Rainy day activities:
1. Bake. Just try to imagine how much fun your little one could have with this. You could bake some cookies or even a cake, icing some cupcakes and spend some valuable time together. Here are some ideas of delicious recipes you can make with your children: https://www.buzzfeed.com/melissaharrison/cooking-with-kids?utm_term=.xiBBjYgNb#.bcBB2kb76
2. Cuddle up with a pile of books. Reading a book is extremely beneficial to a child's development. Plus they get to spend some quality time with you. You can even do a little bit of acting, performing stories or coming up with different voices for different characters. Impossible not to have some fun! Here are some great book options:
3. Make your own instruments and lead a marching band parade through the living room. Sure this can be noisy and may upset some neighbors, but if we were still children i'm sure this is something we would love to do! Sing and march to the sound of wooden spoons on pans, salt and pepper shakers (make sure you cover the holes with tape, otherwise this can be messier than baking). You can even use some stainless steel lids as drums or cymbals!
4. Play dominoes or line them up and let them fall—children will love seeing the chain reaction. This is not only for children. How many adults also love to watch dominoes fall after meticulously spending half an hour lining them all up? I mean, how satisfying...am I right?
5. Pull out the building blocks and Lego and create a mini city. To some, if not most parents and children, Lego can be classed as a thing of the past. But how about if you work together with your child and build a mini Lego city? Can you imagine how much fun you could have? You can name the city or town after you build it, and you can even go further and play with it after it's built, using for example some miniature cars or other toys you have available. Lego is underrated!
6. Embrace your inner Einstein with cool science experiments. You don't need any fancy equipment or ingredients. Most experiments can be just as fun and without the complications of buying specific chemicals and attempting to make crystals out of sugar, for example. You could simply build a marshmallow catapult with nothing but some rubber bands, a plastic spoon and lolly sticks! There are so many ideas to try: you could use a plastic bag and a cup to build a parachute for a light toy; you could make static electricity by rubbing balloons on clothing or shuffling on the carpet with socks, then zap someone with a quick touch. There are so many ideas that you can also find online. Be creative!
7. Have an indoor "camp out" with sleeping bags, a tent, board games, and popcorn. If this isn't perfection I don't know what is. Children love the idea of camping. It is your job to show them that it can be just as fun indoors as it can be outdoors. Again, don't be scared to get creative, using a tent made from pillows. Bring out those sleeping bags, and of course, you can't forget that popcorn...hmm...
8. Learn a few magic tricks to wow your friends. It's okay if you aren't very good at magic yourself. It is the intention that counts. These days you can find so many different tutorials on Youtube, some of them with very simple tricks for children using materials and objects you are sure to have in the house. And who knows, maybe you will show them to your colleagues in the office as well!
9. Become an Origami master! Again, if you don't own an Origami book, that's okay! There are so many websites with step by step pictures, and also many Youtube tutorials showing how to create the most perfect shapes with Origami. This is a great activity for rainy days, as it is a stimulating activity for your child.
10. Go bowling at home. You can use some paper balls and markers as pins, for example. Alternatively, you can stack up some plastic cups. This one is sure to have you addicted in no time.
The emphasis at Kids 1st is to create a relaxed atmosphere where the children are able to have fun, be themselves and learn at their own pace. We provide lots of opportunities for children and parents to have fun together. We also have strong links with external agencies, ensuring that those children who need additional support get it. We hope that after reading this article you try some of these super fun ideas at home, especially this winter. This is sure to keep your little ones happy and looking forward to those rainy days from now on!
If you wish to find out more about Kids 1st, head over to our website: http://kids1st.net/
