Rainy Day Activities--a few ideas

The rainstorm yesterday reminded me to brainstorm about how to entertain kids during rainy days. After spending previous weekends outdoors lounging around in parks, flying kites, playing on paddle boats, or hiking on the outskirts of Beijing, how do you entertain hyper children who don’t belong in the muck and the mud?

Whenever thunderstorms struck when I was a kid, my brothers and I would usually create forts in our house. While we loved it, it caused a mess—we rearranged all the furniture and had blankets stretching from table to table secured with my parents’ beloved books and magazines. Other alternatives included baking cookies, watching movies, playing a board game, or building Lego structures.

However, Beijing offers some great indoor playing areas for children. Check out A-Z kids for an art corner, a maze and a great play area for kids ages 2-8 or Happy Land Arts and Crafts Center for pottery, painting, and jewelry making.

However, if you and your family don’t want to venture out, I came across some things that allow kids to get their hands dirty in a contained way. My personal favorite--make your own playdough: Http://handyprojects.blogspot.com/2005/06/how-to-make-playdough-at-home.... it only takes six ingredients that you probably already have in your house. These rainy day craft ideas (http://www.rainydayskidscrafts.com/) are easy and fun, such as making friendship bracelets. They are the perfect way to be creative and get in some family bonding time. Check out this puppet idea (http://www.rainydayskidscrafts.com/cowmarionette.php).

Another way to bring out the kids’ creative side is by putting on plays with fun costumes—many internet sites provide free, one-act plays for children. If children are still restless, let’s just hope that next weekend, we can be play outside again. Those kites aren’t going to fly themselves.

How do your kids spend their rainy days?
I wonder if most kids are just playing video games in this technology age....

thoughts?