Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
It’s pouring, the Kiwi kids are moaning
Can you hear that? The sighs, the murmuring, the wringing fingers, the face palms? It’s the sound of collectively groaning Kiwi parents.
You can blame the school holidays for their unhappiness.
Yep, school’s out for almost two whole months, and while it’s meant to be the summer holidays Murphy’s Law says it will probably be the wettest summer since Cleopatra was a baby.
And we all know how hard it is to prevent children from imploding when they’ve got so much pent-up energy they could power a small power station.
It pays to be prepared for the worst-case weather scenario, so here are a few handy hints to keep your kids entertained on wet days these holidays.
The life of a kid is enriched after at least a day building a fort under the dining
Build a fort.
table or behind the couch. Extra enrichment is earned if he sleeps the night in it. Building a fort is endless fun (until you need the dining table for eating), and the best bit is that it’s totally free; you just need a couple of big sheets and a handful of rubberbands to tie them onto the backs of chairs.
If you’re after a family-friendly feel-good flick, Red Dog: True Blue comes out on New Year’s Day. Based on a classic Australian legend about
Head to the movies.
a young boy and a dog who become best friends, Red Dog: True Blue is the prequel to 2011’s Red Dog and tells the story of how an unwanted puppy turned into one of Australia’s favourite canines.
Get painting.
Encourage your kids to embrace their creativity, then turn your garage into an art gallery. Ask the neighbourhood kids to get involved too (post a message about it on Neighbourly), then invite all the parents to the kids’ art exhibition at the end of the holidays.
In the age of the iPad, it’s easy to forget that letterboxes exist. Get your kids to write a handwritten letter to their grandparents or cousins, and see if they get a reply (to avoid disappointment, it might be a good idea to call ahead). If you want to go to the next level, find them a penpal or encourage them to deliver nice cards to the families on their street.
Cake always tastes better when it’s homemade, especially to children’s taste buds. Let them choose the recipe, measure the flour, spill the milk and lick the icing bowl – because baking isn’t really baking unless there’s a bit of mess.
There’s nothing quite like a day-long game of Monopoly (until someone flips the board). If your kids don’t have the stamina for that, dedicate a day to all their favourite board games and puzzles. If you really want to embrace the playtime, stay in your pyjamas or wear onesies all day.
Still stuck for ideas? There’s always chores around the house.
Write a letter.
Fill rainy days with fun activities for your kids, writes
Bake. Board games.