Rainy days can always prevent a problem for kids who love the outside. The declaration "I'm bored" soon resembles finger nails on the chalkboard to the ears. Here are a few suggestions to save your sanity and ear drums:

Turn off the TV and get out the Camera:
Kids of all ages love to be stars and ham it up in front of the camera. Grab some clothes and let the kids put on a fashion show set to their favorite music and record them on the video camera, not only will this eat away some time, but they will have loads of laughs.
Digital Cameras can also be useful in occupying time indoors on cold blustery rainy days. Give the older kids the camera and an assignment for shooting subjects such as pets or siblings. If your kids are younger capture them making funny faces, serious faces, angry, happy, scared, etc, this too will eat up some time and produce fun memories.

Create Collages:
Pull out the photo box, old magazines and newspapers. Grab some scissors (age appropriate of course), glue, paper and any other miscellaneous things such as ribbons, buttons, stickers and let the kids create.

Make Memories:
Markers, pens, crayons, paint and paper can be an endless source of amusement for the kids. One year during a long week of rain, I gave my then 3, 4 and 8 year old each a picture theme and let them create it. I still have those pictures of a car, dog and sunflower.

Break out the Board Games:
With the ever increasing popularity of Playstation's, Nintendo's and X Box kids have grown away from board games. Break out Monopoly or Monopoly Jr., UNO or Bingo, not only will the kids have fun, they can increase skills like math, colors and letter recognition.

Cook/ Bake:
It's a known fact that kids love to get messy. The kitchen is a source of immense entertainment for all children. What you cook should be age appropriate. For toddlers try pudding, not only can they help tremendously and build up their confidence, but they can then paint with the pudding (yes it's messy). Preschoolers love to help with cakes and cookies. Peanut butter cookies are fun at that age, the rolling of the dough and pressing makes them feel important. Put the older kids in charge of lunch, the younger ones have covered dessert and snacks.

Cuddle:
When all else fails, cuddle up together and tell made up stories.

Let rainy days become days to cherish, not dread.

Learn more about this author, Stephanie Epplett.
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