5 fun family activities to beat the rainy day blues
If you’re sick of winter, chin up. In a month or so, you’ll be looking at warmer weather, longer days – and most likely, a few days of rain or drizzle.
If your kids are bouncing off the wall, it’s time to come up with a plan. Make good use of those dreary days and make a pact to spend some family time.
We’ve come up with a few creative ways to brighten up those rainy days.
Plan a vacation:
A dreary day is a perfect time to plan out your summer vacation. Gather the kids, make a plan (even if it’s just camping at a spot a few hours away), go online and start looking at photos. Put their creativity to the test: have them draw a little map from home to the vacation spot, print out photos of the mecca (even if it’s the backyard of Grandma’s house), and make a collage. We all need something to look forward to.
Play house:
There’s nothing kids love more than creating forts. Remember, flashlights and ghost stories are necessary once that fort is built. Instead of nagging at them for dragging your best blankets off beds, join in the fun. In fact, it’s not a bad time to take stock of your collection of ragged sheets and blankets. Help them prop up the couch cushions and whatever else can creatively frame the fort, pull out bedding materials that have seen better days – and give yourself a little treat. For instance, why not replace that worn-out set of sheets with something soft? Check out JCPenney for some new bedding.
Spring into cleaning:
Who says cleanup can’t be fun? In fact, given an incentive (say, a trip to their favorite ice cream shop), many kids willingly do a bit of tidying. Take it a step further and have them gather up the toys and clothing they’ve outgrown, and find a charitable organization you all agree is worthy. Take a look at some of the thrift stores in your community that raise funds for worthy causes. A little online research might help you agree on a charity like Big Brothers Big Sisters, a local Humane Society, or even a church that reaches out to the less fortunate. Once that task is done, find space for a new storage chest that will serve as an invitation to sit back and relax after the room is fresh and clean. Try Target or Pier 1 Imports for storage options.
Cook up some fun:
While you might want to pass on elaborate dishes from “Gourmet,” a rainy day is a good chance to teach your kids a few age-appropriate culinary skills. Start by encouraging them to plan a meal. If it’s pizza (and we’re guessing there’s a good chance), pick up the dough from a store and let them create a “pizza bar” with toppings. If they’re up for a bigger challenge, have them help you bake a batch of brownies from scratch for dessert. There’s no time like a rainy day to learn to crack an egg!
A note of love:
If you’ve all had a great day, spread the word – or words. Have younger children work on spelling out simple words like “fun” or “cook,” to describe the day. Your artistic children might draw pictures to go with the words. Grandma, or any beloved friend or relative, will surely appreciate an old-fashioned letter from your child. If you can wrestle the teen away from the computer, encourage her to join in a group letter, even if it’s only to admit that she’s not too old to enjoy a good ghost story or pillow fight. Get craft supplies to wrap up the day from Michaels.
