Snow Day Help

EEEK – where has this weather come from and when will it just go away!  I like snow just as much as the next person, but save it for January and February, pretty please!  This past Monday was a bit of an early wake up call to winter coming early this year.  If you’re a working family, it might have caught you off guard as to what to do with your kids. Based on what we’re hearing, we might get hit again with some more bad weather tonight.

Not all bosses are open to you bringing your kids with you to work and sometimes you can’t take a day off. There’s many reasons I stay home, but not having to be prepared for things like snow days or sick days is fairly near the top of the list.  I don’t envy working parents and the juggling act and hoops you all jump through.

I came up with the idea of finding out who around town can help you out on snow days and it seems that I’m in good company.  In this Sunday’s Cincinnati Enquirer, there was an article about child care on snow days.

Here are a few ideas from the newspaper (get the rest, here):

• Blue Ash YMCA, 5000 YMCA Drive. Participants are asked to bring a brown bag lunch, swimsuit and towel. Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Ages: school-age through age 12. Cost: $28 members, $35 nonmembers. 513-791-5000.
• Jack and Jill Baby-sitting Service has sitters who will go to homes on snow days. Cost: $9 per hour. Four-hour minimum. 513-731-5261 or 513-485-9818.
• Kidz Watch, a drop-in and full-time child care center at 9727 Montgomery Road, Montgomery. Cost: $20 annual family registration fee, plus $8 an hour for one child, $12 an hour for two children and $15 an hour for three children. Additional children are $2 an hour. If parents pre-pay at least $100, they save 10 percent off the hourly rate. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday- Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-midnight Friday and 9 a.m.-midnight Saturday. Ages for snow day care: School-age through age 12. 513-793-5439 or www.KidzWatch.net.

and here’s some other options:

• Starting in January, the Mayerson JCC is offering Snow Days at the J. When school has been called off for inclement weather, bring the kids to the J. Drop-off begins at 9am and you can pick up as late as 6pm. Kids will play in the waterpark & gym, enjoy a movie, art projects, and snacks! Pack lunch & a drink, swim suit & towel, and warm clothes in case we go outside! J Members: $48; public: $62. For information, contact Matt Miller, 513.722.7258 or [email protected].  (a note from me – we had a swim party for my son’s birthday at The J a few weeks ago and the waterpark is a blast!!!)
• Mason Community Center has a Snow Day program when the Mason School District calls off school due to inclement  weather. Let your 6- to 12-year-old children have fun at the Mason Community Center. Each day will feature group games, crafts, sport activities, a movie, and swimming. Please remember to pack a full lunch, refillable water bottle, plenty of snacks, extra clothing, gym shoes, swim suit, and towel for your child. A $30 non-refundable pre-registration deposit for this program is required and will confirm your participation for each snow day. Payment for each snow day is due when you drop your child off for the program. Free to premier members (registration fee required)! Fees vary but for non-residents the cost is $28 plus the $30 non-refundable pre-registration fee.  Contact the City of Mason at (513) 229-8500 for more information.

If none of the above options will work for you and your family, perhaps you can have an agreement with a neighborhood Mom or a nearby High School student.  Or, if you know of a child car center near your home, give them a call when it’s not snowing out and ask them if they offer their services when there’s bad weather.  I know of a few Moms who do this and it works for them and for their kids.

The biggest thing I would suggest is to be prepared.  If you’ve lived in Cincinnati for any length of time, you know a few days off school for inclement weather will be heading our way.