There are ‘wet play days’ when no matter high your hopes and frustrations it is going to rain all day. Join others looking for rainy day shelter and entertainment
If you are fast you might get into your local “Soft Play” area.
Perhaps they are old enough for:
- bowling
- swimming pool
- trampoline
- climbing.
That is maybe 90 minutes out of the day or 3 hours in a …
- Cinema
- Science/history museum
- Aquarium
- Art/sculpture gallery
For some taking their children to the supermarket, is the last resort. You remember, Gene Kranz, flight director of Apollo 13, “Failure is not an option!“? For me, the supermarket with children on a rainy day, is the option which will fail.
“Let the stormy clouds chase, Everyone from the place, Come on with rain, I’ve a smile on my face!” (from Singing in the Rain.)
Get the hot chocolate ready for your return.
Take a breath and haul on everyones head-to-toe, wet weather gear and go a outside.
It maybe not a ‘glorious feeling’ but make the best of it.
And, yes you could try, “Singing in the Rain” , splashing and dancing around with umbrellas. If it’s not Gene Kelly it’s a laugh. Who can jump the biggest puddle? Or three in a row?
Woodland and Countryside
Make mud pies or mud what ever they want to call it by adding twigs and stones and woodland debris.
I have two under-the-canopy walks which after twenty minutes become a ‘circuit’ walk but it’s BTN, better than nothing.
Is there a river? You could make a temporary dam.
Or games of poo sticks from a bridge. Or from one point to another along the river.
If you have boats which can be ‘lost’ have a race.
Or make paper boats which can sink at the end of the race.
In the garden.
They can fill different containers, see which get full faster. Try adding different ingredients from the kitchen cupboard e.g. cereal, bread, crisp bread, jam, flour, to see make alternative ‘pies’
I am sceptical about the about of fun versus clear up ratio. I am not keen on bringing mud into the house, keep the mud outside.
If you are going to stay indoors head over to: