Rainy Days

April showers bring May flowers, right? Lately it doesn't seem like the rain wants to go away at all and it's now the middle of June. It wasn't too long ago that it rained in my part of Oklahoma for 20 straight days. That's half of the 40 days (and 40 nights) that flooded the World in biblical times!

My children are outdoor children. It is really hard for them to stay inside for more than a day, but we found ways of dealing with that while living in South Texas through hurricane season. These activities have been quite helpful to us in Oklahoma this year. I know we're not the only state getting hit hard by rain lately so I thought I'd share some of my rainy day list with you. Here are a few activities you might enjoy when the rain keeps you in:

1. Make a castle or fort. Push a few chairs or sofas together and throw a big blanket over the top of them to create a castle/fort (note: most girls prefer castles and most boys prefer the fort). Enjoy a day of living like princesses including tea parties and dress up fashion shows while taking cover inside your new castle. Or enjoy the day as a cowboy or indian as you protect your fort from the opposite choice. Enjoy making some smores on your pretend indoor campfire (you don't have to roast the marshmellows or melt the chocolate). If you have both boys and girls, consider making both a castle and a fort and having your children visit each other for more exciting adventures.
   
2. Bring the rain indoors by making rain sticks. Take an empty paper towel roll and decorate it with crayons or markers. Cover one end with foil and secure it with tape (masking tape works best). Coil a pipe cleaner and put it inside the roll as well as some dry rice. Cover the open end with foil and secure it with tape. You now have a rain stick that will mimic the sounds of rain outside.
3. Cooking with the kids. While this may be an age-appropriate task, toddlers and older children will enjoy this activity. Baking is more appropriate for younger children (especially where cookie cutters are involved). Older children may find cooking meals to be a little more enjoyable.
   
4. Dance party. Crank up your kids' favorite tunes and do a little dancing. This is not only fun, but makes for some good exercise. The hokey pokey is a must! It encourages having fun while educating your children about body parts and lefts from rights. There are actually a lot of musicians who write music for children. Some of our favorites are Laurie Berkner Band, Dan Zanes, and Milkshake.
5. "Go" to the movies. Get out the construction paper and markers and have your children make tickets and play money. Pop some popcorn and offer up other snacks and put out signs to let everyone know how much they cost. Purchase the tickets and snacks with the play money. Turn the lights off and get comfy. Make it a "double feature" if you will and watch two movies for the price of one! The best part about watching movies at home is that you're allowed to "pause" the movie for bathroom breaks.