Activities to do with the kids when stuck inside...

October 28, 2012

Indoor Movie! Charge up the electrical devices, here are 5 Movies Worth downloading.

1.Monsters Inc

2.Despicable Me

3. Up

4. The Chronicles of Narnia

5. (pictured) Moonrise Kingdom is worth watching once the kids have gone to sleep for it may not keep their interest for long. I found this movie irresistible and have been a fan of Wes Anderson’s movies since Bottle Rocket.

10 Activities to do with the kids, no electricity needed:

1. Build a Fort: This can be easily done with a few creative maneuvers on your part. Push the couches closer or bring the chairs from the kitchen table into the living room to use as support. Drape sheets and blankets over them, and let your kids decide how to use their newly built kingdoms. It even creates a fun place to read or get homework done while still feeling like play time.

2. Play Board Games: In the age of electronics, your old board games may get ignored and start collecting dust on the shelves. This is a great excuse to bring those classics back out for a great family activity. Find games that are age-appropriate and multiplayer for an activity the entire family can enjoy.

3. Paint: This involves a little more mess and clean up on your part, but it can be a fun way for kids to be creative and artistic and maybe get a little messy in the process (It’s always more fun that way!). You can spread out a giant sheet of butcher paper on the garage floor and let them let their imaginations take over. If this must be done indoors, find an old sheet or tarp and lay it across your kitchen floor and let them paint on that to keep any messes from getting on your floors. You’ll be amazed at what your kids can come up with. 

4. Crafts: There are many age-appropriate and simple crafts that you can easily put together for your kids. Gather household items such as paper, cotton balls, glitter, straws, Popsicle sticks, scissors, glue and whatever else you have that you think could work well. You can come up with a project, such as making animals or Popsicle stick people, or you can just let your kids be creative and see what they come up with.

5. Play Dough: A classic! Who doesn’t love play dough? This is a very easy activity if you use the store bought kind. If you want this activity to last longer and be more involved, you and your kids can make your own homemade play dough. Check out this site for some great homemade recipes. This can be a fun learning experience for your kids.

6. Have a Scavenger Hunt: If you want to break away from the norm, set up a cute scavenger hunt for your kids. Write out and hide a series of clues for them to find, and let them put their problem solving skills to work to lead them to the prize.

7. Play I Spy: This game requires no props, no set up and most importantly no clean up. All you need is everyone in the same room. Take turns giving clues about what you “spy” in the room until someone guesses what you’re describing.

8. Read: Plain and simple. Rainy weather can be a perfect time to curl up on the couch with a good book. Make it even more exciting with a trip to the library first, and let them pick out a few books. Read together or read independently.

9. Put On a Show: If your kids love to perform, this is the perfect opportunity for them to impress you with their acting skills. Let them dig through your closets for costumes and put on a play. You can also set up chairs in the living room, so they feel like you’re really in the audience. 

10. Puzzles: Spend some time working together on puzzles. If you want to add a little competition, see who can finish their puzzle the quickest.

Movie tips via Motherburg, Tips via Shine