Rain, Rain, Go Away

I know we're still under Level IV drought restrictions in Georgia, but man am I tired of rain. The drastic weather changes have really slowed down our attempts to work on the house and now I'm afraid that we're going to have to move in without having everything finished! Oh, well, could be worse! What do you do with your kids on a rainy day? To tell the truth, I have often been guilty of just letting them climb the walls until bedtime arrived. However, life is easier (and more fun) if I make an effort to plan some rainy day activities with them. Here is a list of ideas:

-Have a library day! My kids love to visit our local branch and pick out books, play games on the computer and play a Dr. Seuss game on one of the big tables.
-Bake together! Have a bag of chocolate chips on hand? Bake some cookies and teach measuring, following directions and get rewarded with several warm and gooey treats at the end.
-Teach little ones nursery rhymes like "Rain, Rain, Go Away" and practice singing them.
-Build a fort! Gather together a few big blankets and whatever chairs or other supports you have around and let your kids build the perfect indoor fort in which to giggle with flashlights, tell ghost stories and use their imaginations.
-Make something for someone else! Write a letter or make a card for someone your kids know. If you know someone going through a tough time, a small child-engineered craft will brighten their day like nothing else.
-Plan your Spring garden! Use these rainy early days of Spring to plan your garden. Get out seed catalogues or use the Internet to let your kids see all of the possibilities. Even if you're just planting a few things around the mailbox, your kids will get really into it.
-Have a pajama day! If you have nowhere else to be, why bother dressing? Keep your kids comfy in their pj's and stay warm and dry. Turn on a favorite movie, pop some popcorn and enjoy each other.
-Get wet! If it's not too cold and you have cabin fever, put on your rainboots and slickers and find some good puddles! Your kids will never forget the day you let them splash to their heart's content.

These are just a few of the ways you can make a rainy day fun! If you have any more suggestions, please leave a comment!