Rainy Day Activities for Kids: Creativity Day!
When rainy weather forces the kids indoors, don’t
let boredom rule the day. With a little forethought, you can have
ready-made activities for those times when your kids and their
friends are house-bound.
Consider keeping a “rainy day box” at the
ready, stocked with basics such as construction paper, poster board,
old magazines, glue, tape and crayons. For more versatility, include
ribbon, yarn, crepe paper streamers and child-safe scissors. When
dark clouds gather and you hear the distant rumble of thunder, don’t
worry. With your “rainy day box” and a little imagination, your kids
may decide that playing indoors is the most fun of all.
Have a creativity day! Have each child make a book. Cut pages out of
poster board. Cut pictures from old magazines and glue to the pages.
Then, have children write captions for each picture to create a
story. Help younger children as needed. Cover each page with clear
contact paper and tape each page together to form a book. Or you
could use a hole-punch to make three holes on one edge of each page
and string yarn through the holes to bind the books. Let each child
take a turn reading their story out loud while showing the pictures
to the listeners.
Cut out pictures of cartoon characters or animals from old magazines
or comics. Glue the cutouts to poster-board and then glue to a
popsicle stick to make puppets. Have a puppet show. Let the kids
make up a story or a play to act out with their puppets. Providing
the voices for a variety of characters can be hilarious for kids!
Use paper bags to make masks. Place the bag over the child’s head
first to locate the correct locations to cut out the eyes, nose and
mouth. Let children decorate the masks with glitter, markers,
sequins, cotton balls, feathers or any craft items you have on hand.
Another way to make a mask is to use paper plates. Punch holes on
either side to run string or yarn through and after the kids have
decorated them, they can be tied on.
Make a memory box. Use an empty shoebox. Cover the box with contact
paper or construction paper. Glue on decorations such as dried,
pressed flowers, glitter, sequins, pictures or words cut from
magazines or even photos. Cover all this with clear contact paper.
The box can be used for anything they choose such as photos of
friends, birthday cards, notes, letters or memorabilia such as
ticket stubs from special events.
Form a marching band complete with flags and music! Make a drum
using a coffee can. Use wooden spoons as drumsticks. For, cymbals,
two pot covers clanged together work perfectly. Put beans or
macaroni in an empty oatmeal cylinder, tape the lid closed and
shake. For a stringed instrument, cut a hole in the cover of a
shoebox, tape the cover on and stretch rubber bands over the box.
Strum the rubber bands. For a flag, tape crepe paper streamers to a
stick or dowel and wave in the air. Now, line up and parade through
the house with flags flying and music playing!
If you have small dinosaur toys or jungle animal figures, use a
shoebox to make a diorama of their habitat. Color the background
first or cut paper to make a background of blue sky. Glue on cotton
balls for clouds. Decorate the interior of the shoebox with trees
and grasses made from construction paper, yarn, felt or other
material.
Start a story by providing a simple beginning and let each child
help to complete the story. For instance, you could say, “When I was
walking through the park, I saw a black and white cat with her
kitten.” The children then add to the story, taking it wherever
their imaginations may go.
Rainy days inside don’t have to be boring. Children learn by using
their creativity to entertain themselves and to make something they
can use or display. So, when storm clouds threaten, bring out the
“rainy day box” and let the fun begin!
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