During this week of quick tips, I continue with part 2 of our free rainy day activities series. Besides having an indoor picnic on rainy days, my children enjoy an indoor adventure with paints.

With many types of paint, we get to choose our paint, project, and then experiment and create. Making the choices becomes part of the learning process as my children develop and exercise their creativity.

Some paint types we enjoy include the following:

Paint with Water

These pages only need water. The water combines with the colors on the page to paint the pictures. These pages are great for little ones. The pictures are fully colored, and the mess is minimal.

Watercolors

Using a little water to activate the colors, my children learn to rinse their brushes between colors. We have used plain paper, coloring book pages, and watercolor paper.

Finger Paints

These are quite messy and need a larger page for lots of fun in a small amount of time. These paints are better for outdoor play, but can create a quick, fun activity on a rainy afternoon.

If used indoors, plaster newspaper all over your space, floor, and chairs. We also make sure there is a straight path to the sink since all fingers get quite messy.

Acrylic Paints

These paints are fantastic for all the projects we build at Lowe’s and The Home Depot. Upon getting a special project, we choose to paint it to protect the wood and preserve the project for years to come.

When we use these paints, I place a little paint on a paper plate. As each child finishes his first color, he cleans the brush. Then I place a little dab of another color on the same paper plate.

After completing our projects, we rinse out our brushes, dump the water, dry off the brushes, and toss the newspaper, paper plates, and paper towels in the trash.

Paint by Numbers

Though my children have a couple of these projects, we have not tried painting them yet. At this time, I cannot sit and help one child while the other two paint on their own. All three need constant attention, and the paint by numbers projects wait for an individual activity.

As the colors change outside on rainy days, grab paper or canvas and paints to create masterpieces. With a few supplies (newspaper, cups, water, paintbrushes, paper plates, and paper towels), your family can enjoy a free rainy day activity filled with lots of colors. Happy creating!

Question: What painting activities do your children enjoy?

When the day is dreary and wet and the kids need a change of scenery, you don’t need to leave home or spend any money. With a little creativity, you can turn rainy days into special days with some fun activities.

In this month-long series, I will share four ways our family has embraced rainy days beginning with an indoor picnic.

Living Room

We have eaten our grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup in our living room. With our blinds open on the large window, we can watch the rain while enjoying our lunch. My children get excited in the new space since we usually eat at the dining room table. But on a rainy day, the change of scenery is a welcomed exception.

Within a day or two of our indoor picnic, my girls enjoy pretending and playing indoor picnic during play time. 🙂

Bonus Room

When the rain is pouring down, the view from our bonus room over the garage gives a much different perspective. We can watch the water stream down the street, beat off the cars, and pound on the concrete. Enjoying a picnic from the second floor intrigues my children while we enjoy a rainy day at home.

When rainy days arise, adjusting your routine may result in a fun family activity embracing the day spent indoors.  With a little creativity, you can have a house full of activity even on a rainy day. Happy rainy day planning!

Question: What room in your home offers a different perspective on a rainy day?