Need some free and fun ideas for the kids on a rainy day? Give these simple ideas a try: make your own holiday, have an indoor “camp-out”, etc.
We have all been there…a rainy day stuck inside with restless children. This scenario can be a recipe for disaster. Not knowing how to keep the kids entertained can be frustrating. Also, having to spend money to do things like go to a movie or visit the mall can be discouraging. Before you and the kids go crazy staring at one another, here are a few free rainy day ideas:
- Make your own holiday
Start by sitting down and finding something that makes you or your family unique that you could celebrate together. Once you’ve decided what that is, give the holiday a name. Make a special menu for that day. Take a photo to commemorate the event. Decorate a picture frame just for it or make banners for your day. Make it a tradition to celebrate that holiday on the same day every year. The possibilities are endless!
- Have an indoor camp-out
Build a make-shift tent with a sheet and a table or with couch cushions. If you have the room, set up a real tent in a room in the house. You can sit around the tent and tell stories or jokes. Grab some marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, and use the microwave to make s’mores. Turn out the light and use flashlights or electric lanterns to make it feel more authentic.
- Spend the day in the kitchen
Sometimes it is hard to get kids interested in cooking, but if you can, it can teach some valuable lessons. Things like patience, measuring, independence, and even fractions! A rainy day will give you both the time you need to spend time together, making something tasty.
Take the time to find a kid-friendly recipe that you both like, and then help the child prepare it. Depending on their age, you might have to be a bit more involved than just supervising. Take a special notebook just for them and put the recipe in the book. Make that book their special “cookbook.” You can even take the time to decorate it. Over time you can add more recipes, and then your child will have their own cookbook.
- Make your own puppet theatre
Find a long rectangular table and turn it on its side. Also, find some old (but not too smelly!) tube socks and markers. Use the socks to make puppets, draw on the eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Use the table to hide behind while you make your own show. Add in your favorite songs and even make the puppets dance along!
These are just a few fun and free ideas for a rainy day. All one really needs to survive a day stuck inside is an imagination and a willingness to get a little silly sometimes. These activities can be adapted to entertain older or younger children. Just the time spent together will be worth the effort, and the memories will be priceless. The rainy day is optional, but the fun is most definitely required!
