Guest Post by: Jenny Wise
Photo credit: Pixabay
Banish Rainy Day Boredom With These Online Activities
Practice Skills in
the Kitchen
To survive a rainy day with kids, you’re going to need some
tasty snacks. Why not get kids in the kitchen with you and have them help whip
up some delicious treats? Cooking involves measuring, a practical use for math
and can even include science. Look for recipes that are simple for kids to prepare
and tutorials to help sharpen their chef skills. While you’re in the kitchen,
be sure to go over food safety and how to handle kitchen emergencies. Keep a
fire extinguisher nearby if you’re using the stove or oven and always supervise
little ones when they are using knives and appliances.
Use Simple
Ingredients for Art
Painting and drawing are perfect ways for kids to pass the
time, so if you have some art supplies get them out. Stuck inside with no
paints or pencils? Not to worry. You can make art using a few basic ingredients
from your kitchen or bathroom. From shaving cream puffy paint to colorful conditioner clay, you likely have everything
you need to unleash a child’s inner Picasso. To keep messes minimal, be sure to
throw down a trash bag or newspaper and try making an artist’s apron from
an old T-shirt to protect clothes. You can also create audible art
with online music tutorials.
Teach Some Life
Lessons
Learning doesn’t have to revolve around traditional
subjects. Teaching children about matters that will come up later in their life
such as buying a home will better prepare them to make smart decisions. Real
estate is a perfect topic to cover on a rainy day.
According to real estate brokerage site Redfin, “Real estate
is a complex field that requires skills in math, science, English, social
studies and home economics. By incorporating real estate-based lessons into your
curriculum, you can help students gain valuable skills in practical math
application, presentation giving, forming a persuasive argument, earth science
and so much more.”
Set Up DIY Science
Experiments
Science should be a part of any comprehensive lesson plan.
Kid tend to absorb information better if they can get their hands dirty, so use
those rainy days to complete some science-centric lessons. With a few simple
items, you can teach children about a variety of scientific reactions such as edible glass. Use a paper airplane to learn
about aerodynamics or create your own weather with a soda bottle tornado. Or,
make some giant, foamy fun by whipping up some
elephant toothpaste. Kids will love watching
their homemade “toothpaste” grow and expand into a monster pile of foam.
Talk About Weather
If you’re stuck inside because of the weather, why not make
weather the focus of your lessons? Weather can be an interesting subject for
children to discover. Have children countdown between lightning and thunder to
learn how light and sound travel differently. Set a chair near a window and
have them observe the clouds in the sky. They can
document every detail from size, shape and movement to better understand how
weather moves around our world.
Burn Off Excess
Energy
Engaging young minds can help keep them focused, but you
still need some ways to use excess energy. Clear the floor and have them follow
along with some YouTube exercise videos. Give them a brain break by tuning into a channel that
will teach them a simple yoga practice or get their bodies moving with some fun
dance. Online workouts are a great way for anyone to stay in shape when they’re
stuck inside, but kids can especially benefit from an exercise break.
A rainy day doesn’t have to mean a whole day is ruined. With
an Internet connection and some ingenuity, you can put together some exciting,
educational activities that kids of all ages will enjoy. So when those skies
start to turn grey, get out this article and give kids memories they’ll always
remember.
Jenny Wise is the owner and blogger at specialhomeeducator.com. She is a stay-at-home parent to 4 beautiful children. Her and her husband made the decision to home-educate when their oldest was four years old. During this journey, they have expanded their family, and faced many challenges along the way. With every challenge, they have experienced great rewards. Follow Jenny's homeschooling adventure at specialhomeeducator.com.
