February 9, 2002

Rainy Day Activities for Young Children

by Shari Steelsmith

Tip—"Make-believe" kits are easily assembled with things you have on hand and can entertain young children indoors for a long time.

The winter months are cold, frozen, wet or otherwise inhospitable in most parts of the country. Parents of young children need a few creative ideas to keep their young charges occupied indoors during inclement weather. Preschool teacher Sandi Dexter, author of Joyful Play with Toddlers: Recipes for Fun with Odds and Ends, offers some fun ideas on how to assemble "make-believe" kits for indoor play.

"Young children like to recreate experiences they have had personally when they play," says Dexter. With this in mind, she suggests creating kits that allow children to pretend they are camping, cleaning, or keeping house.

Camping Kit

It's not all that hard to simulate the great outdoors inside the house. All you need are a few things to help your child's imagination along. You might include the following:

Blanket (to drape over a table to make a tent)
Sleeping bag
Small pots and pans
Red & yellow tissue or construction paper (wad up for "fire")
Flashlight (most popular item)
Backpacks
Storybook about camping
List of songs to sing around the campfire
Marshmallows to pretend "roast"

Cleaning Kit

Children love this activity. Put together a cleaning bucket, with a dusting rag (or feather duster), a small sponge, and a scrubber or scrub brush. Put a small amount of water in the bottom of the bucket. Let your child help clean by washing down the cupboard doors or dusting those hard-to-reach areas like table and chair legs.

Remember, children love to act out what they hear in stories. The more books you read with them, the richer their play life will be. Extend their repertoire of dramatic play by reading a wide variety of stories with them.

You’ll find more practical tips you can use right now in Joyful Play with Toddlers: Recipes for Fun with Odds and Ends by Sandi Dexter.

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