|
Rain, Rain please don't go
Water the plants and make them grow.
How ever long you decide to stay
We will remain inside and play, play, play!
Water Paint - colored construction paper, Q-Tips and water is all you need for this mess-free activity. Place water in a bowl and let your child draw to his heart's content.
Indoor Mini Golf -get a flyswatter (preferrably a new one), ping pong balls and plastic cups. You can also add toys and books as obstacles. Lay the cups on their side and place a piece of paper down as the tee. Have children count how many times they have to hit the ping pong ball before they get it into the cup (hole). A few holes around the house will create hours of enjoyment.
Bean Bag Toss - you can use a few pairs of rolled up of socks as bean bags or create your own by sewing two fabric swatches together and filling with rice or beans (make sure they are sealed). Place different colors of construction paper in front of the 'toss pad'...these are the targets. Assign different point values based on the distance. Have children attempt to throw their bean bags and have them land on the targets. Add them up and give jelly beans as rewards. You can also have children try to throw their bean bags on matching colors. (blue socks must land on the blue target, white socks on white).
Straw Table Hockey - Use painter's tape to place goals on either side of a table. Have one child sit behind each goal armed with a straw. You can use crackers, marshmallows or smarties as the puck. Children have to blow the puck into their opponent's goal. Each child gets 3 attempts to get the puck into the other's goal. If you have bendie straws, you can use them as mini hockey sticks and instead of blowing, hit the puck into the opponent's goal. Keep score.
*If a child is playing alone, use a cracker and have them attempt to get it across the table to the
edge of the other side. They get a point if the cracker is over the edge but does not fall off
the table. You don't have to tape a goal for this version.
Room/House Clean Up – get a pair of dice. Each child gets to roll the dice and whatever number they roll they have to pick up that many items either in their room or around the house. Kids will try to roll the lowest, so they don’t have to clean up too much! This is a great way for kids to help clean up in a fun way!
Hide the guys, play the game - the candyland guys really want to play, the sorry pieces are screaming 'game on' you can add 20 minutes to playtime simply by hiding the pieces and making it a game for your children to find them. Suzie is assigned the green guys, Joey is assigned the blue guys and the yellow and red is everyman's find. Points or treats for those that find the most. For the best 'bang for buck' hide them while your children are engaged in another activity (such as breakfast). Then break the game out when you just can't take it any more. Obviously, hide the game pieces according to age. Once they find them, they must play the board game.
Candy Scramble - you must have some extra candy, cookies, gold fish crackers, etc lying around. Scatter these around the floor and have the kids race to pick up the most. They get to eat their winnings plus for an added incentive, the child with the most wins a small prize (or they get to pick the movie you watch in the afternoon.)
Scientist – clean out your spice cabinet. Clear your kitchen table and cover with newspaper. Give the kids a couple bowls and spoons and have them mix some “experiments” with the spices, water, squirt bottles and whatever else you have lying around. You can get rid of those out of date or spices you never use and they will have hours of fun! Science Ideas click here
Pudding and Whipped Cream painting – Cover your table in newspaper and grab some pudding and whipped cream. Have the kids create their favorite art using this unique medium for finger painting.
 Shaving cream painting – Grab Dad’s shaving cream, put the kids in their bathing suits and throw them in the tub. They will enjoy putting shaving cream all over each other and the walls. For more fun, add some kool-aid or a dab of food coloring for creative colors!
Obstacle course - That’s right…take the cushions off your couch, move those fancy lamps and photo’s. Have your kids make themselves an obstacle course in your living room. Use chairs, cushions, TV trays, paper plates (as stepping stones,) and anything else you have lying around. The kids will spend hours creating this and then you can time them as they try to get the fastest time through their own creation! Make sure you let them know the only “catch” is they will have to clean everything up afterwards (SEE ROOM/HOUSE CLEAN UP above!)
OOdles of NOOdles - find any kind of pasta that would be able to be threaded on a string. (wheels, ziti, o's, etc) Allow children to make noodle necklaces. For added fun, try fruity "o" cereal and/or dye the pasta different colors. Also try using chop sticks, straws or gimp as the object to thread the pasta.
Bubble Wrap Fun - place a piece of bubble wrap on the floor and present it as a "dance stage". Have children run, hop, skip, crawl over it to hear the "pop, pop, pop". If you have different sizes it will make this activity even MORE interesting! SEE BUBBLES LESSON PLAN!
