Winter has us in its grip and doesn't seem likely to let us go anytime soon. Temperatures are plummeting and there is snow in the forecast again.

That usually means there may be more snow days in our future. While the excitement and novelty of those early winter declarations of a free day (for the kids at least) may not be as happily met as they were back in early December, you can still make the best of it.We polled our readers for some of their snow day tips. Here's a glimpse at some of our favorites.Outside fun"Do you want to build a snowman?" Anna sings to Elsa in Frozen.No? That's OK, there are still lots of things to outdoors.How about paying tribute to summer by blowing some good, old-fashioned bubbles. When the temperature drops below zero, Sarah Streby of Tunkhannock and her family head outside, for a little while at least."Blow regular bubbles when it's super cold out and they will freeze!!" says Streby.Valarie Kinney had another idea for subzero fun."Last year we were trapped inside in a snow induced nightmare for over a week. We boiled water and threw it in the air and watched it freeze."Coloring the snow can also be fun, says Margaux Lash, formerly of Jim Thorpe. Fill a spray bottle with water and add some food color, then go outside and spray "paint" your snow. While pink is a popular color in her house, maybe make it green to resemble grass, so you won't forget what that looks like.If it isn't too cold, why not host a cookout? Seems that's what Jill Changary's neighbor did."Our neighbor right across the street has a few boys. He started his generator for the house as our power kept going in and out. Then he chipped ice off his grill and fired it up! He had about six to eight boys over there for hot dogs," says Changary. "The boys play football in the empty lot next to our house and were out there yesterday in the puddles and on ice for a long time. Kids are the best in bad weather!"Or, you could always keep it old school, like reader Frank Waksmunski."Back in the old days, I gave them a shovel," says Waksmunski.Inside funToo cold outside? There's plenty to do indoors."My son and I play checkers and Wii, do puzzles, watch videos," says reader Margaret Breiner.Rich Strack says it's important to keep the kids occupied."Card games work well with my 10 and 7-year-old. Netflix is good to kill a couple of hours, too."Susie Behler makes a pancake breakfast for her grandkids, then it's playtime. She says they will color, play with Play-Doh and have a tea party. They also enjoy watching cartoons.Reader Desiree Palazzo Kelly says she's been stepping on a lot of Legos lately, a sure sign of too many snow days.In addition to playing games, Margaux Lash says her kids learned how to use the treadmill and elliptical exercise equipment this week, "to burn energy."Sarah Elmore found an inexpensive solution for yet another snow day."I gave him a big box!" says Elmore. "Much like cats, children thrive when given boxes."Catching up on favorite TV shows or movies is also popular."We make popcorn and binge watch Netflix," says Kerry Palumbo, "or do jigsaw puzzles.""Sometimes we have movie day, complete with popcorn and candy," says Desiree LaDuke. "Sometimes we make cookies. Depending on the temperature, the kids will go out and sled and sometimes we go out! I have AWD and if it's been a run of snow days. We hit the mall to shop and have lunch!"There's one other thing we all like to do on snow days, and that's eat; especially comfort foods.As reader Bill Eade points out, there's always the requisite French toast, which explains all the bread, milk and eggs we buy whenever the weatherman predicts snow. But there's so much more."I try and make comfort foods: soup, chili, stew, mac and cheese," says Kerry Palumbo. "I also bake."Deb Kunkle says her daughter Tori's crock pot mac and cheese is a big hit in their house, and gives it a big "Yum's" up.And of course, we can't forget the hot cocoa, "with clouds of whipped cream," says Meg Wilkins.Sarah Streby goes all out with her version of the iconic cold weather favorite."We make hot chocolate creations. That's custom hot chocolate out of flavored chocolate bars, and top it with whipped cream and different sprinkles."There's one more cold weather treat you better enjoy now before all that snow melts: snow cream and snow cones. Just make sure to use fresh snow. Set a bowl outside when it starts to snow, and use that for your creation.To make snow cream, just add a little sugar, vanilla and cream until you have the taste and consistency you like.For a snow cone, just scoop some snow into a cup and add your favorite flavor.And here's just one more hint for parents, especially when those snow days begin to seem endless. You can make yourself an adult version of a snow cone, just top it with the makings of a margarita or strawberry daiquiri, or even top it off with a splash of fancy liqueur, such Kahlua, amaretto or Chambord.And if that doesn't help, just remember, spring is only one month away.