CEBU, Philippines - "Rain, rain go away! Come again another day." Children sing this popular lines when the cold weather dampen their plans to go outside. When they are left in the house doing nothing, they sometimes throw tantrums and become moody and even boorish.
The kids would start peeking through the window panes to check if the rain has stopped; yet the rain seems to go on forever. Worse, it begins to flood outside.
These rainy-day blues would mean cabin fever for most parents. Children feel so trapped at home while they ask from their parents for adventure. They easily become restless. However, the wet outdoors would not allow the family to enjoy the day.
The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Dolores Aboitiz Children's Fund (RAFI-DACF) has put together helpful rainy day activities to keep the kids entertained, and of course, their parents happy, too:
Hit the kitchen
Let the children help you in the food preparation. Cooking is a great family activity, and there are many ways your toddlers could be involved. Though it can be messy, it would surely be fun, and keep them entertained as they wait for the rain to stop.
They could wash the veggies and fruits as you mince the spices or prepare the oven. Make a deal with them - they will have a delicious chocolate cake if they could perfectly stir all the baking ingredients. After that, you can have your little indoor picnic complete with the yummy treats and little kids' plates.
The younger ones can watch what you are doing and assist you with small tasks-such as setting the dining table or stirring the pot. Older kids can be tasked to crack the eggs or measure the baking powder or other ingredients.
Give them small freedom to manage over small points of their own doings. This will fulfill their need for independence. When your child wants to do dishes, let him be, as long as he/she is guided by adults.
Make instruments
Got tissue boxes and milk bottle tops at home? Make it into musical instruments! Didn't you know that tissue boxes make good guitars? Also, milk bottle tops make tambourines, and tins make good shakers. Children can use spoons as drum sticks. Pans and pots can create their own upbeat music, too! Check the different sounds that can be made using these utensils.
On a rainy afternoon, you can do a mini-concert at home with these homemade instruments, complete with outfits! So dig out those kitchen utensils and make music out of them!
Work on an art and craft
Be creative this rainy season! Gather the scissors, glue sticks, colored papers, pens, and photographs, and make your own scrapbooks. Let your kids help you out in cutting papers and designing the look of the scrapbooks.
In making the scrapbook, let the kids decide the theme, like "My Family" or "My Friends" or "All About Me." Use their early photographs to put accents into this lovely project.
Curl up with a book
Ask your children to pick out their favorite books. You could also arrange the books in rows to put up a mini-library in their room. Curl up in their room for a big day of book fest. Gather comfy pillows as you share and read together their chosen book.
To make it more fun, assign an older kid to take on as a character in the story. She could act up and change her voice to be more engaging. One of the favorite reading materials for kids now is the "Akong Bugsay," an illustrated bilingual children's book, which charts the story of a little boy named Andoy, who goes on a fishing trip with his father.
Along the sea trip, Andoy learns valuable lessons on proper planning and working hard to achieve a goal. Andoy was confronted with obstacles that tested him and his goals. The book is written by Amaya Aboitiz and teaches the famous Bugsay principle of her father and RAFI President Roberto "Bobby" E. Aboitiz.
Family movie day
Rather than having them play with their PSPs and tablets, why not have the kids join you beat the boredom with a family movie treat? Create a cinema in your living room complete with all the sounds and food.
Though too much watching TV can be bad for kids, an entertaining children's movie is a great way to bond with them. Home-made popcorn and drinks can be prepared before the movie starts.
(Reference: www.kidspot.com.au)