Rainy Day Fun for Kids

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

03 Aug 2009 02:19 PM

Farmers may appreciate a good soaking in the middle of summer, but parents who preserve their sanity by sending their kids outside when school's out typically don't embrace rainy days with the same enthusiasm.

If you are part of the latter group, don't let a little rain dampen your children's summer fun. Instead, consider the following kid-friendly projects:

HOMEMADE BINOCULARS

Materials:

2 empty toilet paper rolls

Craft glue

Hole puncher

Yarn or string

Markers, crayons, or glitter glue

Directions:

Glue together the toilet paper rolls.

Use the hole puncher to make two holes on the outside top portions of the toilet paper rolls.

Thread yarn through the holes to create a strap.

Have your kids decorate their binoculars with crayons, markers or glitter glue.

Take the kids on a nature walk and let them try out their new binoculars. Look for birds, flowers, clouds, etc.

FUN WITH CELERY

Gather up limp celery that has been sitting in the fridge for weeks and put it to good use.

Materials:

1 bunch of celery

Large bowl (at least 4 inches deep)

Directions:

Cut off the top two-thirds of the celery and discard.

Pour two inches of water into the bowl.

Stand bottom of the celery in the bowl so that the water goes about halfway up the bulb.

Add fresh water every other day. In about 5 days, new leaves will start to grow on the inside of the trunk. Pull off outer stalks as they brown, and watch inside leaves flourish. You can also add food coloring to the water. This will give the new leaves a colorful tint.

A TRIP TO THE LIBRARY

If your kids are going stir crazy being inside all day, take a trip to the library. Many local libraries have book clubs that give kids prizes for every dozen or so books they check out. If your library doesn't have a book club, then make your own reward system. You can throw your kids a pizza party for every five they read.

Related Articles:

Summer Fun for Kids in the Great Outdoors

Super Summer Sanity Savers for Parents

Affordable Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer

Super Summer Fun for Kids

Edible Sand Castle and Other Summer Fun for Kids

Serious Summer Fun

Fun and Affordable Family Activities

Ways to Have Fun on a Budget

Family Fun for Less

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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