Fun Ways to Spend Rainy Days Indoors with Kids

When you and your kids wake up to a rainy day, the spirit of the day can often go down the drain, but it doesn't have to. There are fun things to do indoors during a rain storm that you and your kids will love. Instead of wallowing in the blues of the bad weather, remember that fun can be had when it's rainy too.

Painting
Painting is a favorite activity among kids, no matter what the weather. While it can get messy, it doesn't have to be horribly stressful. Put down newspapers and make sure your kids know not to touch their clothes or furniture with their paints, especially when using finger paints. Breaking out the paints will keep the kids entertained for hours at a time, leaving you time to get chores done around the house. If time allows, you may even find that joining in the fun is a stress-relieving activity.

Building a Fort
Anytime is good for building a fort, but a rainy day is perfect for it. Make a pile of pillows, grab a handful of blankets and use your imagination. Put cord lights inside or make it more like indoor camping by using only flashlights. Get stick-on stars to decorate the 'ceiling' of your fort and make up campfire stories to share. Think back to your own fort-building days, and pass this time-honored activity down to your own brood with skills you learned along the way.

Create a Recipe Book
Take the time to talk with your kids about their favorite recipes, then create a family recipe book together. You can also make individualized cookbooks so your kids will be encouraged to help make the food in their own books. It is something you can add to on other rainy days, so it's something your kids can always look forward to.

Bake Something
Once you're done making that cookbook, the next step would be to bake something together! If there's a recipe all of your kids wanted to try, have them be your little helpers in the kitchen. They can crack the eggs, mix ingredients and help put dollops of cookie dough on the baking sheet. They will be excited to help you, they'll learn some important life skills and then everyone can enjoy the tasty treats you've made together.

Movie Marathon
Rainy days often give the feeling of wanting to lie around and do nothing. So, do just that. Have a movie marathon with your kids. Make a bowl of popcorn and curl up under a big blanket. While it's wise to limit kids' screen time on a regular basis, making a day of it with plenty of movies can be a very occasional treat that's all the more special for its rarity.

Invent a Game
Kids have amazing imaginations. Put them to use by creating a game together. Draw up a board game and have your kids make up the rules or put a new twist on hide and seek. Either way, it'll keep your kids happy while they are stuck indoors.

Arts and Crafts
Another fun activity for your creative kids on a rainy day is arts and crafts. Bring out the scissors, construction paper and glitter. Make hand puppets and put on a show, create greeting cards for other members of the family, or make paper snowflakes to decorate your home with when the winter holidays roll around.

Science Experiments
For your little scientist, try coming up with some indoor experiments you can try together. Learn what things are magnetic or conduct electricity. Teach your kids about static electricity with a balloon floating along your wall. The options are endless, and can help foster a love of learning through hands-on activities

Build a Paperclip Chain
Do you have a lot of paper clips lying around the house? Have your kids help pick them up by creating a paperclip chain. See how long you can make your chain and alternate colors if your paperclips are coated with multi-hued plastic. Once you've gotten all of them gathered and linked, have your kids unhook the paperclips and put them in a special place where they will be put from now on.

Coloring
If nothing else sparks the interest of your little ones, take out the crayons, markers or colored pencils and a coloring book or two. Also, hand out a few blank pieces of paper for them to draw their own creations. Coloring may seem too simple, but it always works when it comes to keeping kids entertained.

There's no need to let a rainy day get you down. Hang out with your kids, spend some quality time together and help them use their imaginations. Laugh, play and have fun together, making everyone forget what's going on outside. It could also help to promise your kids that once the weather gets better, a trip to the park will be in order.

Originating at www.fulltimenanny.com