6 things to do on a rainy day
Spring is in and that means sun, flowers and a lot of rain. And, despite our best intentions to get outside and enjoy the nice weather, sometimes the rain will win. When this happens, the only thing you can think about is how to entertain the kids for an entire day. Here are six activities you can do with the kids on a rainy day.
Get crafty
Arts and crafts are one of the easiest activities to organize for a day indoors because they only require a few supplies and a bit of creativity. They are also another way to encourage learning and reinforcing age-appropriate concepts. Easy arts and crafts ideas can come from anywhere and you don’t even have to go to the craft store.
You can use common household items and make them into something unique. For instance, use scrap paper to draw and cut different shapes and create a fun collage. For older kids, a fun craft could be origami. Frogs, flowers, and cranes are all simple crafts to make. All you need is paper, scissors, and some easy to follow directions!
Bake something
The quickest way to get any child into the kitchen is by saying there will be treats. Once they’re in the kitchen, why not ask them to help you bake? Baking is a fantastic activity helps develop reading and math skills by reading the recipe and measuring ingredients. Children also learn sequencing—the process of doing one thing after the other. Finally, baking can help build self-esteem and confidence in the kitchen and has a sweet reward in the end. Find an easy recipe for brownies or chocolate chip cookies and spend a rainy day baking!
Make a fort
Activate your child’s imagination by building a fort. Designate a place in the house, whether it’s your couch, dining room table, or bed, and get building. Grab some extras pillows and blankets to make the best fort your child can imagine.
Once it’s built, enjoy the fun and comfort that comes with a blanket fort. Bring a few flashlights to make shadow puppets or read a book aloud for storytime.
Solve a puzzle
A puzzle is a perfect indoor activity for everyone because there are so many to pick from. For small children, puzzles can be an easy and entertaining child development tool. Solving a puzzle helps develop fine motor skills, memory and spatial awareness. And, as children get older, they become faster at solving puzzles by employing different strategies to problem solve. Finally, your child will be proud to finish the puzzle and encourage confidence in future projects.
Read a book
Who doesn’t love story time? For adults, there is nothing more relaxing than curling up with your favourite book on a rainy afternoon. Why not pass down this peaceful pastime to your child and read? It’s the perfect time to practice reading and encourage discussion. Create a comfy book nook somewhere in your house and bring a few books with you. Then, snuggle up and get reading.
Build something
Playing with building blocks or Lego is a great indoor activity. Children can entertain themselves for hours and work on their fine motor skills in the process.
Building new structures or people requires math skills and creativity. If they’re following directions from an accompanying booklet, they’re also practicing their reading skills. As children get older, the pieces can become smaller, making them an appropriate toy for all ages.
A rainy day may force you to cancel your outdoor activities, but there are still so many things to do indoors. Once you find a few activities that your child loves, spending a day inside won’t seem that bad.
What is your favourite rainy day activity? Let us know on our Facebook page, Laura Berg Life.
