A little holiday treat for you all: I’ve got a special guest post from Carrie Spencer.

Not long ago, she approached me with the idea for a post about indoor activities for families with kids for when the weather isn’t so great. I thought it sounded grand.

You can find more about Carrie and what her family is up to at: thespencersadventures.net

And now…the post:

Parents Should Try These Fun, Educational Activities On Rainy Days

Keeping a child entertained when it’s cold or wet outside can be tough. Not only are kids often fickle about their likes and dislikes, but they’re also full of energy and can have a difficult time with sitting still longer than a few minutes. Fortunately, there are some educational, creative activities your child can do indoors, and you can even learn how to turn creativity into a shared experience between the two of you with tips from creativeandbeyond.com. Just keep in mind that sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected sources, such as video games.

Turn gaming into an educational opportunity

While most parents agree that too much screen time is a negative for kids, playing video games can actually be beneficial in many ways. Studies have shown that participating in the gaming world can boost cognitive skills, including spatial reasoning and memory, which lend themselves well to a career in engineering and technology. Not only that, but gaming can also improve a child’s self-esteem and get them moving. Just make sure your household has a robust internet connection, especially if you work from home; some of the larger games use up a lot of bandwidth and can slow things down, but the right internet will allow everyone to use their devices at the same time without any issues.

Help them find a connection

Another fun, educational online activity is genealogy, which would help your child find family connections and learn about the history of their ancestors. They can use a database to get started, which will provide information about a variety of things, including the area of the world their ancestors are from, what the culture there is like, and the names of any well-known connections.

You can also have your child interview family members to get more information about where they came from, then ask them to create a family tree on poster board. This joins ancestry with a bit of creativity, and your family can share the finished product with loved ones. Be sure to talk to your child about internet safety and assist them with their searches when possible.

Get creative

Most kids enjoy some type of creative activity, but the key is to find one your child enjoys that can also benefit them educationally. Playing a musical instrument or learning to read/write music can help kids become more math-minded and social while making art and playing pretend allows for imagination and emotional growth. Start with simple tools, such as a xylophone, markers and paper, or non-toxic sculpting clay. Some kids need a little push in the right direction, so encourage your child to create a character, write a song, or even make up their own game.

Find family-friendly activities

Because sitting down for creative pursuits can be a challenge for little ones, follow this up with an activity such as a dance break, stretching exercises, or fun on a yoga ball. Push back the furniture to make some room and join your child; family participation is a great motivator. While you’re moving, talk about the body’s muscle groups, the respiratory system, or how to maintain a healthy heart. This mini anatomy lesson will help your child understand why physical activity is important while they learn about science.

Keeping your child entertained when the weather won’t permit outside play can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. By utilizing online resources and providing the right tools for your little ones to flourish, you can ensure that cold, rainy days are just as much fun as the warmest ones.

That’s all for now folks! Stay warm, healthy, and creative this winter. And remember to check out some of Carrie’s home-grown advice at her site:

thespencersadventures.net