Rainy Day Fun: Tips to Keep Kids Busy

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When skies turn gray and the rain falls, kids often find themselves bored and cranky. Try these creative ideas to help spur your imagination, boost everyone's spirits, and chase those rainy day blues away.

How miserable can it get? It's raining. No shining sun to greet you. Perhaps you, like Sally and her brother in the popular Dr. Seuss book, Cat in the Hat, are assuming the day is ruined. Says Sally's brother, "We sat there, we two. And I said, 'How I wish we had something to do!'" Well, his wish was granted, and now so is yours (and we won't even terrorize your pet fish or ruin your house in the process!)

Start by resisting the temptation to turn on the TV and vegetate on the couch. There is so much to do, to see, to learn, and to play; your problem isn't going to be that you have nothing to do, but that you have too many things you want to do! Start off right with a good breakfast and plan your day. Here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

Go Outside Anyway

Assuming there's no lightning and it's not a driving, cold rain, put on those galoshes and raincoats, grab an umbrella, and head out for a walk or backyard exploration. Children riding in strollers are more susceptible to getting chilled, so bring a blanket if need be and shield them from the falling water. Don't wander too far from your home or car in case the rain picks up or you get too wet, and seek shelter immediately if there is lightning.

Make a game out of seeing who can find the biggest mud puddle to splash in. Point out the rain clouds or go on a rainbow hunting party. Be a "worm rescuer" and gently collect those confused worms who wander out onto the pavement. As you put them back in the grass, offer a little lesson about habitats and the environment. Worms are great for plants: they turn the soil and provide oxygen and food for the plants. Why not collect them in a jar with some nice dirt and take them home to your garden?

In a spring rain, everything seems so much greener. Why is that? Discuss how rain is nature's way of giving plants and animals a drink; then bring along some bottled water and take a drink yourselves. The best learning experiences for small children don't come from a classroom setting, but from gentle exploration of the world around them.

If you have a deep mud puddle or pond, experiment with how things float. Does a leaf float? How about this stick? This rock? Perhaps before you leave on your trek, you can make a boat to take out on the water. Craft books geared towards children offer ideas on making simple boats out of everything from milk cartons to balsa wood. One of our favorites is a simple raft made from packaging peanuts and Popsicle sticks (see the section on "Saving for a Rainy Day").

Another great idea is to make a rain gauge; a simple plastic container with wide opening and a plastic ruler will do the trick. Place it in an open area where rain can fall unobstructed, and check it throughout the day.

Safety Tip: Please keep in mind that even in a light rain, you should avoid streams, rivers, and any large drains or run-off areas. Flash flooding is an apt name; a flood can happen literally too fast for you to react, so play it safe.