Rainy-Day
Rainy days can be quite boring for kids that live for outdoor playtime in the summer. Many children turn to television or other electronics to keep them occupied while they are indoors. These activities are alright in small doses but many parents would like for their children to be less sedentary and stimulate their minds more. Here are some indoor activities that can stimulate young minds and also young muscles.
Brain Building Pursuits
- Puppet Show: Have your child use puppets, stuffed animals, dolls, etc. to develop a story and then act out a show. Older children can even write out a script. This activity is great for encouraging creative thinking.
- Cooking: Browse through cookbooks and allow your child to choose a recipe they'd like to make (baked goods are always a favorite). Measuring out the ingredients and calculating time needed to make a recipe is a great way to review some math concepts.
- Invent Something: Make a collection of random items from around the house or from the recycling bin. Then, have your child sort through them and decide how they can be put together to create something new and useful. Older children should be encouraged to draw a sketch of their invention before putting it together. This activity employs critical thinking skills.
Movement for Young Muscles
- Dance Party: Children love to move and groove to music. Put on some of their favorite songs and challenge them to develop some new moves. If you have more than one child, make it a friendly competition to see who can come up with the best dance.
- Exercise Stations: Pull out some jump ropes, bean bags,canned food items (to use as weights), etc. and create some exercise stations. Set up stations around your living room, bonus room or even in the four corners of your child's room. Use a timer and allow your child to stay at each station for 3-5 minutes before rotating to the next station. Can't think of any good ideas for exercise stations? Let your kids help!
- Fast Paced Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of 10 different items located throughout the house. This list can be a picture list for younger children that cannot read. Challenge your child to find all 10 items as quickly as they can. As soon as an item is found, have them run back to a central location in the house to place the item in before looking for the next item on the list.
