Sometimes being stuck indoors, especially when you have little kids, is no joke, and can feel like eternity if you don’t have an arsenal of handy indoor family activities on hand ready to pull out at any occasion! If you want to stop your little ones getting restless, the best way is to have a number of games or activities you can do as a family, in case they get bored by one and want to move on to the next. So here are a few ways you can beat the boredom bug, and have fun even if the weather outside is dreary:
Bowling With The Family
Being stuck indoors gets you thinking about things you haven’t done in a while, and there’s a high chance bowling might be on that list! Getting the family together and heading down the bowling alley might be just what you need to get out of the funk the bad weather may have left you in. Even if there’s no sunshine to play in, there’s nothing more fun than laughing and spending time with your family, and this is a great way to get everyone out of the house together. If your kids don’t know how to bowl, this is the perfect chance to teach them and before you know it they’ll be playing with their mates like pros. Follow this up with a family meal together and you’ve got yourself a day out (while staying dry indoors!).
Dance Like No One’s Watching
There are few things in life more fun than having a boogie with your little ones, in the safety of your own home. So get the video camera out and get started. Sarah Morrissey, the director of Little Rockers Radio, says this is a perfect indoor weekend activity:
“If you are not blessed with great weather and find yourself indoors, you can switch on Little Rockers Radio and have an impromptu daytime kiddy disco. When was the last time you danced with your kids like no-one is watching? Try it! You will love it. If you have eaten a few too many sweet treats lately you will love doing our 30-minute physical activities with the kids too! Fun for them and you!”
To get involved with these groovey tunes and exciting exercises, follow Little Rockers Radio on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Indoor Tent Time
Ruth Dearing from Children and Technology has an idea of what you can do if you’re confined to your house for an afternoon as a family:
“Build a tent in the lounge room with your kids using blankets and chairs. It doesn’t have to be too elaborate. Somehow everything you do under a tent is so much more fun! Once it’s set up you can do lots of things in there. Playing simple card games like Go Fish and Snap is always fun. If you have enough space you can break out the board games you hardly ever get a chance to play. And reading books together is always good.
If the tent is really small then you can just play talking games. Tell a story together where everyone contributes a sentence or even just a word at a time. It won’t take long before the story gets crazy and makes no sense at all, such an easy and enjoyable way to entertain everyone!”
To discover more brilliant ideas such as this one, follow Children and Technology on Facebook and Twitter.
Do The Things You Never Do
We so often put off doing things simply because we don’t have the time, or other such excuses that prevent us from getting to the activities we constantly overlook. For example, your little ones undoubtedly have books, board games and puzzles that have yet to be opened just sitting in the backroom. So get them out and get down to playing. If you find your kids lack these indoor play options, consider investing in some good kids equipment, so your home is just as fun and safe as playing at a playground would be.
A great thing to do on a rainy day is to play with dolls, as there is no shortage of how they can keep your kids amused - from dressing them up, to brushing their hair and much, much more. If you have little boys, they might want to play with toy cars, or get down on the floor in a fierce but friendly tickle war!
Use The Time Productively: Work On A Green Project
Since you’re stuck inside anyway, why not get to work on a project that uses your time efficiently. For example, why not try this recycled tin can planter making activity, contributed by Melissa Hodge from Living Fundraisers:
“Gardening - Tin Can Container Planting:
It’s so easy to recycle your cans and turn them into something beautiful to brighten up your home or garden!
Wash and remove labels from your used cans then drill or nail and hammer drainage holes in the bottom.
Measure and cut your chosen fabrics or contact to fit around the cans.
Coat the cans in glue.
Stick your materials to the cans then trim the edges.
Add embellishments, ribbon or other decorations to your cans.
Plant your favourite flowers and herbs in your tin can planters then decorate your window sill, desk or garden. TIP: our flower pots will fit in a 400g can perfectly!
For other such awesome ideas, check out Living Fundraisers on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Go Back To Basics
If you’re truly stumped for ideas, why not think back to what you used to do as a kid if you couldn’t play outside? Before the world of cell phone, ipads, laptops and other gadgets, there was a lot more human interaction and simply enjoying time together. This could mean a good old fashioned game of hide-and-seek or simply sitting around chatting (probably a better idea if you have slightly older kids). Basically anything that involves spending quality time together can’t be that boring can it?
So don’t let the dreary weather get you down - get ready for a snuggly, cosy afternoon keeping safe from the rain in the comfort of your own home, with the ones you love most!
