Snow Days No Days To Be Unprepared
When it comes to snow days, those sudden days off kids get from school, the Boy Scouts have the right idea: be prepared.
Child magazine Editor in Chief Miriam Arond tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm that planning is the key to help make sure those days go well for parents and kids alike.
Because snow days are inevitable in many parts of the country, says Arond, it's important for parents to think about them in advance, and to have arrangements in place.
"You have to be prepared," she tells Storm. "Investigate your options before
the snow emergency happens, and then it could go very, very well. But you have to think about backup plans, and there are many you can think about."
For working parents, that could men leaving the kids home alone if they're old enough, coordinating with a neighbor or family member, utilizing your job's backup situation, or even staying at home yourself.
In any event, the key is to have thought about it in advance and taken care of the arrangements so that you're not frantically trying to deal with it at the last minute.
It's a matter of getting your backup plan set. If emergency childcare is what you're going to take advantage of, you have to register for it in advance, and they'll want vaccinations, medical records and contact numbers. You don't wait for that day to come and only then try to deal with it. You may also want to bring your child there to get familiar with the setting, so it's not as much of a surprise or shock when they have to spend the whole day there.
Speak with your boss and find out what the company's feeling is about your bringing your child in to work with you. Even if you work in a child-friendly place, it's a good idea to broach the subject with your boss early in the school year, so you know there won't be any issues when you have to bring your child to work.
Talk to your spouse or partner on how to handle snow days. If you both work, discuss who will stay home with the kids or whether you'll switch off for each snow day.
You could work out plans with friends and relatives.
Perhaps a neighbor could take turns with you, or you'll cover the carpool if they handle the snow days.
Basically, know what your support system is. And for parents who think this can be a pain to deal with, remember that these arrangements can also be helpful for you if your child is sick.
If you decide to leave your child or children home alone, don't forget that a snow day, or any full day, is a long one. It's usually not considered acceptable to allow kids to be home alone if they're under 12, and even if they are 12, you should be careful. If you work nearby, that's one thing, but if you have a long commute and it could take awhile for you to get home if there is any kind of emergency, then it's probably not a good idea.
If your child is old enough to stay at home alone, the Red Cross actually sponsors home-alone courses that teach what to do in case of a fire and things like that.
A child really, routinely, should be at least 12, and that's not even necessarily sufficient, because it depends on their maturity level and the experience they've had staying at home. You can start giving them trials by leaving them for half-hour intervals, then lengthen them, so you'll have the sense of confidence and security you need to leave them home alone.
Prepare them for handling phone calls, or what to do if someone comes to the door.
If you have a long commute it's not the best option, unless you can have someone nearby check in every so often. You could get snowed in at work, or there could be big delays coming home, which means your children are home alone even longer than you planned.
But if the child is 13-14 and is routinely left alone, then it could work for a snow day. Arond isn't sure having friends over is a good idea, because friends can sometimes get your kids in trouble.
If you live in a city in an apartment building with a doorman, you might feel more comfortable if they're home alone because of that extra layer of security.
In general, no matter where you live, it's always advisable when you're a parent to befriend your neighbors, even if they wouldn't be your regular friends. It's a wise thing to have people you can fall back on. Plus, it'll make the child feel better to know there is someone nearby they can call.
Last, if you do leave your child home alone, leave them with food, because you don't want them to cook and risk starting a fire.
The first thing working parents must do is be sure they're prepared logistically. Stay-at-home parents should be prepared by having a special stash of crafts and activities for snow days. This can include things like baking and special cookie cutters, origami, ink stamps and other things to make your ordinary snow day into a tremendously fun day. If you're able to bring your child to work, it's good to have a special bag made up of activities and games they can do in your office, like travel games and such.
If you do have a child-friendly office, it's a wonderful thing to bring your child to work with you from time to time - not just on "take your child to work day." Arond says this actually allows the child to feel more positive about your working, and it helps them have a positive association with your office and your job. It may be inconvenient to take them to work, but if they're old enough and well-behaved, it's nice to do periodically. You could keep things at your office for the days they come in, to make them feel welcome.
There are parents who consider dropping their kids off at a local public place, like the library, mall or community center. Arond isn't comfortable with that at all. She doesn't think that's advisable: Simply because it's a public place doesn't mean bad things can't happen. And, it's not the librarian's job to watch your child. It's an unfair responsibility for someone who hasn't asked for it.
A few last tips for parents about snow days::
- Make sure you're readily accessible. Cell phones make that easier today. Be sure you have yours on, so your children can always reach you -- especially if they're home alone.
- Prepare child for your job. If you choose to bring your kid to work, you must be sure that you've prepared regarding how to behave at your job. They need to know that they have to stay quiet and not run around and stay in the area you tell them to. After they leave, you even may want to even check with the others to make sure your child wasn't bothering them. That's also a good way to know if you'll be able to bring them back, if need be.
- Adopt a positive attitude. People should recognize that, while snow days can be a huge headache for parents, if you can adopt a positive attitude, they'll be a lot better. If you take yo