Games for Kids on Rainy Days

Marshmallow Olympics

• This game forces kids to think and act creatively and exposes them to a game that they most likely have never played before. Divide kids into two teams and give each team a marshmallow. The team must choose which instrument they want to use to move the marshmallow: a spoon, a ruler, a piece of string, an index card, a straw or a toothpick. Each team must select a different instrument; instruct kids that they must never touch their marshmallow with their fingers, just with their instrument. Design an obstacle course for the marshmallows to go through; there are numerous possibilities. You can have the marshmallows go from the desk to the chair to the floor, inside of an empty can, over a high-heeled shoe, through a doorway; the possibilities are endless. Use the marshmallows that remain in the bag as prizes.

Scavenger Hunt

• Design a scavenger hunt to keep kids minds and bodies active. Ask kids to hide in a designated room of the house while you hide clues. For example, one clue could be "This is mom's favorite novel," which will lead kids to try to remember and find their mom's favorite novel. Once found, on the inside of the novel should be the following clue, which will lead kids to another destination of the house such as: "This is one of our family's favorite breakfast foods." This clue should lead kids to the kitchen to look in a box of frozen waffles or cereal or muffins, etc. If kids find all the clues within a designated time, give them a prize. For example, you could offer to take them to a movie or order pizza, or something comparable.

Guess the Petals

• This activity is best for younger kids ages three to five, who are just learning how to count. Give kids a pencil and paper and hold up a fresh flower in front of them. Ask kids to study the flower and guess how many petals it has. Tell them to write down their number on a piece of paper. Gently pull the petals off the flowers, asking the kids to count them as you do so. The child that guessed correctly should receive a prize. Repeat with another flower. You can use the leftover petals in an art project with the kids, such as gluing them down to a drawing that the kids make.