Summer might be on the way and after a freezing, frosty, snow-laden winter it’s understandable that we’re all hoping for a summer that’s equally stereotypical – some wall-to-wall sunshine is just what the doctor ordered!  The fact is, however, that the Northern Irish summer is usually far from scorching, and even in a good year we’re normally subjected to more than our fair share of showers.  There’s nothing like an unexpected downpour to upset your plans – and the combination of bored little ones and frustrated mummy can make for a pretty miserable day.  But fear not; with a little imagination and our inspiring ideas you can banish the ‘rainy afternoon blues’, spend some quality time with the kids and have fun in the process!

1.  Indulge their inner Picasso with a painting or craft session.

Preparation is the key here – make sure you cover your table with newspaper or a large, wipeable cloth before you start.  Decant finger or poster paints into smaller pots or onto plates so the kids can mix and match – the Early Learning Centre has a great range of art materials and accessories that are washable and safe for even younger toddlers to use – for really little ones stick to just a few colours and allow them to paint with their hands and fingers, or experiment with chubby brushes and stampers (you can even make your own with a potato cut in half!). Bigger children will enjoy using child-safe scissors to cut shapes from coloured paper before sticking them to another page and decorating with glitter, stickers, sequins or paint.  You can buy all these materials from craft shops, or simply collect odd buttons, scraps of fabric, ribbons and trims and keep them in a box for crafting.  Don’t forget to encourage your child to help tidy up when you are finished – and make sure you display those works of art with pride!

2.  Fire their imagination with dressing-up.

There are loads of cheap and cheerful costumes for children available on the high street these days but you don’t need to spend a fortune for them to have a whale of a time – in fact they will probably get an even bigger kick out of dressing up in Mummy or Daddy’s cast-offs!  If you can, dedicate a special box or large drawer to dressing-up clothes and fill it with tops, trousers and dresses you no longer wear, as well as a generous helping of hats, scarves, shoes, bags, costume jewellery and other accessories.  You could even include a small make-up bag with an old lipstick and eyeshadow and an empty perfume bottle – little girls (and sometimes even boys) will enjoy preening themselves just like Mummy does.  Don’t forget the camera to capture the finished ‘look’ – a Polaroid camera is especially good fun as little ones can see the developed snaps straight away and will delight in showing them off to friends and family.

3.  Cook up a storm!

Even as young as two, toddlers will enjoy helping you in the kitchen and making simple treats like Rice Krispie cakes is a great way to let them get involved.  Kit your toddler out with a mini kitchen apron and child-sized wooden spoon, clear plenty of space at the table and get stuck in!  Of course, you should melt the chocolate safely out of your child’s reach – but then pour over a bowl of Rice Krispies and let them stir away until it’s well mixed before spooning into paper cases.  You could even let your child decorate each cake with chocolate buttons, Smarties or mini easter eggs – but beware, most will get eaten before they’ve had a chance to set!  A savoury alternative is mini pizzas – you can buy the bases and then let your child help you spread each one with tomato puree before decorating with strips of ham, pieces of chicken, sweetcorn, mushrooms, pineapple and cheese – whatever takes their fancy!  This is a great way to encourage fussy eaters who are more likely to try new foods if they are involved in preparation – just pop in the oven for 10 minutes and serve with salad and garlic bread.

4.  Bring the outdoors in.

It might be pouring outside but that doesn’t mean you can’t go camping or even have a picnic – right in your living room!  A flat bed sheet draped over a table or between two chairs makes a fantastic ‘hideout’ and kids will love playing with their toys in their own secret place.  Make it cosy inside with a folded duvet and some cushions and climb in with them for a fun story session.  Alternatively, spread a blanket on the floor at lunch or snack time and lay out an indoor picnic with tiny sandwiches, crisps in bowls and a selection of fruit for a healthy, super-fun way to dine!

5.  Take them swimming.

A trip to the pool is a great and relatively inexpensive way to let them burn off some excess energy.  For smaller babies, a neoprene ‘babywarmer’ is a great investment – it makes slippery little bodies easier to handle in the water and will increase the length of time your baby can play in the water without getting cold.  Make sure you bring plenty of oversized towels for drying up afterwards and treat them to a snack and a drink afterwards if they behave nicely.

6.  Shake your thing!

OK, so it might not pass a whole afternoon but there is something really liberating for both mums and kids about putting on your favourite music, turning the volume up and having a really good boogie!  Your children will take great delight in watching you let your hair down, so really let loose and encourage them to do the same.  It’s great exercise, a great way to let off steam – and a great laugh!

7.  Have a singalong and story session.

Your local library probably runs rhyme time and story time sessions which are great for mixing with other kids, but if you don’t fancy braving the elements there’s no reason why you can’t recreate the session at home.  Arm yourself with a nursery rhyme book and a couple of favourite stories, some music and even a few puppets or cuddly toys if you have them.  Then it’s time to let go of your inhibitions – encourage your child to sing along to classic songs and nursery rhymes and perform the actions if appropriate.  Getting their cuddly friends to ’sing along’ too (time to dust off your repertoire of silly voices!) is guaranteed to raise a few laughs – and then you can wind down with story time, perhaps followed by a drink and a small snack or treat.

8.  Make playdoh.

Of course you can save yourself the hassle and buy the ready-made version, but making playdoh from scratch is in itself a fun activity for pre-school children.  You can find recipes online, like this one.

9.  Mummy’s little helpers.

Take advantage of their love of copying you and get them to help with some simple household chores.  It’s true that they might not actually get much done but little ones will love to help you by sweeping up with a dustpan and brush, dusting with a damp cloth or sorting laundry.  This way, you’ll be able to get on with some housework whilst keeping them occupied and teaching them vital skills for later life!

10.  Take the plunge!

If all else fails, get your wet weather gear on and head outside.  The truth is it’s just us grown-ups who have an aversion to rain, so provided it’s not too stormy or cold your children will love getting their wellies and waterproofs on and heading outside to splash in the puddles.  These are the sorts of memories your children will always treasure so get your boots on, throw common sense to the wind and join in!