There is much talk about Indian summers, but in reality, we don’t get any summers to speak of, let alone Indian ones. In fact, our weather pretty much sucks. Most Irish parents are on high alert for a break in the clouds and the downpours during which they can open the doors and unleash the happiness of children to the outside world.
More often than not, we are faced with drizzling Saturdays and wild Sundays where we must entertain the children before they face another week of incarceration in their respective schools. It can be a challenge to survive and have fun in bad weather.
Yes, you can don the outdoor clothes and trudge through the rain, splashing in puddles and slipping in the mud, but it is family fun with a definite short life span and a high probability of whinging and complaining.
But, there is much you can do inside the warmth of the home to alleviate boredom and to get the heads away from their respective iPhone, Snapchat, Instagram, Tablet, PS2 screens.
Make a Fort: Provide an old blanket or sheet and allow some furniture rearranging to make a fort or a tent. Teddies, cars, tea sets and pets will make the new hide-away an exciting place for children to let their imaginations soar and adventures will happen while you sip a nice cup of tea elsewhere.
Old Fashioned Non Virtual Games: Good old fashioned board games, like Ludo and snakes and ladders can while away a few hours. A deck of cards can bring the whole family to the games.
Water play: Place a few towels (some that are waiting to be washed are ideal) on the kitchen floor. Stand your offspring on a chair so they can reach a sink full of warm water and various pots and utensils. Sure, there will be a bit of a mess and probably a change of clothes but there will be that wonderful creative play, and that peaceful sound of a child playing happily.
Playdough: Take Flour, salt, water. Mix. Add a child, a rolling pin and a few cookie cutters, yoghurt pots and anything else which might make it fun. Sit back and let the magic happen.
Save a Birthday/Christmas Toy for days like this: These days, children can get a lot of gifts at birthdays and Christmas. If they are young enough, you can ‘hide’ one for a rainy day. Producing a new toy on a dull boring day is much more exciting than when it sat in that original pile of toys.
Save Boxes for making cities: Yep. Do that. Save boxes, cereal boxes and egg cartons for making playing with tiny cars much more exciting.
Duvets on the couch time: There is nothing more heart warming than the whole family snuggling down with popcorn and snacks to watch that one magical family film together. Check out charity stores for DVDs which you might like to watch together on those rainy days ahead.
Rainy days don’t have to mean house-bound misery. With a little imagination, a tolerance of a certain degree of mess and some good humour, you can all survive till the sun shines again. Whenever that may be!
