Looking for Great Ideas for Kids’ Activities?

I had so much fun reviewing the new digital book: Kid’s Activities for a Rainy Day from Adams Media. Can’t wait to review some of their other titles, too, like Kids’ Activities for Traveling. These books are only $2.99 on Amazon.com and are available in Kindle format or on iTunes in an e-pub format.

I picked this book, wishing that we would have a Rainy Day or even a Snow Day here in Plano, TX but it’s not looking likely at the moment. Rainy Day or Sunny Day, I found these activity ideas to be simple and easy to make with items you have around the house. This is my favorite kind of activity, especially for a rainy day when you are desperate for something to stop the kids from going crazy.

One of the features I liked best about the book is that each activity has a brief introduction, simple instructions, an age recommendation and an estimate of how long the activity will take!

I thought I would share with you their Rain Stick Activity. It’s recommended for 18-40 months but I know my older kids would enjoy this, too, and would spend more than the recommended 15 minutes decorating their “stick.” Maybe if we all make one, we can plan to do a rain dance together and bring some of those winter rains our way!

How to Make a Rain Stick

Activity Materials

• 1 cardboard paper towel tube
• Crayons (for my older kids, we would use acrylic paints, collage and glitter to decorate, supplies we always have on hand)
• 2 squares of tinfoil large enough to cover ends of tube
• Masking tape
• 1 long pipe cleaner twisted into a loose coil
• 1/4 c. dry rice (beans or lentils would work also.)

Instructions

1. Fasten one tinfoil square on the end of the tube with masking tape. Leave other end open until the tube is filled.

2. Help your child fit the pipe cleaner into the tube. Assist her in pouring in the rice.

3. Close the other end of the tube with the second square of tinfoil. Show your child how to tilt the stick back and forth to create the rain noise.

How easy is that! Your kids might just drive you crazy with the noise from the rain sticks, but at least you filled a few minutes!

Some of the other rainy day activities in the book include window clings, treasure chest, treasure hunt, homemade stickers, makeshift shelters, tea party and even an indoor beach!

It’s almost winter break and I know you will be looking for crafty ideas to fill those days! Make sure to pick up a copy or two of this great series!

For more fun ideas, see Jaime’s great article on Easy Ways to Have Fun on a Rainy Day.