What to Do With the Kids When It Is Raining

Children hate rainy days, but a parent can make it exciting.

Parents dread rainy days. Bored children results in a lot of mischief, broken household items and whining. However, parents should use rainy days as an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with their kids. Both traditional and innovative fun can arise during a rainy day stuck in the house.

Storytelling

Parents can turn off the television and get children to use their imagination. Storytelling is an exciting way to stave off boredom. The adult can start the story and pass the plot along to the kids. Parents can also make storytelling educational with a little arts and craft thrown in. Draw pictures and write a story about the nasty weather or monsters -- whatever keeps the children mentally involved in the task.

Cooking

Treats and goodies can really strengthen the bond of parent and child. Baking cookies and boiling water for hot chocolate is an activity most children love. In addition, it helps children to learn how to take direction in the kitchen and in life. The kids see how listening to their parents results in delicious rewards. Parents can also let children pick out ingredients in the pantry, inventing a new, crazy recipe.

Indoor Games

Hide-and-seek, hopscotch, board games, treasure hunt and other games are ways to burn both a child's mental and physical energy. A hopscotch area can be fashioned out of tape. Parents can use household items to play treasure hunt. Age-appropriate board games should be kept in a closet for rainy days or family nights. Using old toys, dolls and puppets presents an opportunity to put on a show.

Camping

Children love to camp. Kids can build a tent out of sheets and chairs in the living room. Parents can toast some marshmallows. Adults might also want to take the opportunity to teach children camp safety tips: how to start and put out a fire, what to bring on the trip and how to survive in the woods. Children can also read books about different wildlife and imagine being in the wild with some of the same animals. Camping could be done after children start to wind down after a day full of activity.

References

• Read Write Think: It's Raining Cats and Dogs! Make a Children's Book About the Weather
• Planning With Kids: Things To Do In School Holidays When It Rains