It's Raining Today So.....

[Binkybobo]

I let the kids watch cartoons from 6:30-8:00 this morning. (I know shame on me there's studies that say tv is bad and blah blah blah)
I was about to start circle time, but they gathered themselves in the playroom and contently played restauraunt for over an hour. (Why bother them?)
I told them to clean up for circle time. They cleaned, and went and sat back on the couch....
I then turned on a kid's exercize video, and they danced, stretched, and jumped for 45 minutes.
After this I gave them a big stack of construction paper, scissors, and glue sticks, and told them to just create whatever their little hearts desire. (this is what they are working on now.)
After this, I will either make paydough or balloon stress balls. I haven't decided yet.
It's just so dark and gloomy outside. I didn't feel like sticking to the schedule.
What do you guys like to do on rainy days. Any fun indoor activities that will leave them exhausted for nap time or fun art activities? I'd like to have tons of rainy day ideas on hand. April showers are fast approaching!
Thanks!

[CedarCreek]

Its raining here today too! We made a rainy day scene focussing on the umbrella for the letter u. I was thinking of doing an experiment with them when they wake up to explain to them why it rains.

How do you make balloon stress balls? Those sound intriguing!

[ABCDaycareMN]

What kids exercise video do you have. That sounds fun!

[Luna]

A new favourite activity here: I have a cloth bag full of farm animals. I pull one out and everyone acts like that animal. They love it and their worn out by the time they're done. We have also played it where one child acts out the animal and the others guess what it is, but they only get worn out one at a time that way

[Binkybobo]

Its raining here today too! We made a rainy day scene focussing on the umbrella for the letter u. I was thinking of doing an experiment with them when they wake up to explain to them why it rains.

How do you make balloon stress balls? Those sound intriguing!

OMG! Why didn't I think of this? We are lso on the letter U this week!

[Binkybobo]

What kids exercise video do you have. That sounds fun!

One of the dc moms got it free at the WIC office. I have been thinking of investing in a children's yoga DVD program. Shaun T. (creator of Insanity workout) alsohas a kid's workout DVD.

[Binkybobo]

A new favourite activity here: I have a cloth bag full of farm animals. I pull one out and everyone acts like that animal. They love it and their worn out by the time they're done. We have also played it where one child acts out the animal and the others guess what it is, but they only get worn out one at a time that way

Thank you so much. This sounds ike fun. This is going into my rainy day collection for sure.

[Binkybobo]

I forgot to reply about the stress ball.

Blow a ballon up to stretch it. Do not tie it. Let the air out. Insert a funnel and fill up with flour. Do not fill the neck of the balloon. Tie it. It feels so cool. I made one and after careful consideration decided it was too risky. There is always that one kid who will rip his balloon open and ruin it for all. Instead I bew up a million balloons and watched them tire themselves for 30 minutes, running,throwing, laughing etc....
I did let them pass the one stress ball around for a while.

[bunnyslippers]

Check out Yoga for Kids. A friend of mine wrote the program...it's a book, and it is GREAT!

[cheerfuldom]

I think that day sounds wonderful! I wouldnt even worry about the occasional rainy day that results in cartoons for 2 hours. hey they are happy and safe, so whats the problem?

[Lyss]

It's always raining here, or at least it feels that way sometimes!

I have the toddler/preschool yoga and another exercise video for little ones, they are a big hit.

MY DCKs love the tent, tunnel and slide that I keep put up most the time but when we're heading for cabin fever they come out and everyone has a blast. They've been known to play "camping" or "house" with the tent and tunnel for up to 1.5hours happyface

[LK5kids]

My two All time easy but well loved activities.....

Have kids color all over coffee filter with crayola markers (washable or regular)
Lay finished coffee filter on a paper plate, give kids a cup of water and a paint brush and have them paint with water over their filter. Beautiful, cheap, fairly mess free, kids
L
O
V
E
This! Young and SA alike.

Sprinkle kool-aid onto white card stock or white construction paper (unsweetened) and let kids paint over it with water. There is an explosion of colors and a wonderful scent of fruity fun!

I usually do two or three colors in different spots on the paper.

Maybe you have done these a million times, but I thought I'd throw them out there.