Out of the {Rainy Day} Box: Color Swatch Match Up

I made this little activity OVER a year ago…and, I don’t think I ever posted it! …

SO, when Quinn re-discovered it, I took a few pics and got excited about sharing it with you!

The best part…this little thing is ALMOST free! Just go to your local hardware store and pick up LOTS of paint cards (TWO OF EACH) and buy clothespins for each color.

Then, cut a piece of each color to glue onto a clothespin.

And, that’s it! Time for fun! …Take the clothespins off (either one card at a time or multiple)…and let your little one match up the colors. Sounds easy? Some of them are kinda tricky! Quinn loved it!…And, Nash thought the clothespins tasted good, too! ha.

        

Out of the {Rainy Day} Box Fun: Alphabet Card Lineup

It’s been forever since I’ve shared one of our “rainy day” ideas. And, let’s be honest, since Nash’s arrival and Quinn’s new found ability to play and Play and PLAY, the rainy day activities are a little more few and far between.

But, when we “skipped” school on our Monday Snow Day, I thought it would be fun to do a little something.

So, I pulled out some cardstock and stickers and made a card with each letter of the alphabet. Then, I lined them up against the wall and gave Quinn sheets of stickers…And, together, we placed the stickers on the correct cards.

It went well for a while…before he got tired of participating. At that point I asked him if this is how he acted at school!?!!? {good grief…I hope not!} But, he told me to leave it out so that he could do more later. (which is a good sign, right?!)

I guess I realized in doing this that…
A. I’m happy that Quinn goes to school to learn.
B. I could NEVER homeschool. …and…
C. My floors are REALLY dirty!

Oh well! I give myself an A++ for effort!

Out of the {Rainy Day} Box: Laundry Hamper FUN!

The other day, while I was doing laundry, I knew it was time to pull out the Rainy Day Box. So, I found the idea that used these fun balls and a laundry basket. All you do is kick the balls in the basket…then, pick them up, but them in a bowl, and do it all over again! It made for a good 15 minutes of fun! Then, Quinn made it into a basketball goal…and later, his sweet little imagination even made the basket into a Space Ship! :) So, my little activity turned into two more! Gotta love that! :) …

Soccer… Basketball…

Space Ship…

Out of the {Rainy Day} Box Fun: Car Wash & Water Painting

First of all, let me say that we have LIVED in our jammies this week! And, I love it! :) …That’s why all of the pics you see are of Q in his jammies! :) …

Here’s our first little activity: CAR WASH! I gathered some of Quinn’s cars, put down some towels, put some dish soap and water in a tub and gave him a brush, rag and spray bottle. He loved it! Probably played for over an hour just cleaning and splashing away! I loved listening to him talk to his cars as he washed them! Gotta love FREE fun!…

Here’s another fun and ridiculously easy idea that made for about 30 minutes of fun: Water Painting. I gave Q some sheets of construction paper, a paint brush and bowl of water. He painted and painted…and even dipped his hands and fingers to make prints. It was so cute! And, he was so proud! Now, when it dries, he can do it all over again!…

Out of the {Rainy Day} Box Fun: Giant Newspaper Drawing & I SPY

After browsing lots of “great ideas of things to do with your kids” blogs, I am definitely inspired to do “out of the box” things with my little guy! I enjoy our themed days and our recent love for Muffin Tin Munchies, but I felt like I was missing out on just those fun, random things to do with a toddler. …

Then, I remembered a gift that Q was given for his birthday. My sweet friend, Carrie, gave him THE MOST THOUGHTFUL gift EVER! It was a “Rainy Day box” and included lots of fun “rainy day” ideas and the supplies to do them. When I pulled it out today (in desperate need of something….ANYTHING….to get my 2 year old away from wanting to watch show after show after show!!!!), I LOVED how quick and easy the ideas were! … I look forward to doing many more of these ideas and adding to it whenever I come across something brilliant. …So, here’s to “rainy days” (be that literal…like lately…or figurative) and fun activities that make my toddler say, “WOW, Mommy! That was fun!!!”

On to today’s “Out of the {rainy day} Box Fun!!!” ….get it?!…it’s “out of the box” thinking…but, the idea LITERALLY comes out of the “rainy day box!” Clever, huh? I though so!!! :)

…Here’s what the card said from my sweet friend…

And, since I didn’t have any butcher paper, I decided to do a little “je-cycling” (Q’s word for recycle) and use the Sunday paper that was soon to be thrown out! I covered the table and then gave Q crayons, markers and stickers! I let him have free reign for a while, then we played a little “I Spy.” I had him find grapes, certain letters and numbers, certain shapes, puppy dogs, football players and more! It was a good 45 minutes of F.U.N! …I also let him lay on the table and I traced around his body! He thought that was SUPER cool! …

He was filthy when the fun finally ended, but it was worth it! I have a feeling we’ll add a little more to it before it gets taken off!