Rainy Day Games to Play with Your Toddler The weather never seems to play along with your plans, does it? When you need sunshine, the rain will come pouring around you. And, somehow, it always seems like this happens exactly when you have planned a lovely afternoon at the park with your toddler. Although it may seem as though this will surely spoil all of your plans, a little creativity is all that is needed to transform your rainy afternoon into a day of indoor fun. Ready to have a rainy day blast with your child? Here are just a few ideas to get you started. Have a Dance Party – From the moment your baby was aware of her body, she was probably shaking it every time she heard music. Not only is this adorable to watch, but it also shows you just how much we all like to move our bodies. Almost nothing is needed to have an impromptu dance party with your toddler, except some delightful music. Pick out something with a beat, rather than trying to get into children’s music. Then, dim the lights and dance your heart out; both of you will have a marvellous time. The Old Tea Party Standby – Almost everybody loves tea time. So, whether you have just exhausted yourself dancing, or you need something a little calmer before nap time, why not sit down to tea with your toddler. You do not need to have a fancy, child-friendly tea set; you can easily make do with whatever you have. Feel free to use old cups and saucers, or make a set from paper board (which can be an activity all on its own). Grab your toddler’s favourite dolls or stuffed dogs and get down to the business of small talk. Just make sure you do not leave your child alone if you are using real china – accidents happen remarkably quickly. Arts and Crafts – Sometimes the simplest activities are the best. Grab a few old items, such as old toilet paper rolls or felt scraps plus whatever paints or markers you have on hand. You can even use those old socks which seem to be missing their mates. (Incidentally, this is probably the best use for them.) Lay everything out on the table and let your little one get busy. Why not do a project with him? Or, perhaps lead the way, as toddlers develop new skills through copying. Build a Tent – Remember when a blanket and a couple of pillows were all you needed to make your own special space? Keep the tradition alive by letting your toddler help you make a tent in the dining room or living room. Just gather up a few blankets, pillows and anything else that looks useful. But, be prepared to spend plenty of time tidying up afterwards; once they have created their own space, toddlers love to fill it with their favourite objects – sometimes all of them. Go on a Treasure Hunt – Just like the egg hunts at Easter, children love searching for items (of course they enjoy it most when searching for sweets). Hide a couple of items around the house, or even just in one room. Then, send your child off to search for them. With a camera, you can always make it easier for your toddler to remember what she is looking for with a photo. Or, you can simply describe an object to see what your child can really do. Say, for example, “it is red and it has four wheels” to describe a toy car. Not only will your child have a blast, she will also be learning. Don’t Touch the Ground – This is a game that will have both you and your toddler laughing yourselves silly. Not only that, but it will also assist your little one to develop balance and he will also learn to move his body in new ways. Simply grab all the couch cushions and pillows that you do not mind stepping on, and scatter them across the floor. After that, the rules are simple – do not step on the floor. You can pretend it is a pond, and you are crossing on lily pads, or perhaps you just want to leave it that way for the afternoon while you attempt to get on with the rest of the day.

Have a Picnic at Home – Even if the weather is not nice enough to leave the house, you can still recreate a picnic on the floor. The key to enjoying a home picnic is to treat it like a real one. Make sure you pack everything you need into a picnic basket, or just a tote bag, then grab a blanket and head off to your favourite room. Pretend that you are unable to pop into the kitchen if you have forgotten something, and enjoy lounging around on the dining room floor. Hide and Seek – As long as you have safety proofed your home, this is one game that is always better to play there – at least until your child is a little older. This is even better than a treasure hunt sometimes as it also involves a certain amount of counting – and patience. Make sure you take turns and give your toddler an opportunity to hide properly, though you are likely to find her in your last spot. Do Some Chores – Housework may be dreadful for you, but it can be a fun game for your toddler. Just give yourself plenty of time to get through things. Toddlers can easily help to sort the laundry, and hand you the clothes pegs, but they will do it rather slowly. More than anything, this game may be about teaching you some patience, but it is a fantastic way to spend time with your child – and get some chores done. While you are enjoying these activities, why not create a box filled with special, rainy-day activities that you only pull out for inclement weather. Kids love helping to fill the box, and enjoy it even more when comes out again. After all, miserable weather does not have to mean an afternoon wasted. For more parenting advice please visit the Lindam blog – http://www.lindam.com/child-safety-news/