A parent may feel a twinge of panic when rain showers are predicted. Not keeping children busy will make the day inside very chaotic and out of control. The way to make a rain day less hectic is to be prepared with organized activities. It is important to remember when planning fun-filled activities they are neither difficult nor complex. Simple entertaining crafts or games are all you need to make the day a hit with children.
Here are some ideas to keep your family busy on a rainy day:
- Build a tent with chairs and a sheet
- Watch a movie with popcorn
- Play in the sink with funnels and spoons
- Make rainsticks
- Make music with pots and pans
- Build puzzles
- Create art-using pudding as finger paint
- Play Bingo
- Play Musical Chairs
- Play board games
- Write a letter to Grandma and send it in the mail
- Get up and dance to music
- Sort and fold washed laundry
Draw or Colour Pictures
Bring out your crayons and markers and draw pictures. Children love to express themselves through art. Play a children’s CD and enjoy this time drawing and colouring together. You can show them photos of family members and let your little ones create a family portrait. There are many sites where you can download free printable colouring pictures for your children to colour. These are handy and easy to print the night before.
Make Play Dough
Children enjoy playing with play dough anytime. Play dough is very important with developing fine motor skills in children. Working with play dough will let your children use their imaginations, put ideas into shapes and develop artistic skills according to Abcteach.com. You can make different types of play dough at home using easy recipes and household ingredients. Here is one recipe from Pedagonet.com:
Kool Aid Playdough
- 3 cups flour
- 1/2 cups salt
- 2 Kool Aid packages
- 2 cups boiling water
Mix dry ingredients together. Add boiling water. Knead on floured board.
Can add flour by sprinkles until desired consistency.
This play dough will last for a long time when stored correctly.
Fruit Loop Necklaces
These necklaces are simple to make and keep children very busy. Pour Fruit Loops cereal into a bowl and string the cereal together to make a necklace. You can make this more challenging by asking your children to sort the colours and make groups of ten. String the cereal together then add another ten of a different colour. You can let the children eat the necklaces for a snack after they finish.
Indoor Hopscotch Court
Staying inside does not mean you cannot bring outdoor fun indoors for the day. Make a hopscotch court on your carpet with masking tape. Use a beanbag to throw and cover a number. The children will think it fun to play an outdoor game inside.
Staying inside on a rainy day does not have to difficult for you or your family. By planning fun-filled activities and making a schedule, your day will be a pleasant one. Playing Bingo, watching a movie or colouring pictures are great ideas to keep your children happy while staying inside. Surviving a rainy day is easy as long as you are organized and prepared with fun ideas for the whole day.
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