There is nothing worse than a rainy day in the middle of the
school holidays, when children are cooped up inside, you have
nothing planned, and the inevitable cries of “I’m bored” are not
far away! Keep this list of rainy day activities ready for just
such a day. Older children may enjoy choosing from the list
themselves.
1. Sort through the toy cupboard:
It’s surprising how much fun this can be! Get everyone together
and aim to clear one shelf or drawer. You will probably find
that old treasures are rediscovered, odd pieces can be thrown
away, and some things will be ready to be passed down or sold.
If you are not sure whether to get rid of some of the toys, try
packing them away in a box and hiding them in a dark corner of
the cupboard for a few months. When they come out again they
will either cause a sensation, or not - which will make it easy
to decide on their fate!
2. Record the sounds around you:
Get out the tape recorder and make a project out of recording
everyday sounds. Try water running in the bath, someone ringing
the bell and opening the door, or flushing the toilet! It
certainly makes you think about things a little differently than
usual. Suggest that some friends or neighbours do the same thing
and then get together to see if you can identify each other’s
sounds!
3. Make a story tape:
Grab that tape recorder and a blank cassette, find a story you
enjoy, and make your own story tape! Each child can read for a
while, or can take on the part of a particular character. Make
the appropriate noises too! You will probably have to practice a
few times to get the hang of it, and be prepared for lots and
lots of giggles! Tip: a homemade story tape makes a great
present for a child who has to go to hospital or is bedridden
for a time.
4. Have a jigsaw afternoon:
Get out all your jigsaws and invite some friends around with
theirs too! Clear plenty of space and have a marathon jigsaw
session. Some libraries have jigsaws you can borrow too, and you
can often find jigsaws for sale very cheaply at charity shops
(thrift stores) and car boot sales (garage sales). Tip: if you
buy your jigsaws second-hand and the box has seen better days,
cut out the picture and store it in a re-sealable bag with all
the pieces.
5. Have a mammoth junk modelling session with friends:
Invite a few families around and ask them to bring their
craft-cupboard junk with them – boxes, containers, and other
bits and pieces. You provide glue, sticky-tape, scissors, and
encouragement. You could make houses, or creatures, or boats, or
modern art – or you could all combine together to make one giant
model!
6. Make a card house:
If you don’t know any good card games or haven’t anyone to play
with, try building a card house! Start by balancing two cards
against each other so that they stand up in an inverted V-shape.
Take it from there!
7. Make an indoor obstacle course:
Check with an adult that this is OK first! Use easily movable
furniture (kitchen chairs, coffee tables) to mark out a course.
Create a tunnel to crawl through with a blanket draped over low
tables, or space cushions around the room to use as
stepping-stones. You will have lots more ideas!
8. Practice balancing:
Balancing is fun! Try walking the length of the room with a book
on your head. When you can do that, try balancing two or three –
then add a cuddly toy to the very top!
9. Create an indoor den:
A few blankets and tablecloths can create the most wonderful
indoor den. Drape blankets between sofas and chairs, over
stepladders and clothes-dryers, or tie the ends to cupboard
knobs and door handles. Once the den is created find some
special snacks, coloring pages and pencils, a CD player and
music, a torch or two, and camp out for a while!
10. Play with string:
Older children can create some wonderful inventions with a ball
of string and their imagination! A toilet roll and a sloping
length of string make a great message chute or rocket. Get some
action toys involved too: try making them a lift (elevator) out
of a box or a basket and hoist them up! Adults should supervise
constantly if there are younger kids around.
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