What To Do On A Rainy Day For Kids

Do your kids get as stir-crazy as mine when it has been raining all day? Here are some great ideas for what to do on a rainy day for the kids.

You know those days…It’s been pouring for hours (or even day) and the kids have the Rainy Day Blues. Here are some simple ways to cheer them up and keep them entertained until the weather clears up.

Make A Batch Of Cookies

What child doesn’t love to make - and of course eat - cookies. Whip up a batch of your favorite chocolate chip or sugar cookie dough. Make them special by adding some small candies like mini M&Ms. With sugar cookies, you can keep the kids busy even longer by letting them cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Bake the cookies, and then pour everyone a big glass of milk to serve with the warm baked treats.

Play A Board Game

Remember those boxes of board games that have been collecting dust in the closet? Dig one of them out and ask the kids to join you for a fun game of Candyland, Memory or The Game Of Life. Just grab one of your old favorites and share it with the kids. Card games also work well.

Go Play In The Rain

As long as it’s not too cold outside and of course only while there are no thunderstorms in the area, playing in the rain can be a lot of fun. Get everyone dressed in their rain gear (including boots) and go jump in some puddles. I bet you have forgotten how much fun that can be - and the kids won’t believe Mom is actually outside jumping around with them. What a great way to bond with your kids.

Watch A Movie Together

When was the last time you snuggled up on the couch with the kids and watched a movie together? Rainy days are perfect for this. Pop some popcorn and enjoy the show. Take it even further by reenacting scenes later, or making a craft that relates to the movie.

Build A Fort - Inside

What child doesn’t love to build a tent or fort? When it’s pouring outside, bring the fun inside. Throw a blanket over a few chairs for a quick tent hide away, or take the cushions off the couch and build a fort. Spread an old blanket or a towel out on the floor and serve the kids’ lunch in their tent or fort.

Play Dress Up

Playing dress up is another great way to spend a fun afternoon with the kids. Start by raiding your closet and any Halloween costumes you have been saving for next year. A white shirt will become a doctor’s white coat. Your prom dress or even a fancy blouse will turn your little girl into a princess or beauty queen. Make other props out of cardboard boxes, construction paper and anything else you can find around the house.

Get Out The Craft Box

Do you have a craft box? If not, just grab some construction paper, scissors, glue and some old magazines. The kids will be busy for hours making collages or creating storybooks. For younger kids keep a few coloring books and a box of crayons handy. A few tubs of playdough are also a welcome distraction when it’s raining outside.

We Recommend:
KidsActivityCalendar.com
About To Launch - Weekly education activities for your preschooler. Give your child a head start on kindergarten. Subscribe to the notification list and get free report on pretend play.

What Are Some Good Outdoor Activities For The Whole Family

You want to spend more time with the kids outside. What are some good outdoor activities for the whole family? Here are some great ideas for what to do with the kids outside.

With the weather finally starting to cool down, now is a great time to go outside and play with your kids. Not only is the sunshine and fresh air good for everyone in the family, but playing outside is also a great way to get some exercise. Here are some ideas for you and your kids.

Ride Bikes

When was the last time you took a bike ride through the neighbor hood? Riding bikes is a great way to spend some quality time with your kids outside after work. Dust off your old bike, put helmets on everyone and go out for a bike ride. You can also go on a longer ride on the weekends. Check with your local bike shop or the city’s parks and recreation department about trails that are family friendly. Pack a few sandwiches and fill up those water bottles and you are ready for a ride and a picnic.

Go On A Nature Walk

A nature walk is a fun way to spend some time with your child outside. It is also a perfect opportunity to teach him about nature, lifecycles, the climate and more. If you have binoculars, take them with you for a close up view of any wildlife you may come across. Even a squirrel becomes an interesting viewing object with binoculars. Take some small plastic or paper baggies with you to collect leafs, rocks or pinecones. When you get back home you and your child can make a leaf collage or use all objects to recreate a forest scene in an old shoebox.

Dig Out The Roller-skates

Do you remember how much fun you had roller-skating when you were a kid? Dig out the roller skates or roller blades and get out there. You can find a smooth sidewalk to ride, or consider visiting a skating ring with the whole family. Roller-skating is another great way for the entire family to spend some time outside together. You can push very young children around in a stroller or have your preschooler ride a tricycle while the rest of the family skates.

Explore A New Park Or Playground

Grab a map or make a call to your local park and recreation office and find a new park or playground you can all explore together. Spend an hour or two at the playground, go for a walk on the trails in of a new park, or pack a few sandwiches for an easy picnic in the park. You never know what you may have been missing until you start exploring all the different parks and playgrounds in your area.

We Recommend:
KidsActivityCalendar.com
About To Launch - Weekly education activities for your preschooler. Give your child a head start on kindergarten. Subscribe to the notification list and get free report on pretend play.

Valentine Treat Ideas

Make some of these easy Valentine Treat Ideas this year with your kids. They are perfect Valentine Gifts for the classroom. Your kids will enjoy handing these tasty Valentine Treats out to their friends.

Valentine’s Day Treats for School and Work
By Christine Steendahl

Are you as tired as I am of those little white heart-shaped candies with messages like “I like You” printed on them? Be a little creative this year and come up with some new Valentine’s Day treats to take to school and work. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Valentine’s Day Cookies

Make a batch of Sugar cookies or pick up some refrigerated dough at the grocery store. Cut them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter and bake. Frost with a glaze of powdered sugar, water and a little red food coloring, or make it really simple and buy a container of pre-made frosting. Use some frosting pens to write messages or draw on the cookies. Add a few sprinkles and you’re set! Don’t forget to invite your kids to get involved in decorating any cookies they are taking to school. They will have a great time preparing these special treats.

Valentine’s Cup Cakes

Purchase a box of devil’s food cake mix (or your favorite flavor) and prepare according to package directions. Line muffin tins with paper liners and pour enough batter in each to fill to about 1/3 full. Top with 1 tbsp of fruit preserves (strawberry works great) then add more batter until the muffin tins are approximately ¾ filled. Bake according to cake mix directions. When they are cool, dust them with powdered sugar, or frost them and sprinkle with red-hot candy hearts.

Valentine’s Day Cake

Bake any flavor cake in a heart shaped cake form. Let cook and cut in half horizontally. Mix a few drops of red food coloring into a container of whipped topping, and spread some on the bottom layer of the cake. Add the top layer and frost the entire outside of the cake. Top with fresh berries.

Chocolate Lollipops

Get some heart-shaped lollipop molds. Melt milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate (quality chocolate chips work great). Pour the melted chocolate in the mold and add a lollipop stick. Let cool until hardened. Wrap in cellophane and tie with a little bow.
Use leftover chocolate and plastic spoons to create fancy coffee stirrers. Simply dip the plastic spoons in the melted chocolate. Let cool and repeat until you reach the desired thickness,
Both of these can be decorated by drizzling different types of melted chocolate over the finished product.

Have fun this year creating some wonderful Valentine’s Day treats. I’m sure you will come up with a delicious treat that will be a big hit in the office or the classroom.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine - The Number One Online Source For Affordable And Family Friendly Weekly Meal Planning. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! For A Free Sample Menu And Grocery List Visit dinewithoutwhine

We recommend:
Dine Without Whine
The family friendly menu mailer - Dinner recipes that you and your kids will love send to your inbox everyday. Christine will even create a grocery list for you. Fixing dinner every night couldn’t be easier. Give it a try!

Next Page »