Rainy Day Toddler Activity

It's spring break for us, and it's been raining almost the entire time. So what do you do with two kids when there's nothing fun you can do outside?

Last month, I got to start volunteering in G's classroom again. Last semester, I was helping as much as three times a week. With the return of the actual teacher from maternity leave, and with the addition of my own pregnancy progress. My time has been cut back to once a week. It's sad because I miss working with the kids and getting to spend that little extra time with G, but it's also been nice getting back a little one-on-one time with N.

I got to help out in the class on their 100 Day Celebration. One of the activities was counting out 100 fruit loops ten stringing them onto some yarn for a necklace. (Okay, they weren't name brand Fruit Loops, but the kids will never know or care). Anyways, N was in love with it at first sight, and G didn't have much of a chance to keep the necklace he'd spent so much time working on. Good thing fruit-flavored, circle-shaped cereal is cheap!

Here's how we did it at home:

I cut some yarn (I have a ton - I have no idea where most of it came from, because I really don't buy yarn that often, unless I'm working on a specific project, and then I generally use it all up). I made sure it would be long enough to easily slip over anyone's head once filled with cereal and tied into a necklace. Then, I taped one end to a stool, and taped the other end (like the end of a shoelace) to more easily thread cereal on.

I only had to show N how to thread the first O on, and then she was all over it. And if it didn't fit easily, she shrugged her shoulders said "Not working" then ate the offensive cereal and laughed.

This is far from a groundbreaking activity, but it was super fun and kept the kids busy (AND NOT FIGHTING) for quite a while. You can even make more of a game out of it by sorting colors or creating patterns. For N, I think it was mostly about creating an easily transportable snack.

How has the weather been where you are? Have you had Spring Break yet? What fun plans do you have in store, or what have you done in the past? We're actually headed down to my in-law's this afternoon for a little change of scenery, and spent an entire 4 hours at OMSI the other day (among some other activities we've done this week). We're definitely making the most of Spring Break, but I am exhausted!