Treasure Chest Hunt - have packing peanuts or other "stuffing" laying around...put it in a box and place some "treasures" in the mix. Have children find a specific item or just root around and see what they can get their hands on. For added difficulty, have them close their eyes and find an item by just using their sense of touch.
Freeze Dance – turn on the music and have them dance. When the music stops they stop. If anyone is moving, they are out! Give out awards for best dancer, best leg work, most creative dance, etc. (dance award certificates.)
Tupperware Towers – We all have our Tupperware drawers (or in my case, I have a whole cabinet for Tupperware and plastic items.) Have the kids build the biggest tower on the kitchen floor. You can see who can stack the highest tower or who can make the best castle.
Puppet Show – your kids can make puppets out of old pillow cases, brown bags or plastic shopping bags. Get out some crafts supplies: glue, string, paper, scissors, markers and let them create! Set up a stage (they can squeeze behind the couch) and have them perform a puppet show with you as the audience.
Veggie Pictures- if you decide to do all of the activities you will need the following food: peanut butter, cream cheese, raisins, celery (some stalks cut into 4 inch strips, some cut to fit swingset mold), string beans, shredded cheese, cucumber sliced, carrots (cut into a small strip AND a whole carrot).
Talent Show – Give them paper bags, old sheets, towels, etc and have them create “costumes.” They then have to make up a dance routine, karate routine, hula-hoop, etc routine and perform for you!
Hop, Hop, Drop - Children have to hop around the room until the leader says the name of a body part. They then have to drop and touch that body part to the floor (or place pillows, washcloths, towels, etc. on the floor and have them have to touch thier body part to a specific item). Click here for dance certificates
Balloon Tap – See how many times you can hit the balloon back and forth without it touching the floor/sofa/chair. Try to prevent it from touching the ceiling as well (older children). Add a center net and play a game of balloon volleyball. Add a pool noodle and play a game of balloon baseball. Add a laundry basket and play a game of balloon basketball. Use your feet and play a game of balloon juggling (soccer).
Hide It, Find It, Win It – Use cookies, small chocolate candies, stickers or other small trinkets. Hide them around the room (difficulty level according to child’s age) If the child finds it, he/she wins it OR gives them back to you to hide in another room.
Lights, Camera, Action – allow them to use the video camera. Older Children (7 & up) - Give them an idea or topic and ask them to create a “show”. It can be a game show or they can do a documentary on a topic you decide (eg laundry, dust bunnies, the attic, etc.). Younger Children (under 7) – give them a topic and have them come up with a script or idea…after they practice their “routine” or gather everything they need for their show, YOU video them. Have a “movie debut screening party” after the taping.
Mailbox – have your child(ren) make a mailbox out of anything you can find. Make sure they put a “flag” on it so you (or other children) know when there is mail for you to take. They can place the mailbox outside of their bedroom. They write a letter and address it to you (mommy/daddy) or whoever else is playing. It’s up to you to get the letter and read and respond or deliver to the proper mailbox. This helps with writing skills. If you would like to eliminate yourself from the activity…make sure the children know to check their mailbox regularly and deliver their own letters to each other’s mailboxes.
Color Me Happy - Use an old egg carton and color each egg cup with a different color marker. You should have at least 6 different colors. Challenge children to search around the house for items that fit in these little cups and match the color. See who finds the most items. Make sure to incorporate "placing the items back where you found them" into the game.
Carnival – Great way to purge toys. Children gather “prizes” from toys that they don’t play with anymore. They set them up on a table or stand and create a game or two for you and siblings to play to win these prizes. (examples of games can be…knock the water bottles off the blocks, drop the clothespin into a milkjug, toss a penny directly onto a spot) Children (and you) play these games and win prizes. Any prize NOT won will be donated.
Deck of Cards Ideas – build the tallest tower of cards; be the fastest to organize the cards in suits and numerical order; organize cards by shapes/suits or colors (preschool); memory…lay a few cards down face up and let the child(ren) study them…flip them and ask them to pick a certain card; regular games like war, slap jack, go fish, etc.
Trail Mixin' - Get out a cupcake pan and fill some cups with different edible items such as pretzels, cheerios, peanuts, raisins, chocolate candies, gummy candies, etc. Give children a cup and a spoon and have them make their own mix for a snack.
 |
|
Rainy Day Activities
