Rain rain go away. Come again some other day. Do you find yourself humming this classic tune when the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor play?
Many of us do. That’s totally normal. When you have high-energy kids, outside is the best place to be. However, when you are dealing with scorching hot summer temps, pouring rain, or winter’s wrath, sometimes you need a “plan b” so that your kids aren’t climbing the walls.
Here are some indoor activities for your kids when the weather is icky and you don’t want to venture out.
Let’s start with something super fun! A DIY obstacle course is easy to put together, doesn’t cost a dime, and will have your little one leaping for joy every single time. Pull out the kitchen chairs, pillows, blankets, couch cushions, and whatever else you want to use. Set them up in different configurations in the living room or down a long hall. Let your child climb, jump, and crawl through the course you create. An indoor obstacle course will bring hours of laughs for an energetic child.
When the weather wreaks havoc on your plans, it’s easy to feel discouraged. Don’t let that get you down though. Turn up the jams and dance with your kids. Sometimes music and movement are just the key!
Left hand red, right foot green, left foot blue. Break out Twister. This old school game is not only fun, but it’s great for teaching right and left, working on colors, turn-taking practice and more. Even better, it’s a great way to get blood pumping and bodies moving.
What kid doesn’t like to splash around in the tub? Water play is a great sensory activity for little ones. Head to the dollar store and pick up a pack of glow sticks, toss them in the tub, and turn off the lights. Next thing you know you’ve got a colorful new twist on tub time. This is a great way to break up a long afternoon when you are stuck inside and everyone’s patience is waning. It pushes the reset button and gives you and the kids both a chance to start fresh.
Balloons are a fun and inexpensive way to spend a day indoors. This is another dollar store find that will bring hours of entertainment for littles (and bigs!) any day of the week. Blow up a bunch of balloons and play catch. Unlike balls, balloons are safe around your breakables.
This may not be an activity you expected to see on this list, but it certainly fits the bill. Cleaning is a great way to get up and moving and break a sweat. It doesn’t have to be a dreaded task though. Get the whole family involved, turn up the music, and make it a game. If you’re stuck inside, you may as well be productive AND have fun!
Kids love cars! Hot Wheels bring hours of fun! With a simple roll of masking tape, you can build tracks all over the house. Give your kids a bucket of cars and watch them get lost in playing pretend all day long.
The title says this is a list of 7 activities for energetic children, but today is your lucky day. Here’s a bonus! Dress for the weather and get outside. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes, the benefits of outdoor play can’t be beat! Fresh air, vitamin D, a change of scenery, and a chance to clear crowded minds…..getting outside is well worth it, every single time.
We’ve just barely scratched the surface here on how kids can enjoy active play indoors. When you put your mind to it you’ll find there are so many fun and inexpensive ways to let kids be kids, even when stuck inside.
Play is important for so many reasons. When kids play, they are developing crucial fine and gross motor skills. They are using their imaginations and beginning to develop the creative process. Lastly, it is teaching them how to interact with the world around them.
Don’t let bad weather get you down. Pick an activity from this list or come up with one of your own. Engage your kids in active play every single day and get outside as much as possible. But when you can’t, remember that there are plenty of ways to accommodate high-energy kids even when you are stuck inside.
Don’t forget to share on your favorite social media channels! Give parents and educators in your network some fresh ideas for keeping high-energy kids active indoors!
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