To avoid boredom and listlessness, what do you do when the kids are home and it is raining or snowing outside? As a mom of an active two year old, I’m always looking for great ideas to occupy and spend quality time with my son.

With the help of some Facebook friends, here are 13 fun indoor things to do with little kids on a rainy or snowy day:

1. Scavenger Hunt
Get kids to look for all the blue, red and white crayons that you have hidden around the house with a timer or for the length of a song. Kids could run around the house looking for the crayons for hours. At the end a reward could be a snack time or small little gift.

2. Simon Says game
This idea came from Cristen Mulley Hammel. She suggested Simon Says game with red light, green light. Then get them to do jumping jacks.

3. Camping tent
Set up a tent, using a sheet over the table. Put a flashlight in there with some toys and snacks. Also make a trail using books or pillows laid next to each other. Let him hop on them like they are logs. This came from Aesha Adams-Robert of aeshaonline.com (read all about her blog on keeping kids busy through this link)

4. Dress up party
Get kids dressed up in super hero costumes and have fun acting as the superheroes. Mom and dad could do the same. You can tell stories, have car play, games or make crafts at the same time. (Idea from Kim Rinaldi –Robdy  and Cristen Mulley Hammel)

5. Wrestling Match and forts and couch cushion obstacle courses
Place pillows or cushion on the floor and organize a wrestling match between the kids. Or build forts and use couch cushions and play obstacle courses. (Contributed by Heather Pitcher and Sandra Garcia)

6. Balloon up in the air
Have several balloons and have kids bouncing the balloons without the balloons touching the ground. Play their favorite music or praise songs while you play with the balloons. Dance and sing at the same time and make joyful noises.

7. Film Festivals and Pop Corn Popping Contest
Get a favorite movie started, pop some pop corn or a favorite snack and start the pop corn popping contest, meaning see who could pop the pop corn into their mouth without dropping on the floor.

8. Indoor puppet show, dance and music play
Be creative, use old socks or pillowcases and make them into puppets. Or use existing toys. Cut up a cardboard box to make it into a theater with bed sheets as the curtain. Start your own indoor puppet show. Get the kids to sing and dance as the puppet dance to the music. (Part contribution by Debbie Twomey)

9. Baking and cooking
Time to bake or cook together in the kitchen. Make a mess and clean it up. Dinner is done while you are playing.

10. Build a fort
Use cardboard boxes and make forts or build playhouses with it. Kids could use their imagination with crayons and draw pictures of windows, birds, and trees on the cardboards. Add a flashlight inside the playhouse and kids will have loads of fun inside.

11. Picnic
Pretend you are having a picnic by the lake. Place a bed sheet, tablecloth or blanket on the floor. Get the basket out with snacks, books and little toys. Talk about fun imagery things you see at the lake or mountain.

12. Playdoh
Make your playdoh and have hours of creating shapes, things and pretend foods with your kids.

13. My favorite – Guess that smell?
Use Young Living Essential oils of Orange, Peppermint, Lemon, and others depending on your kids’ use of the oils.  It helps your kids distinguish smells and you can teach them the uses while they smell. Pretty soon they will be calling for this natural medicine by name when they have an ouchey.

These are thirteen suggested fun indoor things to do with your kids on rainy or snowy days. Do you have your own list? Please share. We would love to hear from you.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Right now you are playing with your kids crawling around the living room as mommy bear and daddy bear.  The little cubs (your kids) are running after ‘mommy bear’ with their play foods and utensils trying to feed mommy meals of plastic corns and bananas.  Daddy bear is doing his daddy growls chasing the kids and they can’t get enough of it. The room is filled with toys and you two are exhausted but the kids are not done playing.

Ever felt like you have no more energy for another make believe game in your living room? Would you like to provide outlets for your kids’ boundless energy?

Some of us have high-spirited, high-energy and fully energized kids once they open their eyes. Halfway through your playtime you get tired but not the kids. With the fall season comes colder weather and kids are having more indoor time. How do you channel their energies?

Sport activities are best outlets to direct kids’ boundless energies. But not all sports are suitable for kids 5 and under. Kids are vulnerable to injury during sport. With precautionary measures most can be prevented. However here are three sports that are safe for kids 5 and below:

Karate – this Japanese martial art is a great indoor activity for kids. Kids 5 and below are usually being introduce with playful movements and kicks in these classes. They also work on life skills like focus, discipline and self-control.

Swimming – giving kids the opportunity to learn how to swim could be a lifesaver. Swimming is an important life skill since drowning is the second highest cause of death among young adults and children. Swimming is also one of the best workouts for children and adults. There are swimming lessons available in most YMCA centers throughout the United States at affordable prices.

Soccer – almost every kid in America has tried soccer before they turned ten. Soccer is a great team sport and can help develop a child’s social skill and sportsmanship. One of the benefits of soccer is it is not a contact sport like football, lacrosse, hockey or rugby. Because contact sports have higher incidents of collision and injury, soccer will be a better option for kids 5 years and younger.

A high-energy child with undirected energy may potentially cause problems at school or home. Sadly, some are given names like ADD, ADHD and the likes and were taken to undesirable routes or given ‘bad reports’.  Physical activities are important for kids of any age. It helps channel their energy and promotes better sleep.

Penny Leclair of www.pennyleclair.com has her high energy daughter bounce on a little mini trampoline for 10 minutes before school.  She says it helps her focus better, releases anxiety and pre-school stress.  Penny also says giving her daughter 2 ounces of NingXia Red, one before school and one packet in her lunch makes a big difference too. NingXia Red has lots of vitamins, minerals and specific amino acids that are great for our little ones and us.

Sometimes the foods that contain high levels of sugar, preservatives, and dyes or processed may trigger their energy levels. Remember to add a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to their diet for balanced nutrition and digestion. Here is a delicious chewable vitamin recommended for your kids but I admit I like the taste so much I have one every day too:

KidScents Mighty Vites

Sports and physical activities are not only beneficial to adults, they are really important for kids’ wellbeing too. This season get your kids involved in outdoor or indoor activities and let us know the benefits.

We are always learning from our readers. Please comment below.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.