Thursday Thirteen #35: Things to do when it’s raining
Jul 5, 2007 Thursday Thirteen
Our plans to spend every day at the pool were put on a hold a couple weeks ago because it kept raining. It rained for several days in a row. As parents we all know what it means when it’s raining during summer vacation. It means the quantity of “Mom, I’m BOOOOOREDDDD!” goes up exponentially based on the number of days it rains in a row. So here are some ideas for activities to do during the rainy season.
1. If there’s no lightning go outside to stomp through the puddles. I used to love to stomp through the rain puddles when I was a kid. It’s warm in the summer so you don’t even need to throw on your golashes. Go out in your bare feet.
2. Or have your very own sailboat regatta. Don’t have milk cartons? Use anything; cereal boxes, gallon milk jugs, construction paper, newspaper [although with the construction paper and newspaper your boats won't last very long, but that's just an excuse to make more].
3. Grab the food coloring and head outside for some water painting. Pour some on the concrete and watch what designs the rain makes. Mix colors together to make new colors. Don’t worry it usually washes away with the rain. If it does stay behind use some detergent and water to scrub it away.
4. Don’t want to play outside? Camp or make forts in the house. We have a pop up tent the kids love to lay in. Or you could just drape blankets over the couch and some chairs for their very own fort. Make smores in the microwave and tell ghost stories in the tent/fort.
5. It’s usually fairly dark outside when it’s rainy so it’s a perfect time for a Family Moive Afternoon [as opposed to Family Movie Night]. Pop some popcorn. Grab some drinks. And huddle together on the couch for a family movie.
6. Make a Cardboard Castle. Now that’s some fine cardboard craftsman and it will keep kids entertained all afternoon.
7. Go bowling in the living room. Line up ten empty soda bottles/cans and roll a tennis ball or a softball at them. Normal bowling rules apply or make up your own.
8. Build an edible bridge. Kids love learning about science. Especially when they get to eat their projects when their done.
9. Get the kids to help you clean. *groan* No, I’m serious. A sitter we used to use a few years back had this great kitchen game. She threw down some soapy water on the kitchen floor, tied a sponge to the kids’ butts and let them scoot after each other in a game of tag. The kids had fun and the floor got clean.
10. Or have them do dishes. It always amazes me what constitutes “fun” for kids. You’ll never get away with this “fun” activity with teenagers, but younger kids love to do dishes. I have no idea why. Fill the kitchen sink up [or the bathtub even] with warm soapy water and let the kids wash and dry the dishes. Depending on the age of the kids you may still want to actually wash the dishes yourself later.
11. Pull out the elbow macaroni and yarn to make macaroni necklaces. Get crazy and add some penne pasta or some pasta rings.
12. Speaking of pasta, make some Pasta Art with spaghetti. Use food coloring to color the spaghetti for some really pretty pictures.
13. Make your own paper dolls. Take pictures of the kids in several different outfits. Print them out on the computer on to white cardstock. Let the kids cut out the shirts and pants/skirts and rearrange. You could also take pictures of them with many different facial expressions. Not only can they change their dolls clothes, but they can make them happy, sad, mad or excited too.
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July 5th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Oh the days! Most of my kids are old enough to entertain them selves now, and I am soooo glad! Video games and movies keep them from driving me nuts, which makes them have extra chores.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
A great list of fun activities!! Happy summer and Happy Th13
Mama Kelly
July 5th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
What creative ideas! I usually just head for the Children’s Museum!
March 29th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
these are stupid i am a kid and i think none of theme are fun CLEANING WHAT KID THINKS CLEANING IS FUN . IF YOUR KID THINKS CLEANING IS FUN THEY MUST BE ROBOTS.
April 17th, 2010 at 9:10 am
That’s a load of crap
May 21st, 2010 at 10:05 pm
I thought these ideas were cute.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:46 am
I think these ideas were great. I am a kid and I would enjoy these. I am going to try them today because it is supposed to be rainy. I think the tag game would be very fun. For all the kids out there who think cleaning is boring, I don’t think it is and I am 10. Thank you who ever put those on there, I will have fun today. I am going to watch Toy Story, and Toy Story 2. I won’t be bored today!!