When the forecast calls for snow, you can never be sure what’s going to arrive. But with our snow day prep guide for Charlottesville families, you can always be prepared! From what to stock in the house, how to prepare if you’re on well water, and ways to entertain kids inside, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ve included some of our best tips from the CharottesvilleFamily Editors to stay safe and have some fun doing it!
Stock the Snow Day Essentials
Seeing snow in the forecast? To prepare for snow days in Charlottesville, take some time to go through your drawers, closets, and pantry. Make sure you have what you need on hand or can borrow it from your neighbors.
Winter Gear for Everyone
Make sure you have snow gear for everyone in the house. And don’t forget to buy gear for parents! Too often, we put all our attention into what our kids need and forget to shop for ourselves. Everyone should have:
- Snow boots with good traction
- Warm, lined coat
- Waterproof mittens or gloves
- Waterproof snow pants
- Lined hat
- Scarf or neck gaiter
- Thermal layers, such as long johns or fleece-lined leggings
- Cozy socks, such as wool or hiking socks
Pantry Goods
Before the snow hits, focus on stocking your pantry with non-perishable goods rather than loading up your refrigerator and freezer. You don’t want food going bad if the power goes out! Think about staples and easy meals, such as:
- Canned soups
- Beans and lentils (either dried or canned)
- Shelf-stable fruits and veggies, such as applesauce
- Pasta and sauce
- Crackers and your nut butter/sunflower butter of choice
- Canned meat or fish, such as tuna
- Formula
You can also prep a few easy meals ahead of time, or stock up on the ingredients to make some of our most popular recipes. Try out our family-favorites like honey garlic chicken & peas, build-your-own burritos, or these three hearty soups.
Household Essentials
Snow day prep for Charlottesville families also requires knowing what you’re likely to need. Are your power lines above ground, making you more likely to lose power? Are you on well water and so should have a few jugs of water on hand for backup? Stock up on the household essentials that make sense for you, such as:
- Firewood (if you have a fireplace)
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels and tissues
- Diapers and baby wipes
- Contact solution
- Any family medications
- Water
Finally, prepare for snow days by making sure everyone will stay safe when they step outside. Have a bag or two of salt for the sidewalk or driveway and at least one snow shovel in a place you can easily access. If you have time, pick up a small shovel or two so your kids can lend a hand!
Prepare Indoor Activities
When everyone is stuck at home together, you don’t want the kids (or parents) to run out of things to do. Luckily, there are plenty of local resources to help you prepare for snow days in Charlottesville.
- Make a library run. Visit your local branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library to stock up on new books for everyone to enjoy. You can also stop by the JMRL Library of Things to check out new board new games, toys, and STEM kits, craft kits, and more for your kids to enjoy.
- Stock up on craft supplies. Stop by The Scrappy Elephant, Shenanigans, or Michael’s to pick up new craft supplies. Stock up on fun things that you might not otherwise pick up, like dot markets, glitter paint, googly eyes, or origami paper to keep kids interested and entertained.
- Build your playlist. Kids who have been stuck indoors for too long have lots of wiggles to get out. Build a party playlist that everyone in the family can enjoy and have it ready to go for impromptu dance parties, especially during high-stress times like when you need to prep dinner.
- Gather baking supplies. Finally, stock up on baking supplies so the whole family can work together to whip up some special snow day treats. We’ve got plenty of family-friendly baking recipes that the kids can help with. Try Grandma Helen’s easy pecan balls or make these special heart pancakes.
What to Do Outside On Snow Days
But of course, at some point, you’ll want to stop preparing for snow and get out to enjoy it!
- Meet up with friends for sledding. Charlottesville has lots of great sledding hills in each neighborhood, and you’ll probably run into even more familiar faces than you expect!
- Go on a snow day walk with the whole family. If you have little kids, stick them in a sled so you don’t have to worry about whether the sidewalks have been shoveled. Even a stroll around the block will seem magical to kids when the world is covered in white!
- Make a snow day scavenger hunt. Create a list of things to find out in the neighborhood, like a cardinal flying, a snowman, Christmas lights that are still up, a dog playing in the snow, squirrels playing, and a neighbor out for a walk. Give everyone a copy and see who can check off their list the fastest!
- Check the CharlottesvilleFamily calendar to see what’s available and open. Just be sure the call local business or check the hours for events, as some of the might change their schedules due to weather.
- Go snow tubing. Virginia has some great spots if sledding just isn’t enough. Check out our guide to the best snow tubing spots.
How to Prepare for Snow Days in Charlottesville
We’ve rounded up our editor’s favorite snow day tips to help you prepare and have a little fun when winter weather hits. We hope you find some fresh ideas in their advice!If I’m expecting a power outage over night—portable/battery operated sound machines always come in handy since they won’t turn off and disrupt our sleep once the power goes out! Just make sure you have extra batteries on hand if you’re expecting the power to be out for more than a day or so. Also, to prolong my kids outdoor playtime, I stock up on hand warmers and stick them in gloves and boots for a little extra warmth!
– Liz, mom of two (ages 4 & 8)
Do a “snow prep walk” the day before. Have your kids help pick up sticks, toys, and hidden hazards so sledding is safer and so they know what’s hiding under the snow. While you’re at it, do a quick gear check to make sure everyone has matching gloves and snow gear that still fits!
– Stephanie, mom of two boys (ages 10 & 7)
I like to make sure I have hot cocoa mix or supplies to make my own hot chocolate on hand. I’ll make a stack of fluffy pancakes and serve with hot chocolate after a morning of playing in the snow! They all love it when I even grab whipped cream and sprinkles at the store as a fun surprise!
– Amanda, mom of five
Team up to make snow days easier! If you can safely drive or walk to a friend’s house, get together for a cozy, relaxed dinner. Don’t make it fancy. A pot of chili, a TexMex buffet, or pizza from the freezer are all great options. Put a picnic blanket down on the floor and let the kids watch a movie while they have their meal. They’ll enjoy having new playmates at the end of a long day, and the adults will enjoy having other grown-ups to talk to!
– Katharine, parent of two (ages 4 & 9)
When it first snows, we gather up the cleanest snow we can find and make snow ice cream. Fun cups and a straw make it extra special, as does experimenting with flavors. You can’t go wrong with classic maple syrup, but different toppings turn it into more of a “shaved ice” treat. Be creative and use what you have in your pantry! Coconut milk, maraschino cherries, chocolate sauce, and fruit juice have all been delicious. Sometimes we even add something adult for mom and dad!
– Suzannah, parent of two pre-schoolers
My snow day prep always includes double-checking we have plenty of 1-gallon water jugs for us and the pets in case the power goes out when we lose our well. And one of my fondest snow week memories is the time we didn’t know it was coming and had to get creative with what was in the house. We crafted a 3-foot-tall dinosaur with duct tape and cans/cardboard from the recycling. Then we recovered the whole thing with papier-mâché and painted it!
– Jennifer, mom of four
We make sure we have hot cocoa and tea stocked in the pantry. My older two kids always ask for something warm to drink when they come in from playing. I also love making a big pot of soup on snow days!
– Ellen, mom of three (ages 9, 7 & 1)
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KATHARINE PALJUG is a freelance writer and novelist. She lives in Charlottesville with two busy kids and proudly owns an unreasonable number of books. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.