It’s that time of the year again—when your carpets get soggy and cold, little boot prints litter the kitchen floor, and chilled red noses are as commonplace as the everyday shirt stain. Yes, it’s time for snow days!

Whether you love or hate them, it’s good to be prepared for when Jack Frost decided to keep your kiddos—and you—snowbound for the day—or the week! Here’s a list of things you might want to keep on hand for your next snow day.

The Basics: A good snow outfit is essential. We always layer t-shirts beneath a sweatshirt and sweatpants, and cover those with a snow suit. Our daughter also always uses a scarf—members of our household surely get wheezy without one!—gloves, a good hat that also covers her ears, and snow boots. (Once, when we couldn’t find her boots, we covered her tennis shoes with two pairs of my husband’s socks. It wasn’t quite the same!)

Ingredients for Fun Snow Play: You might want to have any or all of these on hand; of course, the snow itself is pretty much all you need!

A sled or toboggan: You can use a lot of makeshift things for this if it’s just in your yard—even a sandbox lid will work for just pulling the kids around. But if you’re going down a hill, you might want to be sure to use a good sled with handles.

Snowman Fixin’s: Sure, you can buy a kit, but what fun is there in that? Use extra stuff you’ve got around the house or a carrot from the fridge. Be wacky and use Halloween costumes, an old bra, you name it!

Bubbles: A recent Parents magazine suggested blowing bubbles out in freezing weather to watch them freeze in the air! The same article also had the cool idea of spraying the snow with food coloring to make snow art.

Post-Snow Play Must-Haves: When you’re ready to come in—and even if you’re not but you have to because you can barely feel your toes!—have your favorites of the following ready for warming up.

Your favorite hot soup—chicken noodle, vegetable, or tried-and-true tomato, complete with grilled cheese.

Towels—if your kiddos are coming in from playing without you, fluff them up in the dryer for a moment for some extra heat.

Cocoa with all the trimmings, like marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate sprinkles, and whatever you like. Get the packaged kind, or make your own for a real treat.