Here in New England, during the Spring and Summer months we have more days with rain than not. So what can you do to keep from going insane? Here's a few great ideas from Kat Cole.

Kids and Rainy Days: Activities to Prevent Boredom

Rainy days which are not school days can lead to quite a few challenges since parents are likely to become stuck in the house with bored children. The option of outdoor time on the swing set garden or timbre climbing frames at the local playground is out of the question until the sun decides to ‘put its hat on’ once more. The TV or a videogames console might entertain children for a short while but it won’t be long until kids begin seeking something else to do.

Potential Rainy Day Activities:

For younger kids, you will rarely go wrong with a craft project. It doesn’t have to be complicated or elaborate and can be as simple as laying out some paper and washable paints while allowing the little ones to create any kind of picture they want. I usually try to lay towels out on the dining room table first so any mess goes right on there. Since the paints are washable, it’s easy to just throw the towels in the laundry machine when the kids have had their fun and they come out good as new. The same applies to washable magic markers, though paints usually allow children to feel more artistic than markers do. When they are finished, I usually end up with a few more masterpieces for my refrigerator and the kids are left with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Board games never get old, even in this modern age of Nintendo Wiis and Xbox 360s. They are less expensive than video game discs and are even considered an old fashioned novelty by some children. Little ones get as much thrill out of a game of Snakes and Ladders or Guess Who as many of us did when we were young! Older kids love to flex their knowledge and reasoning muscles with games like Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly too.

If all of you are getting a bit of cabin fever and need to get out of the house, indoor play areas can provide the perfect solution for rainy day boredom. Amusement arcades too – comprising games that offer tickets that kids can redeem for prizes – can keep kids entertained for hours at a time too (just set a strict budget!) You can also turn a visit to an indoor Gymboree or penny arcade into a play date by arrange to meet friends and their own children there. This way mum has someone to spend time with and talk to while the little ones let off steam and do their thing. Hopefully, by the time the day is done, you will have sufficiently tired children on your hands the will go to bed without much fuss or resistance that night.

For a quieter outing with less chaotic activity, a rainy day at the movies is often a thrill for kids. Make sure the film you choose is kid-friendly and then just sit back and relax knowing your children are contained in one spot and are fixed on the happenings on the screen. Just arrange transport to the cinema so you don’t get wet!

The main thing to remember is that as long as you don’t let the clouds get you down and you try to make the best of a dreary, rainy day then your kids will be grateful and will likely mimic your happy demeanor.

The children of this guest blog author – Katie Matthews – absolutely hate when it is raining and they can’t play outside on their Climbing Frames UK swingset!

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