Trying to keep restless and bored kids occupied can be a challenge even for the most veteran of parents, especially when the weather won’t cooperate with your plans. Because keeping kids entertained on rainy, cold or snowy days can sometimes seem like an impossible task, many parents and caregivers might be temped to turn to technology. Television, video games, computers, smartphones and tablets will hold kids’ attention, of course, but they are not always the best solution. Studies have shown that preschool age kids (age 3 to 5) who spend more than one hour a day in front of screens show lower levels of brain development than their peers who spend less time engaged with technical devices.
On the other hand, interacting with adults and other kids, and participating in hands on activities like cooking and baking, playing old fashioned board games, and doing arts and crafts has been shown to boost brain development in young children. Such activities also has the added benefit of improving kids’ fine motor skills, dexterity and hand eye coordination. Making art has also been shown to boost kids’ self esteem, boost their creative abilities and improve their social skills and communication skills.
Continue reading below to read about some fun rainy day activities you can do that will keep kids busy, happy and engaged and will boost their creativity and problem solving skills at the same time. You might even create a few lasting memories in the process.
Introduce Your Kids to Sewing
Not only is knowing how to sew a basic life skill (everyone should know how to sew a button or make a basic clothing repair), it can also be a lot of fun. Teaching your kids to sew might sound difficult, but if you start with a basic project like a premade cross stitch kit or a preprinted sampler most kids will pick up the skills they need fairly quickly. Try to stick to small projects that kids can complete in a day or two so they can experience a sense of accomplishment and not lose interest in the project. Letting kids choose their own thread colors is also a good way to give them a sense of ownership over their finished work.
Create Your Own Book
Everyone knows that reading to your kids is one of the best things you can do for their intellectual development and to boost their creativity skills. Sitting down with them to help them create their own book can have many of the same benefits. Start by coming up with a story. You can write it out by hand until you get all the details right, and then enter it into a computer. Software programs such as Microsoft Word will allow you to add images and numbers to the book’s pages. If you have a scanner, encourage your kids to create their own illustrations. You can print your book using Epson pigment ink to make sure that colors come out bold and true to life.
Cook or Bake Your Kids’ Favorite Recipe
Most families have a few favorite recipes that everyone in the house loves. Whether it is your mom’s mac and cheese recipe or a fudge brownie recipe you clipped from a magazine, your kids will love helping to make, as well as eat, one of their favorite treats. Try to delegate tasks to kids based on their ages and abilities. Older kids might be able to chop, dice or measure out ingredients, while younger ones can do simpler tasks like grating cheese. Even very young kids can help with cooking or baking by being allowed to add premeasured ingredients to a mixing bowl or pan.
Don’t forget clean up. Having kids help clean up after cooking helps to teach them responsibility and team work.
When your creation is complete, everyone will enjoy sitting around the table and eating it together.
Pull Out Your Old Board Games or Card Games
Most kids are accustomed to playing video games, but a surprising number of kids have either never played an old fashioned board game or card game, or have very little experience with them. Try to choose a game that is appropriate for your kids’ age range, and that has rules that are easy to explain and follow. (It’s a good idea to have a few back up games in case the first one you try is not as popular as you hoped.)
Playing old fashioned games is a great rainy day activity because it is something that the whole family can do together.
