Drip, drop. Drip, drop. Pitter, patter. Pitter, patter.
You hear that? That’s the sound of the rain pouring down on that fun-filled day you might have had planned. There goes the day at the park, a picnic, a kickball game, a hike or some other outdoor activity. I’ve seen the pouts on plenty of kids’ faces to know that they feel their day was ruined all because of a little downpour.
Certainly it stinks, right? To be honest, though the rain may be coming down, it doesn’t mean there’s no fun to be had while you may be stuck inside. There have been plenty of experiences during my younger years where that little diddy “Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day” was the big hit song of the day. But with my older siblings who knew how to keep themselves occupied, I learned little by little that I don’t have to gloom about times it would rain. In fact, it made me love rainy days even more than ever.
There are an extreme number of things any child or adult could do on a rainy day. Lots of fun could be had and it could wash away all those rainy day blues. From the time I was a kid to the ones I’m raising now, I’ve learned fun, imaginative and creative ways to keep them and myself occupied no matter where we may be.
What exactly are the best things to do during a rainy day? If your mind is boggled down thinking, no worries. Check out exactly what you can do!
Board Games – Board games have been around for generations. Each generation comes up with something entirely new or reboots an oldie, but a goodie. You can have hours of back to back fun finding out “Who did it?” in CLUE, bumping someone back to start (I’m so SORRY) or even who is the most successful surgeon in OPERATION. (Now I remember why I didn’t become a doctor).
Drawing/Coloring – Bring out the sketch books or coloring books. Have a day filled with bright colors using colored pencils, crayons and markers. Ante up on your drawing skills or learn how to keep in the lines. Coloring and drawing provides a creative time for you where you can draw whatever you want or color that cool car however you wish.
Movie Day – It’s movie time! Instead of watching plain, old television, watch some of your favorite movies. Pop some popcorn, open that beverage and switch on the television. This is also a great thing to do to get some quality family time.
Build a Fort – One of the best parts of rainy days is being able to build a whole fort! With parent’s permission, or they might even join in, grab some pillows, blankets, sheets or whatever else and create a cool fort just for you in your room or wherever you’re allowed to. Make some fun rules and games or get creative and imaginative. Be a knight rescuing his princess sister from the evil dragon! Cool fun, right?
Video Games/Computer/Tablet – These are a definite when it comes to kids. With a variety of games, internet and apps, boredom wouldn’t be an existing word in their vocabulary. Some parents, if they do allow their kids online, might want an educational twist which is highly recommended by me to keep their school skills sharp.
Baking – If a kid was promised to learn how to make their favorite treat, now would be a great time to educate them. Grab the ingredients (if available) and go step by step allowing them to make such a yummy dessert. Not only will they learn how to bake, but it’s also got an educational value. And if done right, it’ll come out as an A+ treat! So, go on! Spice things up a bit!
Neglected Toys – It might be time to dust off those toys that have never been played with or haven’t been touched for a long time. It helps give you something fun and new to play with without being bored.
Organize – You can spend the day doing an entire reorganization of your room. Clean off those shelves and dressers. Go through everything you own and talk to your parents about possibly donating if you know you’ll never play or use them again. Not only will you get an awesomely clean room, but help out those in need while you’re at it.
Family Game Day – Quality time with the family is just what the rain doctor ordered. Recruit mom, dad, siblings or anybody else available and suggest a day of family fun. Play those board games, beat everyone at Go Fish, act out an animal, person or object in Charades. A day with the family would be very fun!
Indoor Camping – This pretty much ties-in with the “building a fort” idea. If your campout was washed out for the weekend, seek this opportunity to keep it going. You don’t have to build a fort, but pitch those tents in the living room and perhaps roast those marshmallows in your fireplace. Tell those spooky stories you intended to tell. Just because of rain, don’t let it stop you from your fun.
Reading – Some might say this idea is a little boring cause all you do is sit, open a book and read. That’s it. But if you think a bit deeper, a simple book can help spread your imagination, pulling you into a world you’ve never known before. You can become an astronaut, a farmer, a pirate, a knight or if you’re into those scary books, perhaps a vampire or werewolf. *wolf howl* See? Open a book and see what unknown world you’ll be pulled into!
Arts/Crafts – Coloring and drawing are drawn to this category as well (no pun intended). Put your creative juices to work using pipe cleaners, construction paper, glitter, fake eyeballs, boxes, straws, foam, paint, glue, stickers, etc. If it’s around a holiday, create a holiday masterpiece for that special occasion or a gift for that special someone.
Imagination – Of course this one was bound to show up in the list as itself! Imagination is actually the key to everything you do! Without it, things might be plain, boring and make you go “Meh.”. With it, there are endless possibilities of what you can do, what you can accomplish.
Play in the Rain – It’s a definite given! If permission is granted, kids will dress up in those play clothes, poncho and rain boots to perform their rain dance! Dancing in the rain, puddle hopping or trying to taste raindrops that might be lemon drops or gum drops is part of the fun!
So, if you’re taking a glance at this while singing that old tune, “Rain, Rain Go Away”, just take a look at what fun can be had on such days. Now, grab that frown and turn it upside down! See? A big old smile! Come on! Wash away those rainy day blues!
What do you do on rainy days?