Rainy Day Fun

Rainy days can really put a damper on outside activities for the family. Not only that, but it can turn your clean house into a pigpen with kids searching for something to do. However, don't let the rain stop you from having a good time. Create some indoor fun with these suggestions.

• Pull out the kids' artwork. Downsize larger masterpieces to an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. Use these pieces as illustrations. Create and write a story to go with the illustrations. Put the illustrations and story in order. Make a book by stapling the artwork and story together.

• Have an inside plastic Easter egg scavenger hunt. Designate one color for each child. Write an item that you want the kids to find on a piece of paper and slip the paper inside each plastic colored egg. Make the items a little harder to find for the older kids. Hide the eggs. First one to find all the items, wins. If eggs are not handy, use colored socks.

• Play penny toss. Place about six to 10 baseball cards on a smooth surface flooring like the kitchen floor. Give each child five pennies. Make a start line where the kids must stay behind to toss the pennies. Toss until someone lands a penny on a baseball card.
  

• Indoor bowling. Pull out the boards that belong to the kids' board games. Line them up down the hallway as an alley. At the end of the alley, set up empty soda cans as pins. Use a rubber ball to "knock 'em" down.

• Make personalized balloons. Buy a bag of 9-inch round balloons in a lighter color. Inflate the balloon, but do not tie. Use a permanent marker and write a name or message on it. Or decorate the balloons for your next party. Deflate. Mail or give to family and friends. This is a neat idea for sending a message to a long-distance family member.

Copyright 2006 Mary Jo Rulnick, All Rights Reserved