Bring On the Spring Showers
Early spring can be a joyous time to explore all the signs
of growth after the harsh winter months. Along with this,
though, is usually a chance for rain, rain…and more rain.
Rainy weather can be a wonderful time to strengthen your
family relationships as it allows for loads of imaginative
fun for you and your child! In other words, make lemonade
out of lemons!"
Typically, young children are not old enough to understand
how to use their own creative energy without some help.
Elizabeth Pantley, author of Perfect Parenting, The
Dictionary of 1,000 Parenting Tips has some wonderful
ideas when boredom is lurking, the kids are antsy and the
bickering has begun:
- Have a dance contest. Move the furniture aside, turn up
the music and dance 'til you drop. Give awards, dress up and
make a stage if you are feeling creative.
- Enjoy an indoor picnic. Pack a lunch and spread a
blanket in a rarely used corner in the house. The more
unusual the location, the more fun the picnic.
- Let the kids build a mega-fort using tables, chairs and
blankets. Keep the fort up for days and let them play in it,
eat in it and sleep in it too!
- Have an "Easter Egg" style hunt. Hide small toys all
through the house and let the kids hunt for them. Be
prepared to re-hide them many times, as kids really enjoy
the hunting process.
- Have a game-a-thon. Bring out the board games. Order
pizza for dinner and relax. You might even pull out the
sleeping bags and have a camp-out in the family room.
Additional ideas that can work for the toddler set include:
- Write and color stories by folding paper into a
"mini-book." Ask your child to tell you a story. Write the
words, whether they make sense or not. Write "The End" on
the story and it's a book. Let them color away for the final
touches. Children usually take great pride in the finished
product.
- Collages are simple and can be made with old magazines,
newspapers, or photos. A toddler can easily handle a glue
stick to paste the picture on a piece of construction paper.
- Make snowflakes. Have your child color a piece of
construction paper. Help him fold the paper into smaller and
smaller squares, then cut out pieces at your toddler's
direction. Let the child open the paper to its original size
– and the magic appears.
While these activities can brighten even the soggiest of
days, it is important to know that weather can have real
affects on behavior and moods. So keep your spirits up
during those wet and dreary days as summer months are
drawing very near!
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