Rain, Rain, Go Away!

It’s been pretty rainy recently, but with the kids in school, it really hasn’t made too much of a difference. Sure, some after-school activities have been rained out, but all in all, indoor recess isn’t the worst thing in the world for kids.

Summer is a different story. Summertime rain can have quite a disappointing bent. I have a swimming pool, and every day that the kids don’t go to camp, my kids, neighbor kids, school friends, and some of my friends are camped out in or around my pool. If they aren’t in the pool, they’re playing sports in the yard or
riding bikes or scooters around the neighborhood. But when it rains … all outdoor bets are off.

Finding indoor activities for energetic kids can be tough if you don’t want to just park them in front of the TV all day. Sure, the little ones might have a short attention span for crafts, coloring, or Play-Doh, but technologically savvy older kids would rather spend all day glued to an iPod Touch or the Xbox if they must be stuck inside the house. I find that if I want to maintain a modicum of sanity, I have to think along the lines of a creative field trip.

Bowling is a great rainy day pastime. Even little kids can play without too much frustration when the gutter guards are activated. Most bowling alleys also have some video games, air hockey or pool tables, and a fun snack bar for kids. There are a lot of daytime specials out there during the summer where kids can bowl for cheap or even for just the cost of shoe rental, which makes this activity worth checking out.

Roller rinks and rock climbing walls are also great for older kids, especially if you get a group of their friends involved. Roller skating (or blading) takes me back to when I was a kid. There are also ice rinks that have free skate time when you want to retreat from a soggy day.

For smaller kids, the play area at the mall is always a treat. They can let off steam until they wear themselves out, and as a bonus, you might even be able to sneak in a little shopping time – especially if you have a good stroller.

Of course, if the rain drags on for several days, sometimes a change of scenery isn’t enough. Occasionally, I’ll enlist the services of a babysitter whose “fresh” approach to my kids is something that both they and I deserve. Then I can go off on my own to run errands or even pamper myself. I find that when I get home, both the kids and I are refreshed by having had a little break from being cooped up together indoors.

So next time you wake up to a dreary day and sheets of rain cascading past your bedroom window, don’t despair! It might not be as easy as opening the back door and letting the kids run off into the yard, but there are plenty of activities to keep kids interested and busy even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.