So, the rain came late night and it got us thinking of ways to keep the little ones entertained if we need to keep them indoors, and here are some of our favourite suggestions .....
1. A Treasure Hunt around the house - treasure hunts are always great fun anytime, anyplace, anywhere. String it out a bit (or a lot) with a set of Cryptic(-ish) clues ...... Minus 18 degrees & counting ......... Cuddled up with Arthur .......
2. What's that smell ? ...... line up about 10 items from various rooms in the house, all with their own distinctive smell (no horrid cleaning products though!) .... Mum's perfume, an orange, Dad's smelly trainer, suntan lotion ...... and take it in turns to blindfolded and guess as many as you can. A progression from this game, is What's that taste ? .... the clues in the name .... just be careful what you include and always have something yummy to hand for the wnning answers !
3. Make some music with musical instruments, espcecially great are the sets designed for children as they are sure to be able to get a sound out of it and have lots of fun in the process
4. Newsflash - a very silly game where everyone writes the silliest headlines they can think off (Goldfish becomes new headmaster as x school), Grandma walked backwards around the whole supermarket with her coat on back to front, Daddy wins National Burping award.....) and pop them in a bowl. Everyone then takes turns to take one and read it in their most sensible voice possible ...... 'Good Evening, Welcome to the News, Here is an important newsflash........'. Anyone who laughs more than two times in out and the winner is the last person left standing (and not giggling!).
5. Kids love to make things and we love the sets from the The Little Experience, our favouites are the Stitch-it Pink Piggies, Knit-it Sheep Kit, Fashion Design Kit and Built It Rocket Kit.
6. There is also nothing like a great family game and check out the great selection available at Funky Moose, with options from as young as age 2 up to games that Granddad will love to join in.
7. The Guessing Game - best played with a group, everyone takes a couple of pieces of paper and writes down a word of their choice on each (can be quite simple words such as blue or cat or jump or as more tricky such as trampoline, night light, magic - but do bear in mind the age of the youngest player!). Fold the pieces of paper up and pop in a box, and then take in turns to have the box and take one out and describe the best you can (without using the word itself of course). Use a timer and the winner is the person who manages to descibe as many as they can (successfully) within 2 minutes. It's a great take on a classic game, but children love it as it's their words in the game (a warning to those who put in super tricky words, they may end up having to describe it themselves!).
8. Rosie Flo & Johnny Joe colouring books are just brilliant for children. A huge leap from the standard colouring book, children get to add their own heads, limbs and details and then colour in the gorgeous designs.
9. Puppet Shows - whether behind the sofa or with one of those great little puppet theatres that hang from door frames, a puppet show is a charming way to pass a rainy afternoon. Children can either re-enact their favourite fairy stories or nursery rhymes (Cinderella, Gingerbread Man and Billy Goats Gruff are always the hot favourites in our house) or any budding Peter Jacksons out there can create their own story. Fabulous choice of puppets available.
10. Got a spare weekend at hand ? then why not create your own family magazine ? You can take this as far as your combined imagination allows ..... maybe interview someone from the extended family (over the phone would be fine), take fashion shoots of all the family in their favourite outfits, top 10 favourite ipod tunes, family favourite recipe or the weeks menu plan(if anyone really is that organised!) and even a pets corner and gossip column. (Will also help with the kids literacy etc... - but don't tell them!).
