kid_rainydaysAfter a record-breaking summer, filled with scorching temperatures, the cooling fall season is rapidly approaching. Many children are now back in school, so they will typically have homework and other after school activities to keep them busy throughout the week. If you home school, or have kids that have not yet reached school age requirements, then you will need to have a stash of ideas ready to enact at most any time of day.

Regardless of your situation concerning school, you will still have snow days, sick days, and weekends that may require some form of clever entertainment. Additionally, the costs of summer can be hefty. If your family takes a vacation, send the kids to summer camps, or require childcare for them, you understand how straining these expenses can be on the wallet.

You are certainly not alone with these situations. Parents across the nation seem to be seeking out ways to entertain their family when the seasons change without breaking the budget. Here are some great ideas to keep your family active and engaged during the autumn season.

Start a Boredom Box: Dig out an old shoe or tissue box and then decorate it with the family. Ask all members of the family unit to consider things that they would find interesting to do with the group. Establish a set number for each person to brainstorm. As a family, decide which ideas will go into the Boredom Buster Box. Make sure that some of everyone’s ideas go into the box, as you do not want to leave anyone out, or the concept will not seem like very much fun. When the boredom blues strike, allow a member to draw a random piece of paper from the box, and take steps to get that activity underway with the family.

Scrapbooking: Surely, you took many photos of your summer activities, and a rainy or extremely cold day is an excellent time to sit down with the family and organize a scrapbook that documents your experiences. Allow each member of your family to choose their favorites to go into the book.

Board games: Keep a collection of board games on hand that everyone in the family takes pleasure in. Make sure that there are age-appropriate games for the younger children, as well as engaging ones that will keep older children entertained. Games are a great way to spend time together, learn new concepts, and enjoy some friendly competition. Children can learn a number of positive skills and personal attributes from board games, and these items can typically be purchased quite inexpensively at local retailers.

Arts and Crafts: Keep a cache of markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks, construction paper and other artistic goodies on hand for entertainment possibilities when going outdoors is not an option. Create fun crafts for each other and exchange them as gifts.

Scavenger hunts: These can be held indoors, outdoors or a combination of both depending on the weather. Make clue cards and hide goodies of your choice in random places that you indicate on the card. This keeps children busy and their minds working, while they hunt down the objects. Think of a special prize of privilege for the winner.

With some planning and cleverness, there are endless possibilities for indoor activities. These ideas are only a starting point, but you will get even more if you utilize the Boredom Box, which ensures that everyone in the family gets a say in how they spend their spare time.

Submitted on behalf of Primrose Schools: child care services and preschool education by Emily Patterson (@epatt1062)