4 Things Parents Can Do to Prep for a Potential School Closure

School closures come with a mix of emotions. Kids are excited to have days off from school. Teachers may be frustrated that they get behind in their curriculum schedule.

And parents, well...you're left scrambling to find childcare and figure out what to do with your kids and their unplanned time at home.

With a little preparation, there are many ways that you can increase the chances that unplanned time at home with the kids goes smoothly.

Here are four things you can do to prep for potential school closures, whether that's for winter weather, health concerns, or any other unexpected event.

1) Plan healthy snacks…(bonus: let kids cook!)

It can be hard to sell “healthy eating” to a youngster, when all they can think of is...BO-RING. But It’s a whole other story when kids are actually in the kitchen, doing the cooking or baking.

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out this list of 30 Easy Cooking Recipes Your Kids Can Make All By Themselves. It has favorites like peanut butter and banana sandwiches and trail mix, along with interesting options like “raspberry ice cream in a bag” and “frozen chocolate monkey treats.”

2) Stock up on essential items your family needs

When it comes to food, it’s a good idea to keep plenty of high-calorie foods that don’t spoil quickly. With that said, you also want to make sure you have food on hand that picky youngsters will actually eat! Peanut butter, rice, pasta, and other easy-to-store child favorites are great to have.

Make sure you have enough of any prescription or other medications you take regularly. Same goes for unique dietary needs, especially those for newborns or the elderly.

And if you’re stuck inside a little longer than you’d like to be, you’ll certainly be glad you stocked up on essentials like toilet paper and other personal hygiene products. For more, you can check out this list of essential items to stock up on.

3) Give your child the chance to learn something new with an Outschool class

You’re not in control of when school opens back up, but you do have a say in helping your child keep learning.

Even if you’re stuck inside, you can make these precious days at home a time for new experiences. A live video chat class with Outschool is a great way to make this happen.

You can browse our library of 1000s of classes, taught live by inspiring teachers. There’s a class for every kid’s interest. You can get your free Outschool account, and browse our full library of classes, here.

4) Tap into your youngster’s inner creative with at-home crafts

Maybe your kid is into building a birdhouse or making robots out of legos. Maybe they’d like to try knitting, or maybe they’d prefer watercolor painting.  

Regardless of their specific tastes, giving kids the opportunity to use their hands to make something is the perfect antidote to the cabin fever that can come with extra time at home.

As famous painter Pablo Picasso once said “art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Explore 100s of exciting art and craft classes on Outschool - everything from Cake Decorating to Pokémon Drawing.

While school closures can be frustrating for you as a parent, hopefully these four tips can make the time at home as smooth - and educational - as possible.