Hey, I get it. Kids are wonderful. “Your heart will soar!” That’s what a friend told me. But, they’re a ton of work too and they’ll test your patience in between every soaring moment. With this weekends weather report not looking like a one for the outdoors, I present to you: Rainy Day Stuff To Do With Your Kids.
It’s a simple list. But it might just save your sanity until you can safely open a bottle of wine and declare, “Who wants to watch Harry Potter!!!”
Sure, kids are absolutely wonderful. But, they’re also awful. They’re the ultimate, “wonderful and awful and the same time” (Hello? Anyone remember that bit?!)
By the way, I’m always up for suggestions from equally activity challenged parents so if you have a go-to for a rainy day activity that you don’t mind sharing and you don’t see here, please email me at [email protected]. Thanks! From one tired parent to another. We’re in this together!
I left off the wicked obvious stuff like: go to the movies, dump your kids in front of a screen all day and so forth. My list isn’t original. No question about that. It’s just that sometimes we get stuck on ideas on what to do with our joyous offspring and every tip here or there can help.
Hopefully, this rain won’t be too bad and we’ll be through fall and winter soon enough so we can get back to doing the really awesome outdoor stuff on The Jersey Shore.
In the meantime, hope you enjoy this list of rainy day stuff to do with your kids! Hit me up with any ideas you have to add to the list.
Baking
This project may sound like a massive clean up disaster, but hear me out. If you put all the measuring cups and bowls onto a bunch of cookie sheets that will catch all the spills and drips that the kids do during this. Shake those cookie sheets into the sink, pop them in the dishwasher with the rest of the stuff and you’re aces.
My favorite is Banana Bread. I use a Martha Stewart recipe from our family friend, Mrs. Joyce. It’s aces. And if you don’t have well-browned bananas for the project I have a few suggestions. Look in your grocery stores’ “reduced produce” area because sometimes they have ripe bananas there. Or you can try some packaged bananas that come pre-smashed but careful for any additives that may screw up your finished product.
circa 1950: A schoolgirl removes a freshly baked loaf from a baking tray.
Board Games
This is an old stand-by in my house when the weather outside makes outdoor play a no-go. We like Battleship, Monopoly, Clue, Backgammon, Virus, Settlers of Catan, and this wicked cool ball-gravity game that I scored for them last Christmas. It’s called Gravitrax. We liked it so much I got some add on pieces so we can really get a giant maze going.
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 17: Gage Thompson, left, and Daeton Harris play a game called Catan during DreamHack Atlanta 2018 at the Georgia World Congress Center on November 17, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Go Stomping In Puddles
This one is especially true for kids from 3 to 5.
At some point the rain will slow down. The slowdown will hopefully happen before you totally lose your mind spending the day inside with your kids. When it happens: get them outside stomping in puddles. “Wait, Carl. But we don’t want to go outside!” Yeah, well. Guess what? It’s only some wet clothing, some wet shoes (if you don’t have a pair of $10 rain boots from Walmart). If it’s not too cold out, stomping in puddles is a great way to get outside on a rainy day!
They’ll love this outdoor activity and you’ll love that they get some energy out at the same time.
FETCHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 26: A young boy is reflected in a rainwater puddle on May 26, 2006 in Fetcham, Surrey.
Kids Yoga Class
Kids are flexible humans, physically. Encourage that flexibility by finding a free yoga kids video and have a hilarious time trying out all the moves with them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll give them a new way to find their, “inner zen”! Or maybe you’ll all just have a hilarious time falling over while trying to pull off a downward dog into namaste! LOL!
SANTA MONICA, CA – APRIL 17: Children enjoy the yoga education for kids class during Step Up Women’s Network’s Third Annual “Step Up For Yoga and Health” charity festival at Bergamont Station, April 17, 2004 in Santa Monica, California.
