After the excitement of a snow day has subdued, for many of Mahwah’s youngsters, boredom sets in. For parents, the number one question becomes, “What do I do with my kids in the house all day?”

“Every snow day, all I hear is ‘Mom! I’m bored!” said Mahwah resident, and mother of three, Tricia Patella.

To help, Patch consulted co-owner of the Children’s Learning Center of Wyckoff at Fardale in Mahwah, and Captain of the Mahwah Ambulance Company No. Four, Chuck Jandris.

Jandris had the following suggestions of both indoor and outdoor activities for kids and families:

• Sledding is one of the best snow day pastimes. Some of the best hills in the area include those at Ramsey High School, Bergen Community College, and Goffle Brook Park in Hawthorne. If you don’t live close enough to a hill to walk there, wait until tonight when the roads are cleared.
• Have a camp in day, something the Learning Center does when it is open during inclement weather situations. Have kids stay in their pajamas, and break out some of their favorite movies. Making smores, either in the microwave or on the stove, always adds a fun element to this idea.
• Get your kids in on the clean up action. “Ten dollars and a pat on the back go a long way in my house. If you have older kids, shoveling will expend some energy, so they’ll come back in calm and quiet,” said Jandris. Just remember to shovel a little bit at a time, before snow gets too heavy.
• If you need to go to work, taking your kids with you could be an adventure. “My kids love coming on the plow truck with me,” Jandris said.
• Take the dog out for a walk in the snow. A play date between pets and kids in the snow gets rid of a lot of the pent up energy that they both build up during a snow day.
• Hold some sort of a contest amongst your kids, and possibly some neighborhood kids who are within walking distance. “In my house, we will let the kids dress up, and hold a fashion show. We take pictures, and then the kids make a scrapbook afterwards.”
• As the snow starts to let up and roads are cleared, go out to a nearby hangout with a ‘warm and fuzzy’ feel. “Roxanne’s is a great place to go, because kids can hang out by the fireplace. If you can walk there or drive later on in the day, the Borders in Ramsey or Starbucks in Wyckoff are good options, as well,” said Jandris.
• Campgaw Mountain's website is recommending pre-ordering tickets online, due to high demand in the days following the storm.

If you have more ideas, or want to share something your family does that may help other Mahwah parents, comment below to let us know!