It's raining, you're on a wonderful trip to a tropical setting (or, maybe you are JUST at home!), with the beach in mind, but the weather is NOT cooperating. A couple of young children (but mostly YOU) are bummed about being inside. What to do?
Of course, you can do things like go to a movie, find a Children's Museum, or other activities that cost money. BUT, we find this is the best time to take those "imaginary journeys", make the best of it, and hope the weather is perfect (or at least adequate) soon.
preschoolers: 'super-heroes', wizards or princesses, as the silks can be tied as a cape or as a headdress
for school-age: dress up is still a great activity, or use the silks to make forts with chairs; we also like to use silks for play surfaces; green for magic forests, blue for mythical oceans
One of our favorite school-age (and up) 'imaginary' journey activities is the Think-ets Storytelling Game. Why you may ask? It's a simple concept - a small mesh bag with at least 10 little random trinkets in it. There are many variations, but basically, the idea is for someone to pick one, begin a story, the next person then picks one, continues, and so on. One could also pick multiple 'trinkets' to start the story. Never the same story twice, and you can even add your own little treasure 'trinket' pieces to expand the options. OR, get multiple sets!
Want to go all out? Don't want to sacrifice the furniture to the 'hideout' or 'fort' building? Try a Crazy Fort Construction Kit, and make a castle, an igloo, or just a cube and throw any old sheet on top. Better yet, take an old sheet and let the kids draw details on their creation. Packs easily back in the box it comes in, and simple to take along for emergency 'bad weather', especially for road trips, or visits to Grandma/pa's house!
Where were all of these innovative things when I was a kid??
Before you know it, the weather will improve (or at least everyone's mood will!) and you'll wonder where the time went.
For more 'Rainy Day' or 'At the Destination' ideas check this LINK. And, remember, sometimes the best journeys go no where at all except in the mind.
Well, moving on from vegetarian fare, to lower calorie, wooden food options. Wooden Play Food is perfect for kids and adults, as it never spoils, always looks fresh, you can add as much of it to your plate as you want, and you won't put on a pound... Obviously, you can't actually eat it, which is its only down-side, but with a couple of cloth bags full of some of our favorite 'in-edibles' you will be ready for your next picnic, gourmet snack, or tea time with teddy, a pet, your family, or maybe someone new you meet along your next journey (oh, and don't forget any and all imaginary friends!).
Now down to the tasty bits 1) Breakfast is not complete without the PlanActivity Breakfast Menu with Serving tray. This set promotes healthy eating choices, and will get kids 'fueled' up for the day. Made of wood, this set is durable for years of play. Set includes all in the picture below including: two slices of bread & a bun, sausage, bacon, cheese, fried egg, boiled egg, salt and pepper shakers and a tray to serve oneself or bring to share with others.
2) Healthy Snacks from PlanActivity Fruits & Veggie Set with or Without a Wooden Tray The set WITH the tray comes with 8 pieces of fruit and veggies (plus knife), and the set WITHOUT the tray comes with 5 pieces of fruit and veggies. Both sets come with a wooden 'knife' which 'cuts' through the food and makes a great sound as it breaks through the 'velcro' holding the food together. Makes teaching about healthy snacks LOTS of fun.
3) Dessert After all that healthy stuff, it's time to celebrate with Melissa & Doug's Wooden Birthday Cake Set The complete set comes with 6-slices and 19 toppings (strawberries, jellybeans, and gumdrops), decorative storage box, serving plate & serving spatula, and 7 candles (all wooden and attach with velcro). Cake even makes 'slicing' sound when 'cut' with wooden utencils. Kids will love celebrating their birthday over and over.
4) The Wooden Tea Set from PlanActivity is an adorable set for pretend play (it is NOT recommended that REAL liquids be put in these, however). Gather friends real & imaginary for hours of conversation, trip planning, and more. We LOVE that this set has wooden tea bags, sugar cubes, spoons, cups, saucers, and tea pot. The tea is never too hot or too cold, and the pot never empties. Add to the birthday cake for an exquisite role play experience. All of the items pack small enough for on the go as well!
Lastly, we want to add that these are long-lasting, quality sets, that will provide years of fun at home, grandparents, or on-the-go.
Although we live in a quite rural section of Western Maine, we are fortunate to live within an hour and a half of TWO great Children's Museums; one in Portland, Maine, and The Children's Discovery Museum in our capital of Augusta. If you live in an Urban area, the Children's Museum option is surely even closer! If you live in an even more rural area than we do, make a day of it (and of course, we can make sure your 'kids travel happy' :-). And, if you plan a trip to a new area, a Children's Museum can be the perfect rainy day remedy or a good way to put a vacation's focus on the kids. Adults will find these places fun too!
These are the things we like most about children's museums and discovery centers:
reasonable cost
the interactive nature of the activities
the activities focus on roleplay and imaginary play
the museums offer things for the youngest children as well as school age children (SOMETIMES this happens too: we have friends that just came back from the Cape Cod Children's Museum in Massachusetts and the facility there had 6 tables set up for ADULTS - puzzles, games and other challenges, very cool!)
often there are areas that focus on educating about the region the museum is located (in Maine we find there are 'logging' areas, and maple syrup making areas)
there are things to learn about animals and insects
the 'gift shop' typically provides economical, mind-stimulating activities to take home
great place to host a birthday party, and many museums have rooms and/or facilities for cake & festivities (and group rates!)
Do an internet search for 'children's museums your town/city/state'
Before you know it, your kids will want to go to the 'big person's' museums! Children's Museums are a great place to plant the seed and grow the appreciation for culture and active learning.
Why you may ask? It's a simple concept - a small mesh bag with at least 10 little random 
trinkets in it. There are many variations, but basically, the idea is for someone to pick one, begin a story, the next person then picks one, continues, and so on. One could also pick multiple 'trinkets' to start the story. Never the same story twice, and you can even add your own little treasure 'trinket' pieces to expand the options. OR, get multiple sets!
Try a Crazy Fort Construction Kit, and make a castle, an igloo, or just a cube and throw any old sheet on top. Better yet, take an old sheet and let the kids draw details on their creation. Packs easily back in the box it comes in, and simple to take along for emergency 'bad weather', especially for road trips, or visits to Grandma/pa's house!
