Rain Rain Don't Go Away

When I used to look out my window and see the steady flow of raindrops I knew the day would be one of frustration. I knew I would be inside all day with my children, hearing their repeated whines of boredom.

I knew I had to think outside the box or it would not be a happy day for any of us. I asked my children to chose one of their favorite books and bring it down to me. While they were busy looking I gathered the following supplies; glue, scissors, construction paper, yarn, washable crayons and markers, and brown paper sacks. We made puppets based on our favorite books. After making the puppets we made the stage and props that coordinated with their books. This activity was so much fun! It passed the time so fast. Before we knew it my husband was home from work, and we performed the puppet shows for him. We laughed so much as a family that it brought tears to our eyes. This activity was a must when it rained! The kids looked forward to rainy days! Truth be known so did my husband and I.

You may be thinking the puppet idea is great for small children and early elementary children; what about older children who are harder to entertain? I have a solution for you. If you have a video camera you can make a mini movie of the favorite books. If you don't have a camera the kids can adlib their favorite book. The key is to perform or show the activity when the family is together.

No matter what activity you chose to do; your child will be entertained, learning, and you will be spending time as a family. The next thing you know, they will want to do this activity no matter rain or shine!