Snow days pure bliss for Mainers

I’ve never been able to decide if I enjoy the anticipation of a possible snow day more than the actual snow day. It’s a tough call. The mere idea of a day without formal obligations can bring happiness to any adult. The reality of that day is pure bliss.

The two snow days of last week were unexpected and early. Real snow day bliss is achieved after what seems like endless weeks of cold, drudgery and toil. The snow day that happens then is exciting and relaxing at the same time. Even though we used two-thirds of our snow day budget in December, it was worthwhile. Children got to play in the snow, sliding, rolling and getting rosy cheeks. They also got to help shovel. Grown-ups who had snow days got to sleep in, make soup or bake or both, prepare for holidays celebrated this month, spend extra time with their families and shovel.

Shoveling is a great family activity. Everyone can participate and experience the satisfaction of completing a job together. There is no wrong way to shovel so even the youngest can participate. Yes, I know that some snow shovelers have preferred techniques, strategies and methods, but the reality of the job is to get most of the snow out of the walkway and driveway. It really doesn’t matter if it’s done with a pink plastic shovel, an industrial strength scooping shovel or a garden trowel.

Shoveling together also teaches community spirit. Families can get together and help shovel one another’s walkways and driveways. In my neighborhood, we have a contingent of “Snow Plow Fairies.” These thoughtful souls use their snow removal devices to help out their neighbors. Sometimes, the “fairies” plow out the end of the driveway where the town snowplow has pushed a massive amount of white stuff, other times they use snowblower to cut a path around the cars and sometimes when it’s not a snow day, we’ll come home to find the driveway completely cleared.

What makes these acts extra magical is that due to the necessity of bundling up, we are not always 100 percent certain of the identity of our “Snow Plow Fairies,” but we are always grateful. Maybe your family can become “Snow Day Shoveling Fairies” for your neighborhood.

The first real snow with measurable ground cover also creates magic on the playground. Everyone joins in the fun – while being careful that the snow does not leave the ground. (This rule makes it less likely that the snow will take the form of a snowball and fly through the air hitting an unsuspecting adult on recess duty.) Snowsuited, booted and mittened, the students roll through the snow, build forts, make snowmen and snow critters, and gleefully call out to one another.

In our school, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders are allowed to bring rollup sleds to use on the hill above the soccer field during their lunch recess. The bolder teachers will borrow a sled or ride on the back of one to experience that thrilling feeling of racing down a snow covered hill. One year the school nurse enjoyed taking a ride down that hill daily. Each morning she went from serving the middle and high school students at the top of the hill to nursing the elementary students at the bottom of the hill. She would enter our building exhilarated and refreshed after her brief but invigorating downhill slide.

Recess isn’t the only time that Maine students get to play in the snow. Physical education class in my district and in many other districts in Maine focus on developing skills for lifelong physical activities. In Maine, that includes snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating. These are among the favorite individual sports that our students are fortunate enough to learn and practice at school and can easily be adopted as life sports.

Learning to enjoy the wide variety of outdoor physical activities that our part of the world provides has significant impact upon our students. They are able to build stronger, more healthful bodies, they develop an awareness of the positive connections between an active body and an active brain, they cultivate habits of exercise and create fond memories of the physical place that is Maine. These fond memories are often the impetus that help our young people decide to live here as adults.

But the best part of the snow is not the possibility of a snow day, nor is it shoveling, nor sledding, nor snowman making, nor snowshoeing, nor even throwing a forbidden snowball. The best part of snow is joining a group of children, sticking out your tongue, and tasting the magic of snowflakes.

What is your favorite snow day activity? E-mail me at: conversationswithateacher@gmail.com. Let’s continue this conversation.