Two Fun, Easy Rainy Day Activities For Your Preschooler
Posted on: 17 May 2016
At preschool, it's easier to prevent boredom on rainy days; kids have plenty of toys at their disposal and can create games with one another. When playtime is over, and it's time to find activities that are both engaging and educational, teachers and guides turn to creative activities to keep little ones focused on learning and having fun. In this article, you'll discover three fun, easy rainy day activities that are just right for kids between the ages of two and five. Happy crafting!
Magnetic Fishing Pond
This one requires a little bit of setup time, and some assistance from mom or dad, but once you have the basics taken care of it's easy to set up time and time again. First, you'll need at least one full set of magnetic letters. Multiple sets will provide better results. You'll also need a toy fishing pole.
Quick tip: If you don't have a toy fishing pole, you can sub in a stick or even a wooden spoon with a string tied to the end of it!
Older children can help out with most areas of this project, but be mindful that the inclusion of small letters and parts, i.e. magnets, means that mom or dad should always supervise.
To create your magnetic letter fishing rod, simply tie a magnet onto the end of your fishing line. If you don't feel that the tie is secure, you can use a drop of hot glue to hold it in place. That's it--it's that easy!
Next, run a bathtub full of water--the temperature is irrelevant as kids won't be getting in, just make sure it's not too hot--and then toss in your magnetic letters. Other magnetic toys, especially sea creatures, make an excellent addition. For extra effect, add a bit of blue food coloring.
Kids "fish" by connecting the end of the fishing line with a letter or creature and then pulling them out, one at a time.
MAKE IT EDUCATIONAL: To put an educational spin on this project, use multiple sets of letters and have little ones fish out two or three-letter words. This is best for kids ages 5 and older, but may be suitable for younger children with an understanding of letters.
Rainy Day Painting
This project works best if you know that a significant amount of rainfall is coming well in advance. It's also better for warmer weather, as kids will need to go out and play in the rain for at least a portion of the activity. Puddle jumping, of course, is very much encouraged.
For Rainy Day Painting, you'll need a few different materials--primarily chalk and white paper. You can use any kind of paper for this, but laser printer paper or watercolor paper seems to hold up best against the rain. If you don't have any chalk, powdered tempura paint is an excellent substitute.
Quick tip: If you don't have either chalk or paint, you can make your own paint powder at home. Mix 2 cups of corn starch, 1 cup of water, and at least 1 oz. of gel food coloring in a bucket or plastic container. Allow this to dry for several days until it forms a hard, colored cake, then crush it into a fine powder.
For best results, start this project before the rain starts or right when it begins. Find a relatively flat surface outside. Avoid surfaces like grass or mud where the dirt may stain your paper when it rains. It's also best to avoid any surface that may become stained by the paint; although gel food coloring is water-soluble and washable, sensitive or white materials may require a lot of scrubbing to come clean.
Have little ones help you to lay out several pieces of paper. Then, give them free reign; have them create a picture by pouring paint powder into patterns on the paper itself. Once they're done, head inside--or for the puddles--and wait for the rain to come.
Helpful information: If you're expecting a very hard rain, or kids pile on a ton of paint powder, spritz the creation with water lightly before the rain. This will help to keep the powder in place and prevent it from sliding around. Just a couple of sprays with a squirt bottle is plenty!
Once the rain comes, it will melt down the powder, turning it into paint. The result is a beautiful collage of drippy, messy fun that often looks similar to a watercolor painting. After the rain stops, either leave the paintings in place until they dry, or gently remove them and place them in a safe location until dry.
Creative projects like these aren't just fun, they're important, too; little ones learn best by digging right in and experiencing the world first-hand. That's just one of the many reasons attending preschool can be beneficial for your child, especially if they're a year or two away from attending full-time school. For questions about how attending preschool can inspire your child to learn through creative play, contact your local educational facility today or click here for info.
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