When I was a kid, there would be a special movie on snow days. Pretty much every kid in school would watch that movie, so the next day, there would be a lot to talk about. With all the choices today, even if every kid watched a movie, chances are good that there would be several movies the kids have seen. So, with so many choices – in just about everything from what to eat to what to watch to what to read – how do you create a community for a snow day discussion?
Up Top Organization
Depending upon the age of the kids, some adult oversight will help things get started in a way that can be sustained.
-Gather your kid and three or four friends in a video call or over for a snack and initiate a brainstorming session on what they’d like to pursue – a movie, a book, a hobby …
-With that decided, help to set out how they’ll communicate, how often, and what they’ll cover in their discussion.
-Determine if the kids think they’ll need further adult involvement and in what way.
Turn it Over to the Kids
If the kids are old enough to run the whole thing, offer to sit in as a silent-unless-needed observer for the first few minutes of their meeting. With younger kids,
-After any outdoor fun, get everyone in the meeting space, give each kid who wants to speak an assist if needed, and provide support as the kids talk about their shared experience.
-For little kids, plan to keep things moving while being sure each kid has an opportunity to speak up.
Plan for the Future
If all goes well, see if the kids want to discuss something they’ve seen, read, or done again. Learning to share the speaking space, articulate their ideas, and see for themselves that there’s value in talking about their experiences is definitely worthwhile.