Trying to keep little ones entertained can be mind-boggling, especially if it's been raining non-stop. If you're feeling as if you're at your wits-end, try a few of these suggestions for bringing some activity indoors without losing your sanity.

Play-Dough! One item sure to please and you can make it yourself, incorporating the kids into the process to make it a family affair! You'll need:

2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
Food coloring

Mix all ingredients together. Stir over low heat. After dough pulls away from sides, remove from heat and cool. Make sure you cook it long enough so it feels like Play-Doh and doesn't get sticky.

Turn the dough onto clean counter. Knead until smooth. Divide the dough into balls for coloring. Make a divot in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of the playdough, trying to keep the raw dye away from your hands and the counter. You could use gloves or plastic wrap at this stage to keep your hands clean- only the concentrated dye will color your skin, so as soon as it's worked in bare hands are fine. Work the dye through, adding more as necessary to achieve your chosen color. Store in air-tight container or bag.

Tried the Play-Dough and need something a bit more entertaining? Try fingerpainting.! Make your own and paint cardboard boxed, grocer sacks or whatever thick paper you have on hand. You could even use a few layers of newspapers. Here's the recipe:

2 cups white flour
2 cups cold water
Food coloring

Put water into a large bowl. Slowly add the flour, while children stir. Once it's all mixed together, divide into smaller bowls and add food coloring.

Once you've decorated those cardboard boxes, put them to use after they've dried and let the kids make a fort. Add markers, cut outs, curtains using blankets and more.

For some less industrious activities, have a gym party. Have everyone change into their exercise outfits' (they choose). Put on some wild up-beat music and lead your little class in sit-ups, jumping jacks, push-ups, running in place and more. Spice it up with using the Simon Says' game idea, do finger exercises, exercise while sitting in a chair, move from room to room, doing a different exercise in each room. When you're finished, have a healthy snack of finger carrots and juice.

If it's lunch time, take the kids on a picnic! Spread a tablecloth

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