Snow Days: Childhood Flashback

We had a decent snowstorm here in Cincinnati today that left a few inches of snow on the ground, it was our second storm of the week. When driving around I noticed that I don't see a lot of kids playing out in the snow anymore. Has anyone else noticed this at all?

I remember being outside with my friends about 9 or 10 in the morning to sled ride, build forts and igloos, and have snowball fights. We would only go back inside to eat, put dry clothes on, then head back outside again until dinner. If it didn't get too cold at night we were back outside. We would also play football in the snow. One time I lost control of the sled and flew out onto the frozen creek only to break through the ice and get soaked. Dry change of clothes, some hot chocolate, and it was back outside.

We don't get that much snow here and what we do get doesn't last very long, so the kids always swarm out into it. Though by the time I venture out on those days there's not many kids in sight, they leave plenty of evidence.

I played in it some as a kid, but it probably would have been more fun if I had friends to play with. My uncle was always game, but if so much as a tiny snowball hit anywhere near my mother she'd yell and force me inside. I never went sledding, didn't have anywhere to sled. It wasn't until I was in Michigan that I finally got the chance to go tubing. (Northern Michigan is getting a lot of snow, too)

Here in NE Ohio we dont get the good snow, its always the fluffy kind. Can't build a snowman or anything with that.

I remember being at my great grandmother's house when there was no school. I'd go out and play in the snow. I'd sled down their hill. 1 time there was an ice storm as well, and the sled and I went right into the woods. I could barely get myself back up the hill to my great grandmother's house, and I wound up losing my sled, the string fell from my hands, and it went right back into the woods.

I remember my mother pulling me across the yard during 1 snow storm on ski's.

I remember after 1 snow storm my neighbor down the street gave me and my mother a ride on her snowmobile that was fun!!

I've never been a fan of playing in the snow, and avoided it at all costs. I don't like being cold. We used to go sledding all the time when I was in high school, though.

There are a group of about 6-7 little girls ranging in age from around 3 to maybe 8 or so that are ALWAYS outside playing when we drive by their houses. I actually just mentioned to my husband the other day that you don't see that very often anymore...a group of little kids running around outside every day playing tag or whatnot, just using their imaginations.

Wow, I totally agree with you. The kids today aren't out much even in the summer. You can thank video games and computers for that.

There was a shallow pond across the road when I was a kid that we would play hockey on with broken off tree branches. I can remember my feet being so cold, I would crawl home! But what a life. Spent most of my childhood in trees, fields, and on the bank of the creek (or in the creek, if I wasn't careful).

It's funny, because today my oldest friend since before kindergarten is coming over and I am sure our conversations will revolve around all the wonderful memories from back then. Throwing snowballs at the paperboy on his bike, hockey games, ghost hide and seek in the dark.

I wonder what the memories of many of the kids today will be.

We always used to go sledding and build snowmen or igloos. Around here you rarely see kids playing outside, especially in the snow, and never see kids going from door to door offering to shovel sidewalks. They could make a mint right now doing that (20 cm/8 in. since last night, and counting!).

We were always outside playing when we were kids. My parents had to almost force us back into the house. Back then, I didn't mind the cold and loved to sled-ride and toboggan down the hills around our house. There was always a ton of kids with us.

Mom would call us all into the house where she had hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies ready. After warming up, back outside we'd go.

I agree with farleyv about computers and video games. But I also tend to think that some parents don't want their kids outside in todays world. We'd be outside from the time we awakened in the morning until we had to have our baths for bed. Parents didn't have to worry as much as they do now. You never know what's going to happen to your kids. And because many parents either don't have the time or take the time to spend with their kids, their kids miss out on a lot of fun things to do.

Originally Posted by jcat

We always used to go sledding and build snowmen or igloos. Around here you rarely see kids playing outside, especially in the snow, and never see kids going from door to door offering to shovel sidewalks. They could make a mint right now doing that (20 cm/8 in. since last night, and counting!).

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As soon as it finished I was out and about shoveling snow for the neighbors. I only charged $5. I remember one time earning $90 over a two day stretch. I was tired but it was worth it. I was so proud of myself. When you are a 15 year old kid that was a lot money back in the mid-80s.

I only recall that anytime we got measurable snow I would be sick and unable to go outside.

my sibilings and I were always outside playing in the snow. We would play until we got soaked, went in for food, hot chocolate and dry clothes then back outside again.

We used to have neighborhood snowballs fights with our neighbors since we were all the same age. We would build forts and fling snowballs at each other...and we lived in a court so there was no traffic. Lots of fun.

We used to go ice skating as well.

Now I have a circulation problem (I always had it but its getting worse as I get older) so now I don't have much tolerance to the cold anymore...but that doesn't stop me i will still go outside in the snow and throw snowballs at my DH. I just can't stay out as long as I used to.

and if there is snow on the ground when we get together my sibs and i will still have a snow ball fight...mom laughs she says its like we never grew up.

One Christmas eve I went sledding and skidded into the pine trees and got these horrible scratches on my face and i had to sing that night at the christmas eve children's mass. LOL mom didn't get mad at all in fact when the choir director said something mom just looked at her and that "she's a kid. and Kid's play in the snow and things happen. it isn't going to effect her ability to sing with the choir."

When I was a kid, eons ago, there were no snow days---ever. We went to school no matter what. I can remember being let out of school early 1 time--that was in high school, and it was only because the public schools were letting out an hour early. Our parochial school had to follow their bus schedule, so the nuns had no choice but to let us out.
And, as an extra note, at the all-girl high school I attended, we could only wear slacks in Dec., Jan., and Feb., and NO jeans. Back in the days of mini skirts that ended up being a little chilly sometimes.