Indoor rainy-day activities for kids

How old is your child? For really small ones, just open that closed up pots and pans cabinet and let them bang away. Noisy, but for the age level it can take at least a half-hour to get tired of the usually-forbidden activity. And bangs are better than children crying and fighting.

Small ones can also help with snack items - peanut butter in celery stalks, spraying cheese on crackers, mixing raisins, hulled sunflower seeds and a few small snack crackers (like Goldfish) into a snack mix. Pop some popcorn in the microwave and let them either add it to a snack mix or mix it up with some marshmallow topping for popcorn balls.

Crayons and simple dot-to-dots work for a while, but not long. Let them "paint" on a paper plate with crumbled cookies and pudding. They will be a MESS, but they'll love it and eat it. If they are really small, put them in a high chair. For the next few ages, spread newspaper under the paper plates. Use finger paints the same way.

Have an indoor picnic. Let children help make sandwiches and other foods. Make cupcakes especially for the picnic. Do let them decorate the frosting with candies or other glitter. If you have a fireplace, have both hot dogs and let them roast marshmallows. Of course make sure you are safe with the holder (and hold small hands while they are "toasting).

A step up on the age level: get one of the little looms where children can weave potholders. Tell them it's "make a present for Grandma, Aunt Debbi, Uncle Sam...whomever" day. Even four-year olds can do this one; fives and sixes will last longer with it. And they honestly will come out with presents to give their loved ones. Which actually are useful and appreciated by recipients.

Tent houses work well at this age and even younger. Just find blankets and be prepared to clean up. Again, better to clean up than screaming, yelling, whining, right?

Children a bit older are open to new adventures. Learning to make an "Eye of God" kept my grandkids busy not only through rainy days, but days when they could have been doing something else. One grandson managed to make one so large I still can't believe it (and yes, I still have it). A granddaughter loved them so much that she came to my church school sessions for younger children and TAUGHT them (they loved them, too.) Instructions can be found at http://www.caron-net.com/kidfiles/kidsapr.html.

Also at the 8-12 level, origami is a bit hit.

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