Ask any parent and they’re sure to tell you how hard it can be to keep a kid amused when stuck indoors. Whether due to bad weather or a bad case of the sniffles, being stuck at home isn’t much fun for anyone. That’s why we’re so pleased to present several rainy day activities you can share with your kid.
Indoor activities away from home
If you’re looking for an indoor activity to do outside the home, check out the Mommy Poppins website. There you can scout by city or region to find all sorts of educational and entertaining stuff to do with your kids on a rainy day. For instance, Connecticut moms can find info about planetariums, museums and observatories that offer an exceptional experience for kids and parents alike. The Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport offers rotating planetarium shows along with exhibits and lectures that explain how long-ago seafarers used the stars to navigate.
Mary Poppins also offers a range of kid-friendly indoor activities that are just right for a rainy day. Snuggle under comfy blankets and read a pile of book aloud. Shuffle a deck of cards and teach your kids to play gin rummy, slapjack or poker. Use household items to make musical instruments and march a parade through the house.
At-home activities for rainy days
Hold a room-cleaning competition with a time limit, and see how fast your kids organize their personal spaces. Set a timer, and allow the winner to choose the next indoor activity, recommends NetMums magazine. Make one-person pizzas with premade crusts and any topping the kids might find in the kitchen. Be sure to have plenty of shredded cheese and sliced veggies for this one. Make a gigantic bowl of popcorn and settle on the sofa to watch all the kid-friendly flicks you’ve been meaning to catch up on.
Creative on a rainy day
Art projects are a great way to spend a rainy day. Keep a collection of sketch books, markers, pencils and crayons and bring them out on inclement afternoons. Art apps for Android devices can be a whole lot of rainy day fun, too. Browse a sweet selection of artistic apps at this link. Collage art is another project that’s fun for the whole family. Let your kids cut pictures and phrases from used magazines and glue them onto cardboard oatmeal cartons to create cool containers to hold just about anything.
Let the kids raid your closet and put on a fashion show. You’ll want to supervise, but letting your little ones dress up and try on colorful makeup can turn a rainy afternoon into a wheelbarrow full of laughs. If you know how to macrame, teach your kids how to make friendship bracelets, plant hangers and other crafty items made of cord.
Rainy days don’t have to be boring, nor do they have to cause tension between parents and kids. Try a few of the aforementioned activities and enjoy your rainy afternoon.
Freddie Oliver is Dad to 3 kids under the age of 10. He loves being a Dad and enjoys spending quality time with the kids as they learn, grow and develop into wonderful mini humans!