rainy day/winter activities (mops talk)

"it rained and it rained and it rained. piglet told himself that never in all his life, and he was goodness knows how old - three, was it, or four? --never had he seen so much rain. days and days and days. "if only," he thought, as he looked out of the window, "i had been in pooh's house, or chirstopher robin's house, or rabbit's house when it began to rain, then i should have had company all this time, instead of being here all alone, with nothing to do except wonder when it will stop."
a.a. milne "winnie the pooh"

ever feel like a prisoner to rain in your own home? we wonder, too, with piglet, that if we could just have some company, instead of being alone, it might become more than just another dreary day. today we're going to share some ways to turn a rainy day into something a bit more exciting. i'm not going to share too much with you this morning, to allow you plenty of time to share in your groups what works in your home.

one of the best things you can do, is to prepare ahead of time. prepare a rainy day box that you keep in a special closet or place and inside put things that you don't normally use like:
* age appropriate art supplies *special snacks (for tea time) * books (pop up books are good here) * toys to rotate (train set, duplos, playdough, puzzles) * special toys (magnifying glass, slinky, etc.) * bean bags, * card games *balloons (choking hazard for small children, use with care) * old magazines to be cut up * musical instruments (fill an easter egg with rice and tape around the seam) * junk mail, especially the kind that comes with stickers

try to see your house in terms of centers--different activities that can be done in different areas of your home.

for instance, in the kitchen, you can have your child help you:
-cook
-organize a drawer or cabinet
-make an indoor "sand box" with rice (or oatmeal or lentils or beans) in a large box and various measuring cups, scoops)
-pudding finger paint
-fold kitchen towels (even if they're already folded-small children love this challenge when taught how to do it)
-sweep/scoop up dirt

in the family room you can play some games:
^bean bag toss
^mailbox (write notes--even unintelligible ones)
^carpet raceway
^go fish
^hide and seek--many options here. take turns hiding and seeking a stuffed animal, do a treasure hunt, or make a list of things around your house for your child to find, like a scavenger hunt)
^put painter's tape on the floor for hopscotch or balance beam
^animal charades
^grocery store
^if pickles could talk (any inanimate object in your house).
true confessions: when i was potty training my boys, and i knew they had to go, but they didn't think they did, i would make the potty seat/mouth "talk" to the boys saying "i'm thirsty" and they would fall for it every time and giggle the whole way...
^gymnastics skills
^stretching
^old fashioned games like drop a clothespin in a gallon jug, pin the _____ on the ______

in the bathroom, give them a bath just for fun (let them drop in a few drops of food coloring. it won't stain their skin, but they'll get a kick out of watching the color change). teach them how to clean different areas-sink, floor, toilet, cabinets.

you can do an indoor tent or fort, a wall mural (janbrett.com has some free that are great and go along with her books), have a teddy bear picnic, teach them a new song, dance! visit your favorite "other" place (ours has typically been the library or the children's section of a major bookstore).

think of all the things they could do as a momma's helper== sort socks or silverware, practice manners or setting a table, wipe down baseboards, wash windows or walls with just plain water. play musical pots/pans.

art is always fun, but maybe you can do some out of the ordinary things: make a free puzzle by cutting up the front of a cereal box. make a popsicle puzzle by taping 6-10 sticks together, turn it over to the other side, draw a picture on it, then take the tape off and mix up the sticks (works great for readers with a message or Bible verse too). do a surprise bag, or maze, tape markers or crayons to matchbox cars and have them drive/draw on a big piece of pzper. make an obstacle course, or get out soft balls and the laundry basket.

don't forget to go outside and enjoy the rain if possible. have your child use markers to draw on a coffee filter and put them on a cookie sheet out in the rain. make a rain gauge. enjoy!

discussion questions
1.) is there anything else you'd like to discuss today?
2.) what is the most challenging thing about a rainy day to you?
3.) what works well in your home on a rainy day?
4.) do you have any positive childhood memories incuding rain?
5.) brainstorm as a group some of your favorite songs/games you plan to teach your child the next rainy/snowy spell....