Snow days unplugged, past and present

    Snow days are bound to happen, and children find themselves home from school wondering what to do.
    Staying home from school while the white stuff covers the ground can enable more time to electronically vegetate.
    Electronic devices and games may encourage cognitive learning and develop analytical skills as well as eye-hand coordination.
    But excessive use of electronic devices can become addictive and lead to a sedentary lifestyle and the poor health that accompanies it.
    Children need to spend time with family and friends and participate in outdoor activities.    
    Snow days spent at home can be a great opportunity to  practice unplugging and use imagination (and muscles) that have been laying dormant.
    In today’s society, children of all ages frequently turn to their electronic devices, snow or no snow.
    Snow days are a great time to visit activities of past generations and remember what your family members look like.
    Maybe snow days could become an established occasion for all family members to unplug from their electronic devices and choose different activities for entertainment, family bonding and personal growth.
    
The unplugged past
    There’s much to be said for how children growing up in the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s found ways to entertain themselves when snow prevented them from attending school.
    A group of nine residents from Parkview Assisted Living in Imperial shared thoughts and stories of their snow days at a weekly community coffee earlier this month.
    “Missing school wasn’t always such a bad thing,” said Jan Huser.
    Most of the residents explained that going to school usually involved walking at least a mile or farther in all kinds of weather.
    John Osler said he had to walk two and a half miles to school unless his older brother and sister were allowed to use their one-horse buggy.
    “When the horses were not being used in the field, we could ride them to school,” said Wilber Kuenning. “Of course, us boys would trap muskrats on the way to school to sell at 25 cents a hide.”
    When the snow got bad enough, children would stay home and spend time between doing chores or playing in the snow, the residents concurred.
    “Kids spent a lot of time playing outside, building snowmen and sledding. Kids today should really try to go outside more and play in the snow,” said Elaine Hink.
    Hink said she liked tunneling in the snow but got herself in trouble after tunneling under a pull rake. The ends caved in, trapping her for over an hour before someone found her. It didn’t stop her from tunneling. She just used caution as to where she tunneled.
    “That was in the blizzard of ’49 when we had at least 5 feet of snow,” she added.
    Most of the residents recalled that particular blizzard where drifts would cover an entire barn.
    Osler said he remembered there were always lots of tumbleweeds caught around the trees.
    “When there was a big snowstorm, the snow covered the tumbleweeds, and we made great tunnels through the weeds. My brother was very innovative that way,” he said smiling.
    “Snow like that gave us kids lots to play in. We had snowball fights, climbed big snow drifts, went sledding, and all the kids around town got together and played tag in the snow,” said John Karns.
    A few of the coffee drinkers felt that kids now can’t function outside as well as they did.
    To appreciate the snow, you have to spend more time in it and use your imagination, one resident commented.
    Hink said, “I think sledding is popular now, but more so back then.”
    Everyone around the table agreed with Huser when she said, “No matter how much fun we had in the snow, when we stayed home, we also had to scoop snow and do chores, no matter how much snow there was. Chores didn’t go away just because of snow.”
    Osler and Dee Taylor talked about activities they remembered doing inside the house on snow days.
    “We played cards and other games,” Taylor said.
    Reading books was always enjoyable to help fill the time
    “My mom had a special book she liked to read to us,” said Osler.
    The conversation among the residents spoke of family talking and being together, whether in work or play.
    They said they didn’t have the luxury of electricity or the distractions of electronic devices, but they had good memories.
    
Snow day — let’s unplug
    The words “snow day” are music to kids’ ears. But cabin fever can quickly put a damper on things.    
    A new trend could be started by putting away electronic devices, have a conversation and find out what your family members have been doing and thinking. What a novel idea.
    Speaking of novels, curling up in a soft blanket and reading a good book can take your mind on a new adventure.
    “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” — Dr Seuss.
    By taking a day or two away from the influence of electronics and somebody else’s imagination, one could explore the endless possibilities within their own minds, as did older generations of the past.
    Some examples of inside snow day activities could be baking a warm, delicious batch of cookies or sweet cinnamon rolls. Maybe make a comforting pot of soup to enjoy on a cold day.
    Blow the dust off those board games or get out a deck of cards and play together as a family. The personal interaction will most certainly be rewarding.
    Playing games is an activity children are losing out on as their play goes digital.
    Chores aren’t the most exciting unplugged activity, but they are an essential life skill. Doing chores demonstrates mature judgment, responsibility, independence and seeing things through.
    “If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulder.” — Abigail Van Buren.
    Have them complete a chore from start to finish like laundry from the clothes basket to drying and folding, or prepare a meal from setting the table to cleaning up after.
    Once completing the chore, reward them with a fun activity done together.
    Other inside ideas could be to rearrange their bedroom or build a homework station.
    Do something creative like a photography project or arts and crafts to boost self-esteem and expand their creative horizons.     
    Whatever project they choose, they will be learning invaluable life skills.
    
The great outdoors
    Take a suggestion from our older generations, and get outside.  
    Head for the nearest snow-covered hill for some sledding or have an invigorating snowball fight.
    Dig out the sand buckets and shovels from last summer and use them to build a snow fort or castle.
    Once the snowballs have been thrown and the wintery creativity is done, build a snowman. Mix water and food coloring in a few different spray bottles and let the snow be the tapestry.
    Take your snowman to the next level by painting him in colors.
    However you spend a snow day at home, take a lesson from the past and use those days to unplug and explore new/old possibilities.
    Remember, it’s not just the kids who have problems switching off, so take time out to create wonderful memories.

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