The weather is finally warming up! Snow has melted, and it feels like spring. The downside to spring in New England: Rain.
Rainy days don’t have to be a death sentence to your productivity.
Here are some rainy-day activities that have saved my sanity while working from home with a toddler and preschooler.
Playdough
There’s something therapeutic about Playdough. I like to make my own. Play-Doh toys are great, but my kids are perfectly content with golf tees, plastic knives, forks, spoons, cars, and blocks. This usually keeps them entertained for at least 30 minutes, and they can play with it while I get some work done at the table.
Magic Painting
I cannot say enough about these painting books. This is our favorite rainy day (and everyday) activity. All you need is a paintbrush and water for a mess free, hands-on painting experience for the kids.
Yoga
My favorite time to do yoga is right before lunch. I made some laminated Yoga cards with pictures. The kids take turns picking the next pose. We also really like Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube. There’s a theme for every interest.
Animal Workout
If you have an Alexa, enable the Animal Workout skill. This was a lifesaver during work from home. Now that both my kids have clear words, they can play Animal Workout completely on their own. If you don’t have Alexa, call out random animals for the kids to act like. For example, “Wiggle like an octopus!”, or “Stretch like a cat!”, or “Eat grass like a cow!”
Toy Wash
Rainy days are the perfect time to dump out the toy bins and wash everything. I usually put out towels on the kitchen floor. Then I fill up buckets with cold water, soapy water, etc. Finally, I make it a contest. The child who cleans the most toys gets a prize. Or, the one who makes the shiniest toy gets a prize. They all end up winning. This is also a great time to mop the kitchen floor because it will already be wet and soapy.
If I’m home working with the kids, I always prefer a sunny day when they can run outside, and I can work on my laptop. Hopefully there will be less rainy days ahead, but in the meantime, take advantage of those April showers. Most importantly, take a break from work to go jump in some puddles!
