When the weather is too snowy for the kids to go to school, when the family members all have mild fevers or when you have to drop off the car for repairs on a rainy day, you may feel stress at the notion of spending the entire day cooped up in the house with your children. You can head off squabbling and boredom at the pass by having a few ideas for activities to keep them occupied and entertained for the hours spent indoors. You may have so much fun that you look forward to the next time the family is stuck at home.
Read Together
Reading together is a wonderful way to spend a rainy or snowy afternoon when you have no plans. Not only does reading foster warmth and intimacy between family members, but children who are read to learn that reading is fun and important. Try favorite classics that you enjoyed as a child, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series, a pile of books by Dr. Seuss or selections from the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys series. If your children are in school, ask the teacher for a list of recommended books, or ask your children's librarian which books work well for read-alouds. Ask older children if they would like to take turns reading aloud; this will give them pride in their reading ability, and will also strengthen their skills in reading aloud.
Get Crafty
Stock a wide variety of craft supplies in a cabinet or large plastic bin, and allow the kids to take it out and use the supplies whenever they'd like. Include acrylic, watercolor and tempera paints; crayons, pastels, markers, colored pencils and chalk; construction paper, newsprint and printer paper; glue, paste and tape; and a variety of decorative odds and ends, such as lace, glitter, sequins, rickrack, beads and yarn. When you and the kids are stuck in the house, encourage them to use their imaginations and create something interesting. If they don't have any ideas, help them to look through magazines, books and websites for some suggestions. Family Fun is one website with seasonal craft ideas that are appropriate for a variety of ages.
Cook Up a Storm
Take out your cookbooks and cooking magazines, and look for recipes that would be easy and fun for you and the children to make together. Spend part of the day baking and decorating cookies, making candy or cooking up dinners to freeze for use later in the month. Keep in mind the ages and ability levels of your kids, and try to clean up as you go for minimal frustration and mayhem at the end of your cooking spree.
Play the Day Away
A day that you must stay home is the perfect time to simply get on the floor and play with your children. Stay in your pajamas, let the laundry pile up and just enjoy the time that you have with your kids. Break out the board games and have a Monopoly or Scrabble marathon. Let your daughters take all their Barbie dolls and accessories out, and have a blast dressing them up over and over again. Ask your son to teach you how to transform all his Transformers. Sit down with your preteen and learn how to play his favorite video games, or dance with your teenager to her favorite CD.
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