Nothing is more boring than a dreary, rainy day. Lounging in bed or curling up with a good book may sound ideal to parents, but most kids are unwilling to spend their day this way. The next time it won’t stop raining and pouring, try these fun rainy day boredom busters together.
- Host a movie marathon.
Pop some popcorn and put on some of your favorite movies to enjoy with the littles to pass the time. Consider choosing a theme for your movie marathon such as Disney princess movies, a movie with several sequels, or old school movies from your childhood. A rainy day is also a great time to head to the movie theater for the afternoon.
- Craft time. Paint, sculpt Play-Doh, or make bead bracelets. Allow the kids to get creative by making their own scrapbook or finding items in your recycle bin they can make into sculptures. Hit up craft store sales before you begin, so you have a stockpile of art supplies available without having to go out in the rain. Often, you can find seasonal themed kits to complete with your children. Now, you will have fun decorations for the house as well as entertainment for your children.
- Take a field trip. You don’t have to stay cooped up in your house just because it’s raining. Stopping by the library passes the time and lets you stock up on things to do when you return home. Check local listings for open gyms, indoor playgrounds, or other fun indoor activities where the kids can run and play while burning off some energy.
- Puddle jump. If temperatures allow, change into play clothes and then head outside with your rain boots and umbrella, and allow the kids to jump in the rain puddles. When you head back inside, draw a warm bubble bath for them to get cleaned up and so they can begin to wind down.
- Experiment. Since you are stuck inside, amuse yourself and your children with a science experiment. Not only will time slip away, but you will also be providing a science lesson. Ideas could be creating a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, combining water dyed with food coloring, or mixing salt with ice to see what happens. Your local library will have several books that contain age-appropriate experiments, or websites like Pinterest can also provide a lot of great ideas for them to experiment with.
- Fun in the kitchen. Bake some cookies or other homemade treats with your kids, and they are sure to think you’re sweet. Pull out some old family recipes and teach your kids how to make them. In addition to learning about their family’s culture and traditions, they are sure to be proud of being able to serve them for dinner that night. Or, you can find an easy one to make online with ingredients you have in the house.
- Get active. Have a dance party in your living room, play a game of keep away, or create an obstacle course to get the kids active and help burn off some of the restless energy that can build up when they are stuck inside all day. Check gonoodle.com for free kids’ workout videos.
It’s raining, it’s pouring, but that doesn’t mean your day has to be boring. Parents can get creative and involve the kids in their plan to fill the rainy day. Besides all the things listed above, you can build a fort, make cards for soldiers, clean up the toy room, or make homemade ice cream. The possibilities are endless with a little imagination.
