STAYING ACTIVE IN BAD WEATHER FOR FAMILIES

STAYING ACTIVE IN BAD WEATHER FOR FAMILIES

Common parent-child exchange from old comic books:

Parent to overly energetic, constantly underfoot child: “Why don’t you go out and play?”
Child: “But it’s raining outside!”

Another common parent-child exchange from old comic books:

Parent: “You can’t go out to play, it’s raining.”
Child: “But getting rained on is half the fun!”

Of course, if there’s a hurricane, tornado, or flood going on outside, you’ll have more immediate things to worry about than finding something active for your kids to do without tearing up the house. But if it’s simply a matter of rain or snow or even a heat wave, you don’t have to be couch potatoes all day. You can:

Find an Indoor Play Area

It’s ideal if you have a “rumpus room,” or even an empty garage or screened-in porch. But if your home lacks facilities or space, you don’t have to buy expensive fitness-center memberships to access indoor-exercise options. Most neighborhoods have a church, community center, YMCA, or shopping mall that offers facilities at little or no cost.

Play a High-Energy, Low-Impact Game

If going out isn’t an option, there are still active things you can do in your own home without risking broken glass, collisions with furniture, or neighbors coming up to complain their ceilings are shaking. Try one of these:

Go Ahead and Play Outdoors

In the absence of lightning, floodwaters, dangerous winds, or risk of getting chilled, there’s really nothing wrong with playing in the rain. It’s a special pleasure to watch the drops falling in puddles or rolling off foliage. Even getting wet can be fun.

A few health-and-safety tips for outdoor play when the weather is “bad”:

Above all, have a good time, rain or shine!