by Leigh-Ann Andersen

Created on: January 29, 2011   Last Updated: February 01, 2011

Snow days are an almost inevitable part of any winter. At some point during the season, you’ll see a winter wonderland outside, and hear the declaration on the radio — it’s a snow day. This may not always seem like a bad thing, but if you’re a parent of teenagers, finding ways to occupy your older children might present a challenge. This is especially true during a snow day, when boredom set in even faster than normal. Fortunately, there are many fun and creative ways to entertain your teens during the long snow days.

If your teens haven’t touched the board games in a while, it’s time to bring them out. Look through your closets and cupboards for classics such as Monopoly, Clue, or maybe even Myst. There are also some modern board games that are particularly suited to curious teenagers, such as Dragonology or perhaps even the DVD-board game Atmosfear.  When you’re shopping between snow days, keep your eyes open for new and exciting board games to fill the long snow days and evenings that you may face.

While you're out shopping, purchase those model kits that sometimes go on sale. They make a wonderful activity on a cold winter day. Purchase a variety to entertain all your teenagers. Look for model cars, trains, and airplanes, but also keep your eye out for model buildings. The budding architect in your family will really enjoy the opportunity to construct a scale model.

Try to get your teens to write a story. This may seem difficult, but if you have budding authors in your household, it may be worth the effort to get them to all sit down and commit thoughts to paper. Let each teenager write whatever they like, whether it’s a short story, flash fiction, or maybe even the very beginnings of a novel. If you have a teen who has difficulty finding ideas, help them out by giving them some basic plot points, but let them do the real writing.

Whether permitting, get your teenagers outside. Try to encourage them to do something fun. They’re certainly not too old to build a snow fort or throw a few snowballs back and forth. You might even be able to convince them to build a snowman, or even make a few snow angels in the front yard. Teenagers do enjoy the chance to let loose and have a good time, but they do sometimes need a little encouragement.

If the roads aren’t closed, consider heading out with your teens. Skating and sledding are wonderful ways to pass the time, even for older children. Depending on

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