cold wet days

sigh, I can relate!

We went to Junglerama this moring (indoor play place).

Swimming is another option - my girls are the same age, but if you go with a friend who can help, you can manage all the kids between you.

At home - baking, playdough, puzzles, drawing.

TV when you've had enough! I've always limited the TV watching, but had a bit more recently with all the rain - Hi5 or similar at least gets them up and dancing, and with Dora and Diego type things she is learning a bit. The other day I realised she had learned the names of all the colours in Maori from kidzone

I'm going to join the toy library too get a few more toys to keep us entertained.

We go out every morning to playgroups, pram walking group, preschool gymnastics etc and that takes the edge off. Unless it is absolutely pouring down I let him play outside once we get home. If its wet outside but no longer raining I let C run around in his undies and a polyprop or polarfleece so he's warm but the wet doesn't bother him. On cold days I just rug him up and let him play outside anyway. He jumps in puddles, skids on his knees on wet grass, and his swing, slide and seesaw dry off the first time he uses it anyway. Cold is less messy than wet.

If the rain sets in and we've already been to playgroup or somewhere and he's still full of beans we usually head for a child friendly cafe, go for a long walk around a mall, or go swimming or to the library.

At home he gets the squabs off the couch, foot stool and coffee table and makes his own obstacle course or rides his ride on bike around. Otherwise he likes to jump off the coffee table onto me for hours on end. By about mid afternoon he can sit still long enough for blocks, cars, drawing etc. If they are happy to be inside but just need entertaining you can do playdough, puzzles, duplo, dancing to music, reading stories etc.

Edited by jaz

My DS1 loves to line up all of his cars/trucks/boats/motorbikes in a big long train and then we count them. Takes a while to makes sure we've found every single car etc, and then he sits at the front and pretends to 'drive' the train.

We often sing and dance to music (or zumba )

Baking

Reading

Puzzels

If its not too wet or cold, then we go for a walk around the block.

Play indoor soccer.

Painting

Hit a balloon around with an empty handy towel roll

Make forts/tunnels

Have a teddy bear picnic

Educational computer games

Play chase, but instead of just running around, we crawl, do the bear walk, jump etc

That's all I can think of for now. Hope some of this helps!

There are a few thigns I keep aside for rainy days ina wee box in the laundry.

Balloon volleyball is good here (a couple of balloons) then when that is over, or even before, I draw all over the balloons for them,they love it

I keep crayola washable felts for rainy days (normally its just crayons/pencils also craft scissors, different coloured paper and stickers (as oppsed to colouring books and plain paper) Sellotape goes down well

Also the old standbys like

Lego/blocks
Train set
hotwheels/city car mat
DVD's as opposed to playhouse disney

making the fort is much of the fun. depending on your floor you could draw pics/hopscotch on it with chalk (works great on wood/concrete floors). Scavenger hunt around the house with prizes.

put on gumboots and spash in puddles !!

mud cakes..

Bubbles & Balloons

Waterplay with warm water in the bathroom sink and towels on the floor


a nice warm bath and a hot chocolate afterwards

This last weekend when it was cold and wet, we stayed home and:

made huts and went on bear hunts with the torch (in the middle of the day )

had a bear tea party

went "shopping" with the plastic food

made gingerbread animals and got DS to help stir the mixture and ice them (and the floor )

puzzles

playdoh

stories

a fun filled weekend for all