Sometimes the rain comes in and spoils our plans.
But fret not, there are plenty of rainy-day activities to brighten your mood and have some fun family time together.
Here are some options you may try.
Blanket Fort
Everyone knows that sleepy feeling you get when it starts to rain heavily, and what better way to take advantage of that than build a blanket fort!
To fit your whole family, you will probably need to build it over a few chairs or a sofa.
Use your imagination and whatever structures there are in your house that can support the blankets and bedsheets you’ll be using.
Gather all the blankets and pillows in your house for maximum cosiness.
Use a mattress as a base so that you and your kids can take a nap in there if you choose.
The best blanket forts are the ones that you’ve built yourself, so make sure to involve the whole family.
There is no doubt that this will lift those spirits in no time!
Movie Night
Now that you have a blanket fort, the obvious course of action is to have a movie night inside it.
Get cosy with all your pillows and stuffed animals and put on one of the family favourites.
Everyone likes to snack during movies so make sure you stock up on some healthy options to munch on.
When all else fails, popcorn is the way to go.
It’s not a must to watch in a blanket fort, so if you don’t have time to make one don’t feel bad; movies are just as entertaining from the sofa!
Of all the rainy-day activities, this is the most laid-back so take as an easy option to occupy your kids for some time.
The great thing about family movie nights is that the fun doesn’t stop when the screen turns off.
Talking over the plot, retelling jokes and comparing favourite characters makes movies such a great bonding activity.
Make Apple Cider
Hot apple cider (the non-alcoholic kind!) is one of the most comforting things to have on a cold and rainy day.
Flavoured with warming spices and apple, it will definitely improve everyone’s mood.
The ingredients you need for apple cider are:
- apples
- cinnamon (preferably whole)
- water
- sugar
- nutmeg (optional)
The measurements are completely up to you, but the usual portions are one apple for two cups of water with spices and sugar to taste.
To start, cut up the apples and boil them in the water. You can leave the skin on but remove the seeds.
The cinnamon can be added at the same time.
If you don’t have whole pieces of cinnamon, you can use powder but it may leave a slight bitter taste that can be masked with sugar.
The natural sweetness of the apple is there, but adding some sugar makes the cider truly delightful.
You can also add a pinch of nutmeg, if you like.
Once the cider has turned a deep amber colour, you can take it off the heat and serve.
Make sure to cool it down before giving it to the kids, fellow parents!
Board Games
Board games are a cure for boredom, and when you’re stuck inside, they can be a real mood changer.
Get out the staples from your childhood and teach your kids the rules (or let them figure it out themselves so you can win!).
Not only are board games a great way to spend time together, most of them have some sort of lesson to be learnt.
Whether it is strategy, teamwork, budgeting or motor skills, board games can really help your child develop in a fun way.
If you don’t have many board games at home, try other games that don’t require equipment like Hangman or Charades—these always get a great response from kids!
Arts and Crafts
If you want an option that will occupy your family for a long time, arts and crafts are the way to go.
There are plenty of options for you to choose from.
A few simple crafts you can prepare for are making bookmarks, finger painting or potato stamps.
These options only require items that you probably already have around the house.
You can also use this as a learning opportunity with educational crafts.
Why not kill two birds with one stone, right?
Use rainy day activities as a way to improve your kid’s development and growth.
Lifting the Rainy Mood
There will always be dreary days where you plans get spoiled or your kids just don’t want to stay inside.
Now that you have some tools to help your family get over the disappointment, hopefully rainy days won’t be a problem anymore.
You’ve got this, parents!
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!