Rainy Day Boredom busters Ideas for Cooped Up Kids With the cold weather and short days of winter upon us, it's worthwhile developing a grab bag of interesting activities to keep the children in your centre happily occupied when rainy days strike. Undeniably the fresh air and physical nature of outdoor activities are extremely beneficial for children and an important part of their daily routine. When children are given the opportunity to play in sand, use climbing frames and run around they have the chance socialise, burn lots of energy and exercise their large muscles. Physical activity can also increase children's concentration abilities and will make it easier for them to sit still and listen to instructions when they are back inside. On days where there is a break in the rain let them out for a run, even if it is just for a short time On those days when it rains non-stop and you are stuck inside for the whole day a little forward planning and some creativity should help you keep the children busy and free of the dreaded indoor-itis! Given a certain amount of space, it is possible to bring many outdoor activities indoors and it is worthwhile developing a repertoire of physical activities you can encourage the children to do both indoors and outdoors. Physical activities you can do indoors If you have limited space indoors for physical activities and are worried about the children crashing into each other and/or the furniture use masking tape on the floor to mark out a grid so each child has a space to call their own. You could also mark out a large circle or square on the floor and encourage the children to stay within the lines. Once they understand the rules staying within the designated area will add to the fun of the game. Once you have cleared a space you are limited only by your imagination. Put on a CD and encourage the children to dance and jump around. Pretend the children are animals in a zoo/farm and encourage them to act as such. You could use costumes to help the children really get in the mood. Use instruments or pretend instruments and form a marching band ensure you have a conductor with a baton, a drummer, a trumpet player etc. Play action games such as Simon Says, Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance. Pretend the children are tight-rope walkers in a circus and need to stay on the masking tape. Use your grid as a train track and ask the children to line up like carriages in a train and chuff around the room. Still on the train theme play the Whistle Game; have all the children line up as a train and tell them that one short whistle means stop and two short whistles means go slowly. Once they have the hang of it add more signals e.g. three whistles means back up, one long whistle means stop and turn around etc. All Aboard the Colour Train; Make different coloured tickets and give each child three or four tickets. Tell the children that you are the conductor of a Color Train and they can ride the train if they have a ticket that matches the color you call. Have them line up around the room and say "All aboard the Red Train" etc. Collect the ticket from the children and have them march around the room connected like a train. After a minute or so, announce a new color. You could also use numbers, letters or shapes instead of colors. Create an indoor obstacle course using tunnels, steps, ladders laid on the ground etc. Use music and play statues, ask the children to dance around and when you turn the music off get them to freeze on the spot. Fill a bunch of plastic bottles up with sand and create an indoor bowling alley. Act out a favourite story book, such as We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Blow a load of bubbles around the room and have the children chase and pop them. Children who have been cooped up inside all day will have loads of energy and will be keen to try any combination of the activities described above. Some of the older children may even be able to suggest some activities you could all do together.

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