“MUM! I’m bored!”
These are the words in the English language that every mother dreads most on a rainy day. For some reason, school-age children have this uncanny ability to suddenly tire of their toys and want to go outside the minute the sky opens up. So what do you do when the whining and sulking begins?
Have a back-up plan! Keep on hand the makings of a fun afternoon and some fresh, new ideas to squash your children’s moods that seem to be matching the weather and get everyone smiling again. There are thousands of ways to entertain your kids on a rainy day so be creative. Here are a few fun ideas to help get you started
Turn Them Into Junior Chefs
Kids love the kitchen. The fun of measuring, mixing, and cutting, followed by enjoying the tasty treat that you have prepared can become addicting. Let the children bake a cake or cookies, whip up a special snack, or even put them in charge of lunch or dinner. Stick close by to supervise the use of knives and the oven, then enjoy the delectable morsels that your aspiring cooks have created.
Bring Out a New Board Game
When you are out shopping, check the clearance areas of your favourite department or toy store for some fun games that are on a price reduction. Tell no one that you bought them and hide them away. Pull one out when the kids are going through one of their ‘there is nothing to do’ fits and let them enjoy the surprise. Play along with them and enjoy the family time together.
Write a Book or Play
Ask the kids to show their creative side and have them come up with a story. They can write a book, elaborating on the characters, developing a cover, and binding it all up with string. If they are the more theatrical type, have them create a play and act it out for everyone later in the day. Not only will this stimulate their imaginations, it can be great fun for the entire of the family to read the story or watch the play together.
Make Your Own Play Dough
Kids of all ages love play dough. The younger set is usually happy just using their imaginations to create and recreate fun shapes and designs. Older kids might enjoy making small sculptures or ornaments that can be left to dry and then painted later. Here is a simple recipe for homemade playdough:
¼ cup of salt
1 cup flour
¼ cup water
Simply mix together the dry ingredients and then slowly add the water, mixing well. Knead until it is the right consistency. Add more water if it is too stiff and add more flour if it seems sticky. Use food colouring for colour and glitter for sparkle.
Have a Scavenger Hunt
If you know the rainy day blues are inevitable, get a jump-start on this one! Hide a special treat or toy that everyone can enjoy in an inconspicuous place. Then hide a series of clues that leads to the treasure. If you are playing with multiple children, put their names on specific clues, making sure that everyone gets a chance to participate. Chances are they will enjoy it so much, that they’ll ask you to hide something else.
Become Amateur Photographers
Everyone loves to take pictures. Let the kids take turns snapping silly shots of each other making faces, doing tricks, or whatever comes to mind. Let the girls (or the boys if they want to) have a fashion show and take modelling shots of them. Print them out on the computer or take them to the one-hour photo shop to be developed and create a rainy day photo album, to look back on in a few years for a smile or a laugh.
Break Out the Craft Bin
If all else fails, grab the arts and crafts supplies and let the kids go at it. Whether you purchase a box full of supplies from the craft store or just keep odds and ends from around the house to create with, being an artist is a lot of fun. String, glue, cotton balls, glitter and some paper can entertain children of all ages for hours on end. While you may end up with a bit of clean up, at least you know the nagging about being bored will come to an end!
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