Fun activities for rainy days

While we may all fantasise about long, hot sunny afternoons spent lounging in the garden while the children frolic at our feet, the reality of the summer holidays is more likely to be interminable rainy days spent fruitlessly trying to come up with ways to entertain an increasingly restless brood.

With this in mind I thought it would be a good idea to come up with a few activities that might help you to keep your temper and your sanity during the inevitable rainy days we're experiencing this year. 

Get back to nature

The Woodland Trust has put together a list of 150 free family activities from indoor games to outdoor nature safaris as part of its Big Summer Challenge. There are full instructions and even a certificate to print out once an activity is complete, so you are sure to find something to appeal to children of any age.

Home cinema

This might not be that original or educational but it’s always a winner in my house.  Let the children pick a DVD, if you are anything like us then you should have plenty to choose from. Then turn down the lights, dish out the popcorn and enjoy at an hour or so of peace as you share a family movie. 

Historical distractions

The National Trust has thoughtfully put together a list of its properties that are perfect for a rainy day visit. From the children’s trail exploring Ightham Mote in Kent to The Workhouse in Nottingham where you can show your children how good they have it if the worst thing they have to cope with is a bit of boredom on a wet day. Click here for the full list of activities. 

Story telling

If your children are going stir crazy with too much screen time then why not have a good old-fashioned storytelling session? While my boys love me to read to them, what gets them really excited is making up our own, original stories. You can kick them off with an idea, but let their imaginations run riot as they fill in the blanks, name the characters and develop the plot. Get them to write the story down in their own book and create a picture for the cover and they will be amused for hours.

Crack open the board games

This is a good option if you are beginning to feel that your children have done nothing educational for mind expanding for a while. Strategy games like chess or Rummikub improve maths and logic skills, while nothing beats Scrabble to boost vocabulary and help with spelling. If you just want to burn off a bit of excess energy then look no further than that golden oldie Twister.

More food for thought

Summer fun with Ready for Ten

Discounts and deals for summer

Encouraging creativity in children