6 indoor family activity ideas for bad-weather days
It’s that time of the year again, when it’s cold and gloomy and gets dark at 5 pm! Not the best weather to be – or do anything – outdoors. Which more often than not leads to extra screen-time for kids and binge-watching telly for the grown-ups. However, that doesn’t have to be the case as I have some fantastic and fun-filled indoor activity ideas for all the family when boredom strikes. Read on…
Bring out the board games
Bored? Then why not bring out some board games (pun intended). Board games are the perfect antidote to boredom and a whole lot of fun! The best part is, everyone can join in if you choose an age-appropriate game.
Another positive is that a lot of board games are also educational, so that’s a win-win situation if you have kids!
Online gaming
Yes, this would mean screen-time, but again, everything in moderation. Besides, playing family games on Nintendo Wii or Switch, such as bowling, tennis or even dancing, can be loads of fun plus you are moving your body so that counts for some physical activity as well.
Checkers online is a great option if you don’t have the checkers board game. It’s a game that helps in strategic thinking, so even though you’re on a screen, it is still keeping your mind at work!
However, if you want some quiet time, then consider online card games like Solitaire. I came across Solitaire.org and it has a fantastic collection of online card games including Solitaire, Mahjong, Blackjack and many more.
Each game is explained in detail, with how to play advice and tips for beginners, so it’s a great opportunity to try out new games as well. I’ve tried my hand at different versions of Solitaire and my current favourite is Pyramid Solitaire, the object of which is to remove pairs of cards that add up to thirteen from the pyramid-shaped arrangement. My husband and I used to enjoy playing Blackjack so that’s another favourite in our house.
But what I really like is that there are fun and educational games for children too, so I don’t mind my son spending some time on the screen as well. Hidden Object is a fun game for kids (sometimes we all play it together and see who finds the hidden objects first). The Logic Puzzles section has games likes Chess and Battleship while the Word section has daily Crosswords, Word Searches, Letter Scrambles and more – all of which are edutational. I’ll be honest, I love the Word Search and Letter Scrambles the most (my all-time favourite games are now just a click away!!!).
Get lost in a book
Of course, when the screens are not on, the pages of a book can be just as fascinating! Besides being a lovely hobby to develop, reading is so important, especially for children. The perfect thing to do when it’s raining outside is to curl up in bed with a book.
See old photographs together
I love seeing old photographs, it brings back so many wonderful memories, either of my own childhood or of my son’s baby years. So the next time you feel ‘stuck at home’, bring out the old albums and have a good trip down memory lane.
Or, make new memories by creating new albums. Choose a few of the best photos from your phone gallery, get them developed and spend a rainy afternoon making your own family album.
Cosy up for a family film
Undoubtedly one of the best things to do when it’s wet and cold outside is to snuggle under a blanket, with hot chocolate or popcorn, and watch a fun family film. November and December have the Christmas line-up of movies too, perfect for beginning to feel a bit festive!
Finish those pending DIY jobs
If there are any pending DIY jobs to be done around the house, what better time than when you’re all stuck inside with not much to do?! It is a definite win-win situation as the work gets done (together) and no-one is bored.
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