Rainy Day Fun Made Easy and Cheap

I don't know about you, but when my kids were young, they loved to play outside. I know everyone isn't as fortunate as I am - I live outside a fairly small town; my yard is big, with trees and grass and DIRT (great for kids)! They played in our backyard, where they dug holes, tied ropes on things, climbed up in the trees, made rivers, played in the mud and generally had a dirty good time.

Of course, when it rained, they liked to put on old shorts and a shirt and splash in the puddles, but if it's cold or there's lightning and thunder, that wasn't possible. This brought up a problem- "There's nothing to do!"

Of course, today kids have Nintendos, Playstations, computers, and more TV channels than they know what to do with. But, if you're a smart mom or dad, and you want your kids to be more independent of those things and more able to entertain themselves, you'll start early, getting them involved in things that don't require a plug or a controller. Here are some suggestions I've used in the past with my kids, and now my grandkids.

Start an art box- I kept an eye out for craft items, especially on the sale racks- paper, crayons, 'art' scissors (the kind that cut in different patterns), stamps, fabric, glue, paper plates, pipe cleaners, beads - anything that can be used to make things. This box wasn't used every day, but pulled out as a 'bonus' - that kept it more interesting in their eyes.

Board games are always fun! We've got quite a stack at our house, from Monopoly and Clue all the way down to Chutes and Ladders and Mr. Wiggly - if you've got a wide range of ages, you might have to adjust the rules to help everyone play, but that can be fun too- let the kids help set the rules!

We also have quite a collection of card games- old standbys like Rook and hearts are great, but there are new games that can be fun as well. I picked up a game called Pacardi last year that is fun - it uses play money (without gambling) which adds interest to it; we also like Canasta Caliente (geared more for older kids and adults), Phase 10, Uno (any kid who can match colors can be taught to play this and they LOVE it). If you've got kids who are competitive, they might like Spite and Malice (you'll need a deck of cards for each player - rules can be found on the internet).

Who doesn't like camping? Take an old sheet or bedspread and throw it over a couple of chairs, or a table and you've got a tent. Add a flashlight (again, most any kid likes to play with flashlights). Let them have some old pots and pans for camping gear, caps to wear, and give them some pillows and another blanket and they're good to go. mine were always easier to get down for a nap after having a picnic in their tent, because of course, it was time to camp out- when they laid down in their tent, the covering helped muffle any outside noise, and since it was slightly warmer inside, it encouraged them to go to sleep. I always 'opened' up the tent after they went to sleep, to make sure they didn't get too hot.

Baking with you can be fun and educational. There are lots of simple cookie recipes that don't call for out-of-the-ordinary ingredients - why not let them help you bake a batch? The mess might be bigger, and it might take longer to make them, but think of the memories you'll make with your kids. As an extra, you might have a neighbor who would appreciate the attention a plate of warm cookies would bring - and you're teaching your kids to show love to others as well.

How about "dress up"? Again, keep a watch out for hats and caps, shirts, purses and bags, backpacks, fabric remnants, etc (both while you're in the store, or going through your closet) - keep it all in a big tub and then when they need something to do, let them play dress up. This can be as simple as "mommy and daddy" or can be a game of 'shopping' where you let the kids borrow some of your canned goods to line up as a store shelf. A little box of play money comes in handy here as well. Kids might learn to make change and count money while they're playing.

Clean up- this last item may surprise you, but give them the vacuum cleaner and a 'feather duster' (the new kind that doesn't have feathers). Let them play cleaning lady (or cleaning man) - again, a uniform might make it more of a game with a cap or apron. The object isn't to have them do a perfect job; it's to let them learn how to do it, while having fun. Things that we see as a job, they see as something only grownups are allowed to do, so let them have at it. Simple dishwashing can fun as well- make sure the water isn't too hot, but with plenty of suds, and let them wash plastic cups, folks, and metal pots and pans. Even very small kids can stand on a chair by the sink and splash some - if you stand with them, you can rinse while they wash, and it will also give you more talking time.

I know, if you work outside the home (and most folks have to), your time at home is precious, but if you've got the chance to spend a little time with your kids that is playing and enjoying each other, you're really building a relationship that will last.