We all know that keeping kids entertained on rainy days in is no picnic, but as the seasons turn and we enter colder, wetter winters than ever before it becomes harder and harder to avoid. Instead of letting the television babysit, do a little bit of planning and with some patience you can keep everyone happy.
Kitchen Fun
Obviously what you do with your children in the kitchen depends on how old your children are and what they are capable of, but there are lots of simple ideas to walk them through. Try mixing some cereal (something like Rice Krispies or Cornflakes would work best) with some melted chocolate, put them in cases and leave them to set – you can put extra sweets on top as well!
Helping to decorate a cake can be a great distraction for kids, and they might even be able to help you make the cake itself. If they have a few friends around, have a go at making pizzas – lay out lots of toppings in different bowls, buy ready-made pizza bases and let them design their own dinner.
Games
An indoor treasure hunt can be a fantastic way to keep everyone happy and busy, although it will require a fair bit of work ahead of time. Hide a toy or some sweets in a location about the house, give the kids a clue which will lead them to the next one, and whoever gets there first wins the prize! Alternatively get them to work together, or if they are a bit older encourage them to make the clues for each other.
Digging out board games can be a great way to keep them occupied – you can’t go wrong with Hungry Hungry Hippos, making a card game of your own or taking to the computer for some child-friendly bingo games at https://online.bingo.com/en. A game of indoor bowling can easily be achieved by setting up ten empty plastic bottles, a piece of duct tape for the start line and a soft indoor ball to knock them down with.
Crafts
The possibilities are endless if you have a well-stocked craft box. With some nice paper you can teach them how to make paper aeroplanes, fortune tellers or origami shapes. Make sock puppets with buttons and beads and encourage them to put on a play with the finished piece – double the fun! Alternatively an old poster tube, some nails and beans can create a musical rain stick which they can customise themselves.
If you feel like having some comfy fun, build a fort with the kids. Bring a few dining chairs into the living room and drape table cloths or blankets over the top; you can then fill the inside with cushions and duvets and have an indoor picnic, or turn the lights out and give them a torch to tell scary stories with.
Just a small amount of planning and a well-stocked activity box can take away a lot of the stress of keeping children entertained on those long, wet, winter days. Giving them a chance to create something themselves and encouraging them to think outside the box can be rewarding later in life – and might give you time to relax with a glass of wine!
*this is a partnered post*