Many families find themselves home from work and school for the day when bad weather arrives. And while devices are nice, how long can you really binge watch Netflix? (Don't answer that.)
If you're home for the day, with or without kids, here are a few things you can do to stay entertained (and warm) without going crazy or running up your data plan.
1. Do some family-friendly baking:
One way to keep kids occupied is with a slew of simple cooking tasks (cracking eggs, manning the mixing bowl) and the promise of sweets.
Cooking Light
[ has a roundup of "kid-friendly desserts," ]
including gluten-free s'more bars, chewy caramel apple cookies and more. If you run through that list,
[ the Food Network has another ]
.
And not having kids is no reason not to bake in bad weather: for company, just sub in the closest available roommates, family, friends or pets. (This advice applies to the rest of the list.)
2. Check out these party games:
Jackbox's Drawful is a bizarre twist on Pictionary: players score points not just for drawing the best possible version of, say, "angry ants"; but also for getting other players to guess their answer for a given drawing instead of the correct one.
Drawful comes packaged as part of the Jackbox Party Pack and is compatible with the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Amazon Fire TV and others. All you need to play is a phone, tablet or controller.
But if you're feeling more competitive and less artistic, consider QuizUp. Available for both iPhone and Android, this competitive trivia app pits two players against each other in seven rounds of questions in one of several hundred different categories, including pop culture and academia. And it's free.
3. Get clever -- and crafty:
Helena Oliviero
[ suggests hosting a temporary black out ]
. "Turn off lights, smartphones, iPads and other gadgets. When the house goes dark, kids’ imaginations light up. A trip to the bathroom with a flashlight becomes an adventure, and reading stories by candlelight will stick with them more than just another movie night."
To further fuel creativity, Oliviero has another tip: a maker space.
"Clear out an area of your home of traditional toys and fill it with 'maker' materials: tape, paper, boxes, etc.," she wrote. "When creative inspiration strikes your child, they will be ready to create in their own "workshop."