics.
Burton likes to check the local library's schedule of
events, too, for special events during school holidays. And, when they're
available, she takes advantage of swimming, local farm visits, apple-picking,
and kid-friendly art shows.
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Battle boredom. With five kids at
home, Poughkeepsie native Alicia Yates avoids snow-day boredom with
do-it-yourself projects.
"I actually have a jar full of popsicle sticks with
ideas written on them so that when the kids say there's nothing to do or they
start misbehaving (I) can send them to the jar to pick a stick and find an
idea," said Yates. "They're color-coded as physical activities,
games, crafts, etc."
Yates also keeps a stash of yogurt drinks, protein balls,
and fruit on hand for all-day munching.
"I try to always make sure I have snacks planned and
accessible because when they're home all day, they seem to always want to eat
nonstop," she said.
Don't let snow days and school closures leave you in a
childcare challenge. Get ready for unexpected schedule shifts by putting
alternate plans in place.
Becky Mills is a writer and mother to a four-year-old
fighting Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.