Stuck Inside?
Entertain Kids With These Fun & Educational Activities
When it’s raining out and playing outdoors simply is not an option, it tends to get kids down. Being stuck indoors all the time is actually bad for their health, and without something to do, kids tend to turn toward watching television or playing video games. Rather than let them rot their brains in front of the TV, why not plan some fun and educational activities that will involve your children and help break the bad-weather blues? Below we’ve highlighted some of our favorite ideas for you to try.
Create an Obstacle Course
Making sure your kids get enough exercise is crucial. Not only does it pump feel-good endorphins through their bodies which makes them feel happier, it’s also essential for their physical and mental development. A fun and safe obstacle course doesn’t just get your kids moving, it also allows them to flex their creativity while building math and science skills.
Use pillows, cushions, furniture, blankets, and boxes to set up boundaries for your obstacle course. Have them crawl under chairs, walk across a balance beam, and jump over hurdles. You can also add movements and activities to the course such as jumping jacks, hula hoops, a bean bag toss, and more! The only limit is your imagination.
Learn an Instrument
Learning how to play an instrument gives your children many advantages in life. It improves their skills at school—especially in math. Playing an instrument helps them develop their fine-motor skills and their ability to follow instructions. They grow to be disciplined and into patient young adults with high self-esteem. Music also helps cultivate social skills and teaches children about the world and other cultures. Whether it be the drums, a clarinet, or the guitar, whichever instrument your children play should align with their interests.
Make a Mess
If your children are really feeling the humdrums, it may help to break out of the ordinary and do something wacky. There are tons of fun and creative activities that make a little mess while being educational, though your children won’t suspect a thing. Finger painting is a great way to let them express their creativity. Or if you want to add some spice to plain T-shirts and sheets, why not give tie-dying a go? Doing something that feels like it’s against the rules is a great way to keep them interested.
Another fun project is the Elephant’s Toothpaste science experiment. Using dry active yeast, hydrogen peroxide, dish soap, and some common household objects, your family can witness the magic of chemistry in a fun and exciting way. An exothermic reaction turns the ingredients into a squiggly, squirmy foam that shoots up through a container. You can use glitter or food coloring to make it more visible and fun. And while you’re learning about science, why not learn about math as well? Check out these lesson plans on ways children can apply real-world math concepts.
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When the weather is rainy and the kids are stuck inside, don’t let them sit in front of the television watching cartoons or playing video games. Help them stay smart and healthy with fun and educational activities that stimulate the body and mind. Make your own indoor obstacle course with your kids to bring out their inner engineer while also providing a fun and safe way to exercise. Learning an instrument early on improves academic skills, discipline, and social awareness. Finally, if you really want to shake things up, don’t be afraid to make a mess. Finger painting, tie-dying, and silly science experiments are all great ways to spend a rainy day.
By: Jenny Wise
