Toledo Snow Days. Fun Ideas for Making Memories. Winter Photography.

Written by Amy Christensen

School aged children love snow days. I remember as kids growing up in Buffalo, NY, it had to be near blizzard conditions for schools to be closed. I remember waking up in the morning and listening to the radio as the DJ listed all the schools in the area that called off. It was always a thrill to hear our school district named and to be able to make a plan for snow day fun.

Here in Toledo, OH snow days are few and typically, by Buffalo standards, pretty wimpy. More often schools are closed due to icy conditions or extreme wind chill factors. A family often has to scramble, especially if both parents work, to find babysitters, or make arrangements to stay home themselves. However, a snow day, or even a scheduled day off from school can be the perfect time for a family activity.

A true snow day means staying at home, but that’s a great time for playing games, building forts, baking cookies and watching movies. Even the pets will appreciate the extra attention and play time with their family. If it is a heavy snowfall, but very little wind chill there is nothing more fun than bundling up and going outside. Use your imaginations to create snow sculptures, walls to hide behind for snowball fights, or alien worlds where creatures are tracking you.

In the event that school is called off, but the roads get better later in the morning there are multiple activities available within a fifteen minute drive. Check out this short article on The Best Sledding Hills in the 419. If outdoor fun is not for you, Toledo has indoor options that will get your family moving and keep their interest. The Imagination Station offers science interactive fun right downtown along the Maumee River. There are also indoor play grounds like Sylvania Playland and Funigans, both located in Sylvania, Ohio. There are plenty of movie theaters, and shopping. Even the Toledo Zoo can be a great place to visit on a winter day. Whatever you choose to do, whether at home or away, inside or out, be sure to snap a few pictures of your family having fun. Those memories are precious.

In addition, while most Toledo area photographers need to be booked ahead, consider scheduling a wintery family photo session for one of those days off that your kids have on the school calendar. January or February can be great months to get interesting outdoor photos whether it is snowing or not. Winter lighting, stark backgrounds and gray skies can be beautiful contrasts to your family dressed up in bright colored scarves and hats.

No matter what you do on your “snow day” remember the things you do with your kids on those days build precious memories. Make the most of it.