Rainy Days, Cabin Fever
My kids are climbing the walls. As much as I love the rain, the kids are definitely not on the same page. Plus, it’s Martin Luther King Day and the hope of going to Disneyland washed away in the storm.
So it’s time to get creative! What to do with a house full of kids, full of energy, and no place to go….
Movie Monday! How about watching a family favorite. An old classic like, The Wizard Of Oz, Old Yeller, Pinocchio, Grease, The Sound Of Music, Pete’s Dragon, Star Wars, Mary Poppins, etc. Pop some popcorn, cuddle up under some blankets, and enjoy the down time.
Creative Play. If you have any big boxes laying around, my kids love to make houses and forts out of them. Cut out windows, even a door. They can paint it, draw on it with markers, and decorate it with stickers. My kids also love to make forts out of blankets.
Have a concert! It’s loud and crazy, but kids need that. Use pots and pans and kitchen utensils. Any empty milk containers, OJ cartons, even plastic ice cube trays can work to make different sounds. Empty cereal boxes and a wooden spoon make a great drum, you can set up many of them for a whole set. Coffee cans with coffee beans or any kind of bean will make another great sound. Crank up the music and create an African marching band! So fun!!!
Don’t get mad moms, but we also love to play in the rain. I bundle the kids up, raincoats, rubber boots, and of course, umbrellas, then we go out and sing songs about the rain. “It’s raining, It’s pouring, the old man is snoring…” “Rain drops are falling on my head…” Sometimes we make up our own words. The kids think paying in the rain is breaking the rules a bit, and that is a blast for them. If they are really covered up than an occasional puddle jump is even better!
Food Jewelry is also fun too. Take a piece of string and let them thread cereal or uncooked pasta. If you are really creative they can paint different shapes of pasta first and make beautiful necklaces out of it.
Don’t forget about the simple stuff like board games and puzzles.
Don’t let the weather rain on your parade. Use your imagination and have FUN!
