There are certain times of the year staying indoors because of weather can make any kid restless and give them cabin fever. You could allow them to spend that time in front of a computer console or in front of the TV all day, but, what happens when the lights go out because of an outage?
Here are a few tips you can do today to prepare for that inevitable event:
- Scan websites for free printable fun activities for kids. Coloring pages, masks, paper dolls or figures, craft projects and experiments are just some ideas about what sites offer.
- Create a supply chest and fill it with art supplies: crayons, non toxic paints, paper, rulers, scissors, glue, bits of fabric, etc. You can scour yard sales, thrift stores or your attic for fabric scraps, buttons, ribbon, paper, etc.
- Make a list of Emergency supplies and then divide the list among the kids. Have them find as many items as on the list. You can tailor the list to include whatever items you can think of for the children to find.
This list of children fun activities isn’t inclusive, there are plenty of things you can have your children do when the lights go out that will pass the time quickly.
Some game ideas:
- Board games: Monopoly, Life, Trouble, Sorry
- Guessing type: Game involving an even number of players and a score keeper that uses descriptions to guess words you can pre-print on 3×5 cards. One side faces the other and gives out hints without actually saying the word.
- Paper or Dry Erase board: Hang Man, Drawing type game where you draw elements of the main object for others to guess.
- Acting games: Charades, Name That Tune (you can hum the notes)
You’re not restricted involving hand held games and can easily find many at the store; the problem with most is that when the batteries die and the spares do too, you’re left with a lot of quiet hours with nothing to do especially if the weather forces everyone inside.
When the weather is the reason for everyone remaining inside, you can then open your chest of supplies and start projects using the free printable fun activities for kids as a guide. If you planned ahead, all the supplies from the list will be in the chest ready to use.
You can hold a talent show displaying anything your children made during the time the outage occurred or while the weather prevented everyone from going outside.
Bad weather or power outages need not be boring and, with a little preparation can actually bring members of the family together and make an otherwise boring situation into a fun and productive one.