Whats the best things to do with the kids when it is raining?

November 1, 2009 5:20am CST
I don't mean expensive things to do, just cheap activities the kids enjoy when it is pouring outside. My two daughters love colouring and I recently bought them some plaster figures to make and paint. They also love playing with beads making their own jewelery. I find my son harder to please. He is not the arty sort. I find it really hard to find him things to do that don't involve the computer or television. I really like to limit the amount of time they spend infront of screens as I feel its not good for them. Any ideas from my fellow mylotters would be great. He is nine.
3 people like this
21 responses
@surfette (673)
• United States
1 Nov 09
There are children that will sit quietly and color or use building blocks, Legos or a puzzle, but some children are very active and they require physical stimulation. I always like board games and cards but it depends on the age of the children and their attention span. A couple of things to try might be a Help Mom Day where they could do some chores like help fold clothes or dust the tables, etc. and get a special reward for helping like going to the park when it stops raining. If they are too young or not interested in that, how about a little treasure hunt. Depending on the ages of the children, you can determine how hard or easy the clues would be. For older children you could write down the clues and for younger children you could just verbally ask them to "find something purple" or "look under your bed". After they completed the clues, there would be a special surprise. I really like crafts myself, so teaching them something that is not too hard or messy would be my choice. Even those circular knitters could be used without anything sharp involved because their fingers are smaller and could move the yarn over the plastic pegs. Clay is also a wonderful medium because they can use their own imagination. These are just a few ideas and if they are not for you or your children, maybe they will help to inspire you.
@surfette (673)
• United States
1 Nov 09
You are quite welcome. Hope this makes rainy days a little easier. My grandson is four and quite active, so these are some of the ideas I've used for him. Have fun!
1 Nov 09
Thankyou. You have some great ideas and yes you have inspired me. My son has a very short attention span, as he is autistic as well. But some of these ideas he will really enjoy. Plus I can mix the activities about.
@Staraven (160)
• United States
4 Nov 09
I think that something fun for *anybody* to do would be to make a fort! (: There's several teenagers that can't even resist the lure of fort-building, lol. Not like...out of wood and nails, but out of pillows and blankets draped over something. You could turn on a flashlight inside of it, like your own little indoor tent. Color, play with Play-Doh, maybe your daughters could do some crafts. Or your son could be a dragon and your daughters and you could defend the fort! Little boys love adventure (: And most of the time the adults and older children can get sucked into the excitement too.
4 Nov 09
Thankyou for your response and it sounds like fun I think they will all enjoy this idea.
@checkmail (2039)
• India
2 Nov 09
Hello skyblue25 this is checkmail and though didn't have kids of mine but have some neice and nephews and ebjoy the rainy season with them.Many a times when at home and raining we use to play the puzzle games, share a thought, improving handwritting, etc.And if suppose to be outside of home than eat some roasted corn to heat up, its really spicy.At home he can try the diff plastic block games, even building robots and houses.If you get this you might not have to worry about him anymore.Or try out an playing instrument.
2 Nov 09
Thankyou everyone for your replies. There are some fantastic ideas in here and I will definately be using quite a few of them as the weather changes here and they are stuck indoors over the winter months. I mean he won't like everything but we will have fun trying all the new things to do.
@jacksong (130)
2 Nov 09
Hi skyeblue, You are a so great mom, your children must be so lucky. As my experience, the hide and seek game is the best game with the rainy day, I loved it so much when I was a kid, but I don't know if your kids like it. LOL
2 Nov 09
They love hide and seek, but when they are indoors playing it they have a habit of sounding like a herd of elephants. lol
@getbrowser (1708)
• China
1 Nov 09
Yes, most children can't bear any more time at home. When it's raining outside and the kids are not allowed to go out and play in it, there is always the option of watching a movie. Most days when it rains outside it’s a perfect time to go cuddle up with your blanket and watch you favorite movie and eat some pop-corn. With a wide variety of kids movies and programs on during the day, what better way to enjoy a rainy day than to be lazy on the couch. Rainy days don't have to be boring and we can enjoy a better life at home instead of going out.
1 Nov 09
rainy days are good for family time I have to admit. My son loves playing family board games which gets us all together. Quite often I will snuggle up on the sofa with the kids and watch a film, but we can't do that all the time.
@sunnycool (12714)
• India
1 Nov 09
try to make them play or learn some musical instruments nd some indoor games which would make their brains sharper.try to make their favourite dishes nd explain them some sweet stories try to get involved in their interests or plays tat have been around in your school days.gud day.
