Family Activities for Indoors

It feels like only last week that summer was beginning and now it’s almost over! If the colder weather is already creeping in in your part of the world, making you wonder what to do with the family on rainy Saturdays, then don’t worry... There are plenty of ways to entertain kids without going outdoors, especially now that we have so much technology at our fingertips. Whether you’re planning a family day out, babysitting for a weekend or looking for some ideas to add to your rainy day stash, here are some of the easiest and funnest activities to do indoors...

GET ARTY! All kids love art in some form, whether it's drawing, music, dancing or writing. Being naturally creative, Millie loves using her imagination and can often entertain herself for a while with make believe stories, pictures and role plays. Adults sometimes make the mistake of thinking that these activities aren’t for them, and leave the little ones to do it on their own. However, in doing so, I think we're missing out on a great opportunity to bond with our children and, of course, have some fun. We all need to let loose sometimes and get in touch with our childish side, so try to get the whole family to join in with a crafts, music or dancing session. Let the youngest lead the way and see how creative you can get!

KEEP MOVING! We all know how important it is for kids to stay active, but once summer is over how can you make sure they’re getting enough exercise? Luckily there are plenty of ways to keep the whole family active indoors, and this is one way that technology can really come in handy. The NHS Change4Life website features a collection of fun videos designed to get kids moving. Showcasing popular Disney characters and lively songs, they’re the perfect way to get the whole family involved. You can even use them as a starting point to creating your own activities, using your favourite songs as background music. You can take inspiration from games such as musical statues, have a dance-off, or invent your own activities from scratch.

Exercising indoors requires very little organising and no special equipment whatsoever. If you have comfortable clothing and something to play music or video on, you’re pretty much good to go. The only thing you do need, though, is space to move around in. If your living space is a bit cramped, you find find dancing or jumping around a little tricky. To remedy this, you can try rearranging your furniture or opening up your living area with internal sliding doors. However you choose to use your space, you’re bound to find a fun way of getting active without leaving the house.

DAY TRIPS! Staying indoors doesn’t necessarily mean not going out, so don’t forget that there are plenty of rainy day activities you can do on a day trip in your local area. Leisure centres and swimming pools are ideal and obvious places to enjoy a fun day out, but don’t discount quieter venues such as libraries and museums. Places like this often have a program of family activities to keep kids entertained, from storytelling events to craft sessions and educational talks. Our local shopping centre actually has an indoor beach at the moment which is fab! If you can’t think of anywhere in your area to go for family day, have a look online and see if you can’t surprise yourself. There are often lots of places right on your doorstep that you haven’t

even heard of!

GET TECHNICAL! If technology is your worst enemy, it’s time to change that when it comes to entertaining the family! Although it may seem like we’re constantly trying to get children away from the screens, playing games as a family is a great way to spend a rainy, grey day! If you have a Wii console, it’s a great way to get active and moving but also bond with your kids by using technology. For many children, this offers the perfect combination of computer gaming and active fun. But it’s not just for kids, of course! After playing a few times, you might just find yourself getting hooked on games too. Before you know it you’ll be the one begging the kids to play with you!

(Guest written post)