Rainy or snowy days often mean children are stuck inside with nothing to do. After a while, they get tired of the the same old video games, board games, and reruns on TV. With a little bit of imagination, children can turn everyday household items into fun and interactive games and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Things to Do With a Roll of Wrapping Paper
- Use a roll of wrapping paper as an oar for a boat and sing songs like Row Row Row Your Boat.
- Tape a piece of cardboard or thick paper to one end of the roll. Then drop a few pennies, paperclips, popcorn kernels, gumballs, or whatever else that makes noise inside the tube. Tape another piece of cardboard or paper to the remaining open end, so that both ends are closed. Now turn the tube from side to side. Try different objects to make different sounds.
- Decorate the tube and use the roll as a sword or light saber.
- Tie a string to one end of the wrapping paper roll and pretend to go fishing.
Have a Family Camp Out
- Grab some blankets and chairs and build a fort or put up an indoor tent
- Gather around a plate of S’mores and tell campfire stories
- Turn off the lights and use lanterns instead
- Listen to a nature CDs
- Have an indoor scavenger hunt
- Invest in a constellation machine and sleep under the stars in sleeping bags
Play Imaginary Ball
Each player gets a small brown paper (lunch) bag. One player throws an imaginary ball while the other player pretends to catch it by crumpling the corner of the bag. Little kids will marvel over this game, especially when they are throwing the ball, and the adult is catching it.
Have Fun With Arts and Crafts
Make homemade cards using scraps of material, wrapping paper, newspaper, construction paper, buttons, ribbons, beads, glitter, coffee grounds, cotton balls, etc.
- Put on an art show. Have each child do their own self-portrait.
- Hang a large sheet of paper on the wall and let the children do a wall mural.
- Use cookie cutters and large sponges to cut out shapes to make stamps.
- Make a scrapbook
Play Dress Up
Gather items that can be used for dress up. Ties, ribbons, scarves, belts, hats, wigs, unused clothing, sunglasses, costumes from previous Halloweens, etc.
Kids can even make their own creative costumes at home.
With a little bit of imagination, children can use things they find around the house to play games, do arts and crafts, and entertain themselves and the family for hours.
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