Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Unorthodox Rainy Day Activities

Much of the country has had more than average rainfall this summer.  While this eliminates the need to water parched grass and flowers, it does present a problem for all moms trying to keep kids occupied.

I'm not a mom who is a cruise director.
If my kids say they're bored, I am always happy to give them a chore to relieve said boredom.
However...that doesn't mean that I don't try to give them some tools to use their imaginations or just have fun.

I picked up some packages of water balloons in the $1 section at Target.  I knew they would have a blast with them.

What I didn't know is that they would use them for an INDOOR activity on a day that they were trapped indoors.

How they managed to blow up those tiny water balloons with air, I'll never know.  It makes the glands in my neck ache just thinking about it.  But soon they were giggling and laughing hysterically.

Who knew static could be so useful?
This activity was the brain child of Jillian--who often comes up with creative uses for ordinary things.
How many, and how long will they stick to the wall?
"I think I can.  I think I can..."
"Oh yeah.  That's what I'm talking about."
Zoey was the champion knot tie-r-upper.  She was the only one who didn't seem to have an issue touching the spittle-laden bombs.  Eventually, the kids realized that they could 'tie' them just by twisting them tightly because the wetness held them together.  GROSS!
While Jordan's constantly photo-bombing brother, Jakey, kept sticking his head in front of the lens, Jordan was content to stay in the background perfecting a much more sophisticated project.
He attached his balloons to his paper airplane to make jet propelled engines.  Sadly, though it worked, the balloons were so small that it didn't make the jet fly far.  We need to get some bigger balloons.  But I think he gets the prize for the coolest project of the day.
Chloe used hers as a metal detector of sorts--using static to pick up paper.

So there you go.  Hours of fun with a few $1 packages of water balloons.  And if you're lucky, all that balloon blowing will exhaust them and they might even want to take a nap.

Or in our case.  Not.