Here are a few R-A-I-N Sanity Savers for you and the kids.
R = Reading and Race Cars
Just because school is out doesn’t mean a good book cannot be cracked open and enjoyed. Suggest re-reading an old favorite or maybe just read favorite parts out loud to the whole family. Or get a joke book from the library and find some good jokes to laugh the icky day away.
If reading is out, try building a race car out of recyclable items, i.e., boxes, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, etc. Then, build a ramp and see which race car goes the fastest.
A = Acrobats and Airplanes
Put on your own version of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Come up with new acts, but be careful! Do stuff with hula hoops, cartwheels, walking on the tight rope (a jump rope placed on the floor). Bring in the clowns too! Or see how many stuffed animals you can stuff inside a toy car just like the clowns do at the circus. Laugh and enjoy!
If the circus doesn’t put them over the top, try making paper airplanes. See how long your airplane can stay up in the air. The world record is 27.6 seconds. Good luck and happy flying! Here’s one source on paper airplane how-tos: foldnfly.com/#/1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2
I = Index cards and Indian Wigwams
There’s many things you can do with an index card. One favorite at our house is making rockets using an index card, paper clip and marshmallow. Draw the rocket on the index card, cut out and affix to the paper clip. Then unfold half of the paper clip and stick it into the marshmallow.
If you aren’t an artsy, craftsy person, try building an Indian wigwam in a child’s bedroom. Pull out some sheets and plastic pant hangers. Affix hangers to one end of sheets. Hook hanger to closet door or some other stable fixture. Fan out sheets and attach to some other fixture close to the floor. TADA! Instant wigwam! Put in pillows. Appoint a chief (or not if that causes teepee tension). Make up sunshine dances instead of Indian rain dances. Make Indian headdresses out of construction paper. The sky is the limit!
N = Names and Numbers
See how many states the kids can name. If that’s not their thing, try asking them if they know everybody’s first and middle names in the family (even extended family, i.e., aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas). After they have mastered this activity, ask them if they can write them all down and then count them.
