When kids hear the magical words “snow day,” odds are they are overjoyed. An unexpected day off of school is a wonderful opportunity to have fun, especially if you’re free from work obligations, too.

Swipe through for fun snow day activities.

When the snowfall is ample, get down to some serious snow-fun— build snow people, have a snowball fight, make snow angel . . . all the usual fun stuff. Build an igloo or snow fort if you’re feeling particularly industrious.

If weather conditions permit, consider taking the kids out for an animal print hunt. If you live near woods or maybe a park, it might be fun to search for evidence of animals. Even if you don’t find, say, bear prints, finding bird or dog prints is still exciting.

You can also get really creative and create a snow maze. If the snow is deep, you can shovel out paths, including twists and turns. Or just pack down the snow with your boots, stomping creative pathways and dead ends to give the kids an extra boost of entertainment.

Photography: Pinterest/Navin Bahl

Find a nearby slope, and do some sledding. If you live in a place where it rarely snows, and you don’t have sleds at the ready, worry not. Clever folks have been known to use garbage can lids, big pieces of cardboard, boogie boards, and even cookie sheets!

When you’ve had all the outdoor fun you can take, head inside and make a hot chocolate bar. Set out all the fixin’s, like sprinkles, candy canes, whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate chips, cinnamon—whatever sounds good. Make up some cocoa and let everyone customize their mug of deliciousness.

Kids always love to make forts, and snow days are a perfect time to get creative. Bring out stacks of blankets and sheets. Give them the ok to move chairs around, and offer them some clips to help secure things. Provide pillows, too, so they can lounge comfortably in their forts.

If you have marshmallows left over from your hot cocoa bar, set the kids up with a craft project. Provide them with uncooked spaghetti noodles that they use to connect the marshmallows, building towers or animal figures—whatever strikes their fancy.