| There is nothing worse than a rainy day
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| | has seen better days, cut out the picture
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| in the middle of the school holidays,
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| | and store it in a re-sealable bag with
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| when children are cooped up inside, you
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| | all the pieces.
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| have nothing planned, and the inevitable
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| | 5. Have a mammoth junk modelling session
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| cries of "I'm bored" are not far away!
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| | with friends:
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| Keep this list of rainy day activities
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| | Invite a few families around and ask them
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| ready for just such a day. Older children
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| | to bring their craft-cupboard junk with
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| may enjoy choosing from the list
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| | them - boxes, containers, and other bits
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| themselves.
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| | and pieces. You provide glue,
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| 1. Sort through the toy cupboard:
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| | sticky-tape, scissors, and encouragement.
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| It's surprising how much fun this can be!
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| | You could make houses, or creatures, or
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| Get everyone together and aim to clear
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| | boats, or modern art - or you could all
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| one shelf or drawer. You will probably
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| | combine together to make one giant model!
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| find that old treasures are rediscovered,
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| | 6. Make a card house:
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| odd pieces can be thrown away, and some
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| | If you don't know any good card games or
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| things will be ready to be passed down or
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| | haven't anyone to play with, try building
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| sold. If you are not sure whether to get
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| | a card house! Start by balancing two
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| rid of some of the toys, try packing them
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| | cards against each other so that they
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| away in a box and hiding them in a dark
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| | stand up in an inverted V-shape. Take it
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| corner of the cupboard for a few months.
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| | from there!
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| When they come out again they will either
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| | 7. Make an indoor obstacle course:
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| cause a sensation, or not - which will
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| | Check with an adult that this is OK
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| make it easy to decide on their fate!
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| | first! Use easily movable furniture
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| 2. Record the sounds around you:
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| | (kitchen chairs, coffee tables) to mark
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| Get out the tape recorder and make a
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| | out a course. Create a tunnel to crawl
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| project out of recording everyday sounds.
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| | through with a blanket draped over low
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| Try water running in the bath, someone
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| | tables, or space cushions around the room
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| ringing the bell and opening the door, or
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| | to use as stepping-stones. You will have
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| flushing the toilet! It certainly makes
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| | lots more ideas!
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| you think about things a little
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| | 8. Practice balancing:
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| differently than usual. Suggest that some
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| | Balancing is fun! Try walking the length
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| friends or neighbours do the same thing
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| | of the room with a book on your head.
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| and then get together to see if you can
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| | When you can do that, try balancing two
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| identify each other's sounds!
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| | or three - then add a cuddly toy to the
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| 3. Make a story tape:
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| | very top!
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| Grab that tape recorder and a blank
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| | 9. Create an indoor den:
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| cassette, find a story you enjoy, and
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| | A few blankets and tablecloths can create
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| make your own story tape! Each child can
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| | the most wonderful indoor den. Drape
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| read for a while, or can take on the part
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| | blankets between sofas and chairs, over
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| of a particular character. Make the
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| | stepladders and clothes-dryers, or tie
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| appropriate noises too! You will probably
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| | the ends to cupboard knobs and door
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| have to practice a few times to get the
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| | handles. Once the den is created find
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| hang of it, and be prepared for lots and
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| | some special snacks, coloring pages and
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| lots of giggles! Tip: a homemade story
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| | pencils, a CD player and music, a torch
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| tape makes a great present for a child
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| | or two, and camp out for a while!
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| who has to go to hospital or is bedridden
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| | 10. Play with string:
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| for a time.
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| | Older children can create some wonderful
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| 4. Have a jigsaw afternoon:
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| | inventions with a ball of string and
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| Get out all your jigsaws and invite some
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| | their imagination! A toilet roll and a
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| friends around with theirs too! Clear
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| | sloping length of string make a great
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| plenty of space and have a marathon
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| | message chute or rocket. Get some action
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| jigsaw session. Some libraries have
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| | toys involved too: try making them a lift
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| jigsaws you can borrow too, and you can
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| | (elevator) out of a box or a basket and
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| often find jigsaws for sale very cheaply
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| | hoist them up! Adults should supervise
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| at charity shops (thrift stores) and car
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| | constantly if there are younger kids
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| boot sales (garage sales). Tip: if you
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| | around.
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| buy your jigsaws second-hand and the box
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