What to Do on a Snow Day: Cozy, Creative Ideas for the Whole Family

Key Takeaways: 

• A snow day is the perfect chance to slow down and enjoy cozy indoor and outdoor activities as a family.

• Simple ideas like sledding, crafts, baking, and indoor games help fill the day with fun without needing elaborate plans.

• Creating a comfortable setup with soft seating, including cordaroys convertible bean bags and blankets, makes it easier for everyone to relax and reset throughout the day.

• Balancing high-energy play with quiet time keeps the day enjoyable from morning to evening, no matter your family's routine or ages.

When school is canceled and the world outside looks freshly frosted, the big question becomes what to do on a snow day, especially when you’ve got kids at home and a whole day to fill. The good news? You don’t need an elaborate plan. A few activities, some warm drinks, and extra-comfy seating can turn a snow day into one of your family’s favorite memories.

Below, you’ll find cozy, creative ideas for snow day fun indoors and out, plus ways cordaroys pieces can help everyone stay comfortable from morning to night.

Embrace the Slow, Snowy Morning

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, unstructured play and slower mornings help kids regulate energy and creativity on days off. So instead of rushing into chores or screens, let your snow day morning feel different from the start.

• Stay in pajamas a little longer

• Make breakfast feel special with pancakes, waffles, or hot chocolate

• Put on a movie or show before noon without any guilt

Set up a relaxed “morning lounge” in your living room so everyone has a soft spot to land. A plush bean bag chair, a stack of blankets, and a cozy rug invite your family to snuggle up and watch the snow fall. If you have a cordaroys convertible bean bag chair, this is a perfect time to sink in and enjoy that sink-in comfort while the day slowly wakes up around you.

Outdoor Adventures (If It’s Safe and Not Too Icy)

Fresh snow is hard to resist, and a little outdoor time can help everyone burn off energy before you settle into indoor activities.

Try a few classic snow day ideas:

• Build a snowman or snow family

• Add hats, scarves, sunglasses, or even a theme

• Create a snow fort

• Kids love working together on a “secret base” or snow castle

• Go sledding

• A small hill in the neighborhood can become the day’s main event

• Snow painting

• Fill spray bottles with water and food coloring for creative outdoor art

• Snowball targets

• Draw chalk circles on a fence or stack plastic cups for friendly competition

Keep an eye on the temperature and ice. The National Weather Service recommends limiting outdoor time during extreme cold and taking frequent warm-up breaks. Plan short bursts outside, followed by breaks to warm up indoors with dry socks, warm drinks, and soft spots to flop down.

Create a Cozy Indoor Setup

Once everyone has had their fill of fresh air, it’s time to turn the living room (or playroom) into a cozy snow day hub. You can:

• Build a “snow day fort” with blankets, pillows, and string lights

• Layer a soft rug or playmat on the floor

• Add bean bags, floor cushions, or low seating so everyone can spread out

This is where cordaroys really shines. A cordaroys convertible bean bag chair gives you that plush, supportive seating kids and adults both love, while the washable covers make it easy to handle cocoa drips, snack crumbs, and wet socks.

If you have a cordaroys blanket, drape it over the fort entrance or keep it folded nearby. The extra-soft, oversized feel makes it a go-to layer when someone wants to get truly cozy for a movie or reading stretch.

Fun Indoor Games and Activities

Now that your cozy setup is ready, bring on the snow day activities that keep everyone moving and laughing. Some easy indoor ideas:

• Obstacle course

• Use couch cushions, painter’s tape on the floor, and chairs to crawl under or step over.

• Freeze dance

• Turn on a playlist and pause the music randomly. Everyone freezes until it starts again.

• Scavenger hunt

• Create a list of small items to find around the house or hide little “snow day tickets” kids can trade for snacks or extra screen time.

• Sock “snowball” toss

• Roll up clean socks, set up laundry baskets or bins as “targets,” and keep score.

Family board games or jigsaw puzzles

When you’re ready to slow the pace a bit, pull out board games, card games, or a big puzzle. Set everyone up around a low table with pillows and bean bags for comfy seating. A cordaroys chair can anchor one corner of the room as the “game master’s” seat or become the place where someone can sit back and watch if they opt out of a round.

Get Creative: Crafts and Baking

One of the best parts of a snow day is having more time to make things together. No rush, no schedule, just hands-on fun.

Craft ideas

• Paper snowflakes to tape on the windows

• DIY snow globes with jars, glitter, water, and small figurines

• Winter-themed coloring pages or blank paper for kids to draw their own scenes

• Bookmarks kids can decorate and use later

Set up a small craft station at the kitchen table with markers, scissors (for older kids), stickers, and tape. Keep cleanup easy by laying down butcher paper or an old tablecloth.

Snow day baking favorites

• Chocolate chip cookies

• Brownies

• Soft pretzels

• Mini muffins or loaf cakes

Let kids measure, stir, and shape dough. While everything bakes, invite them to create their own “cozy corner” with a favorite blanket and a cordaroys chair or crash pad. Having a personal, comfy spot helps kids recharge between bursts of activity.

Calm-Down Time When Everyone’s Maxed Out

At some point, sugar, excitement, and extra togetherness can catch up with everyone. When moods start to dip, or the volume creeps too high, it’s a good time to shift into calm-down mode.

Here are a few grounding ideas:

• Read a chapter book aloud while kids stretch out on the floor or bean bags

• Turn on an audiobook or calming playlist

• Dim the lights and encourage quiet drawing or coloring

• Offer quiet time in a cozy spot for anyone who needs a little space

cordaroys pieces make this transition smoother. Their soft foam filling creates a relaxing “crash zone” that feels more comfortable than the floor, and the generous sizing gives the whole crew room to curl up with a book, stuffed animal, or tablet.

If you unfold a cordaroys convertible bean bag into its bed configuration, you can even turn part of the living room into a shared lounging area for a mid-afternoon rest. No extra guest bed required.

Make Your Snow Day Cozy and Memorable

Snow days don’t need a perfect plan to feel special. A mix of outdoor adventures, creative indoor activities, and a little built-in downtime is more than enough to make the day memorable. And when your home is filled with soft, flexible seating and easy-to-clean fabrics, you can focus less on the mess and more on enjoying the day together. cordaroys convertible bean bag chairs and blankets help you create inviting, kid-friendly spaces that feel good all day long, whether you’re sledding, crafting, gaming, or snuggling up together.

Whether it’s crafts, cocoa, or couch snuggles, your snow day memories are made in the little moments. Just add warm drinks, soft blankets, and plenty of comfort to create your cozy happy place for the day.