My One Request for My Kids’ School This Year: Don’t Skip the Snow Days
A mom shares her wish for schools to preserve snow days for kids’ joy and learning
Snow Days, Kids, Education, Remote Learning, New Jersey, Parenting
Freehold: As a mom of two tweens, I really wish schools would keep snow days. Those unexpected days off were magical when I was a kid. I have so many great memories from them.
Honestly, my kids already spend way too much time on screens for school. Let them have some fun! As the temperatures drop, I really hope school administrators will call for at least one good old-fashioned snow day this season.
It’s important for kids, including my own two pre-teens, to experience snow days like I did. It’s not just about staying inside and relaxing. I learned a lot about history, science, and art on those days.
But here’s the thing: lawmakers in places like Iowa, New Jersey, and Virginia are pushing bills to let schools swap traditional days off for remote classes. I really hope that doesn’t become the norm. Kids will miss out on the chance to be curious and explore.
When I think back to my snow days in the 1980s in Freehold, New Jersey, I picture long strings of glowing red lights. My dad would take my brother and me to Monmouth Battlefield State Park, where we’d sled down hills and then warm up inside while learning about history.
Those experiences were way more impactful than reading from a textbook. I remember learning about the battles and imagining what it was like for the soldiers. It was a real lesson in history.
Winter was also when I’d track the weather on a calendar by my bed. It was a fun way to learn about temperature trends and probabilities. One of my best memories was watching a cardinal on a snowy pine tree while sipping soup. That moment inspired me to get my own camera, and now I take photos for a living.
I want my kids to appreciate nature, too. It’s hard to enjoy the snow when you’re stuck on a Chromebook all day. As a working mom, I get the stress of wondering about childcare if schools close. Sure, snow days should be used wisely, but when safety calls for a closure, remote learning shouldn’t be the automatic choice.
Some traditions are fading away. I remember the excitement of hoping for snow days, listening to the radio to see if our district was closed. Even with technology making communication easier, nothing beats the joy of kids realizing they have a snow day. I heard cheering outside my window last February when our district announced a snow day.
Honestly, I think schools rely too much on technology. I was disappointed when one of my kids had to do all their summer assignments on a Chromebook, including reading. I ordered the physical book anyway. Kids spend enough time on screens. If we get a snow day this winter, let them explore and dream — just once.
Read the original article on Business Insider.