1 Nov 09
Thankyou, my son is learning the guitar at school and has one at home, but I find this difficult as I can't play the guitar and he struggles on his own as he has only just started to learn
• Australia
2 Nov 09
I had five wonderful sons and their wives thank me often for training them in household tasks. I do not believe a man has a place in the kitchen and my husband could do no more than make himself a cup of tea when we retired, but my sons could easily run a household, being efficient at cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing etc and some of them could even knit and sew. One made his shirts and ties and another knitted a fairisle sweater. Now, I realise these activities probably would NOT appeal to your 9 year old, especially one who is not arty, but some craft ideas might. Some of the most treasured possessions I have are craft items made by my sons. Would he take to cooking, especially a cake or something he really likes? If he isn't arty, how does he feel about something like lateral thinking puzzles?
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
2 Nov 09
board games are fun or cards. you can sometimes get board games at yard sales. play doh is always fun and creative. also reading to them or having them read to you and you can get the books at your local library which is free. also teaching them how to cook or bake is fun.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
2 Nov 09
When its raining outside I would bake with my two daughters. It would make the kitchen toasty and warm. It also taught my girls how to bake cupcakes, cookies and cakes. Something they both still love to do now that they are grown. They also use to play board games which can be alot of fun, such as, Clue, Checkers, and Monopoly.
@submerryn (1304)
• Malaysia
1 Nov 09
Hi Skyeblue, I guess boys will be boys. Indoor it will normally be the computer or television. Outdoor will then be the sports and all. At the age of nine, he is bursting with energy and being cooped in the house is not too fun. :) Since he is not into arts, then I really find it difficult to get him occupied. But have you tried those vehicles puzzles type? They come in wood pieces and he needs to assemble them before he can play with it? It's something like a vehicle modal or alike. I find it interesting that they need to assemble things themselves and that is actually taking up most of the time so that he wont get bored at home. :) For your girls, you may find the arts n crafts in this blog useful. http://www.crafty-crafted.com Have a good day. :)
1 Nov 09
Thanks for the reply. I haven't tried them. I will have to have a look in the shops for something like that, though he isn't a keen puzzle fan either. He is really difficult to please!! lol Your right he hates being cooped up. He does like his lego though.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
2 Nov 09
It's good doing that when the rain drops after fifteen minutes,because first rain it can cause fever the bacteria me go to there body if the immune not healthy at that time then got a sick.
@buping (952)
• China
4 Nov 09
hi skyblue, since your son is hard to please, i have no idea what advice should give to you. but i would choose to limit his time in front of screens. so i would find out what he is interested, such as he likes watching financial programmes, i would buy him some magzine, if he likes watching animals, i would buy him some videos about the animals. personal view, hope it can help you.
2 Nov 09
I recconmend board games or card. It may sound cheesy but once you get it to them it turns out to be really fun.
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
3 Apr 10
Well i always plan to play informative games like quiz, reasoning questions or a hot discussion, so my cousin kids they involve in the discussion and they feel a real time at the rainy times.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
1 Nov 09
Rainy days are a good time to start teaching kids how to cook or bake. model ships or airplanes are a good way to spend a rainy day. You can have him write a play then get him and the girls to act it out for you in the evening. have it be some kind of historical event that he might be familiar with.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
1 Nov 09
When it was raining outside, my kids always loved to play board games and do jigsaw puzzles. Puzzles and games made the time fly by until it stopped raining. Depending on the game and their mood, sometimes we continued playing. The outside world will be waiting but time spent with family is precious. Thank goodness fore the rainy days.
@artistry (4152)
• United States
2 Nov 09
...Hi Skyeblue25, I used to work with children at a day care center, boys are bit restless at nine. They love playing with basketballs. Which is kind of hard indoors, but if you have the space in his bedroom, I would get him a miniature basketball hoop and small basketball. A yard or two of cord, could be used for him to cut out different shapes of things, horses, gorillas, lions, houses, stars, whatever strikes his fancy, use colored paper, and have him attach the cutouts with a stapler and hang the cord up in his room if he wishes too. Thumb tacks would probably hold it up, hopefully not ruin the wall. :o) Another project could be making a set for a play. Take a small box, cut off all of the top or use a shoe box, use colored construction paper again, and cut out forms for a chair, a couch, a desk, and people, place them in the box, make windows for the inside of the back of the box. Attach the furniture and people to the floor in various places, with glue standing them upright. Then have him write some kind of story to go with the scene. Puzzles which are colorful, and don't have too many pieces, would maybe entertain him as well. He should probably be introduced to a few interesting books which would possibly hold his attention. I hope one of these suggestions help you out. Take care and good luck.
@vasusri (10)
• India
1 Nov 09
best thing can do by children is they can jump in to water, and make a boates with a paper and passes in to the water flow.
@solared (1207)
• United States
2 Nov 09
Play hide and go seek, just stay out of wardrobes...lol
• Italy
1 Nov 09
Since the festive season is approaching I think you could involve them in making paper decorations, but I see your son isn't really interested in those. Being him a boy, I guess maybe some other kinds of jokes, probabily those involving, jumping, running, crawling...may interest him more. Have you ever tried inventing a "war trail" with normal home objects? Like...jump in a bok, run to the table, crawl under a chair...