Rainy Days Can Be Fun Days
With Your Family
by Guest Blogger, Jenny Wise
Nothing squashes outdoor plans quite like damp, rainy weather. But, if you have kids, it’s important to have a game plan so that they don’t spend their time sitting in front of the television for hours on end. Engage your kiddos with a variety of indoor activities that are as exciting as they are informational.
Impromptu Storytelling
Children are natural storytellers, so gather the entire family and indulge in an impromptu storytelling session. Along with sparking creativity, this activity can help kids with sentence structure, problem-solving and public speaking — even if that only means in front of the classroom until they get older. One idea is to write random words and pictures on note cards. Separate the two stacks and have each participant pick one card per pile. Next, all of you will take turns sharing your impromptu story within a certain time limit to force fast thinking.
STEM-Related Activities
Jobs in STEM have increased by 17 percent over the past ten years, making this field a promising career choice for the future. Help your kids to get excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics with online activities such as learning about machinery, how to become financially savvy, computer coding, seasonal science projects and more. Search for exercises by grade level to ensure you’re giving your child age-appropriate material so that they feel empowered, not discouraged.
Problem-Solving
It’s never too early or late in life to learn about problem solving, as it is important in personal and professional lives — and at school, obviously. Online games can condition your child to think rationally about an issue versus responding with spontaneous emotion. Furthermore, if your little ones are able to solve problems on their own, they’ll be more confident and independent while building character, perseverance and general survival skills. All of these qualities can encourage them to try new things and take the bull by the horns later on in life.
Virtual Field Trip
Sure, field trips are fun, but studies indicate that kids really do learn from an experience that takes them out of the classroom. Not to mention, they acquire a greater knowledge about art, gain stronger critical-thinking skills, increased historical empathy, and a greater appreciation for arts and culture.
While nothing can replace an in-person visit, there are virtual field trips that inspire and educate, such as taking a walk through the White House or Buckingham Palace, seeing the pyramids of Egypt or the famous U.S. landmark of Mount Rushmore, browsing art at the Louvre, learning about the Grand Ole Opry’s contribution to the music world and climbing Mount Everest without leaving their chairs.
Animal Knowledge
While most kids love visiting the zoo, there are several fantastic online resources to teach your kids about animals of all kinds — even the prehistoric variety. Learning about various creatures can help your children gain an appreciation for other living things, learn how the cycle of life works, and the importance of protecting endangered species. It may even inspire them to want a career working with animals or preservation later in life.
You never know when bad weather can strike, so it’s not a bad idea to keep a variety of educational games on-hand so you’re not caught off guard. Mixing things up can prevent boredom while constantly enriching your kids in new ways. Reinforce the importance of these activities by asking your children what they learned, what excites them and what they find challenging.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
