You can still have a fun, even productive, rainy day at home. Use these practical suggestions to encourage your tweens and teens to get active when the weather has them stuck inside. If you don’t have a gym membership, ask about day passes or see if you can accompany a friend who is a member. Your local YMCA almost always has day passes available, as well as financial assistance for family memberships. Compensation helps, too. Agree on a financial reward, like a boost in allowance, or an experiential reward like a trip to the movies. Or, if your teen has been itching to redecorate their space, a rainy day stuck inside can be the perfect opportunity. Up the ante by encouraging them to find old clothes, gadgets, or toys to donate.
Balloon target: Set up a lightweight target, like a ribbon or a paper plate. Then, have each player blow up a balloon, but leave it untied. The goal of the game is for players to deflate the balloon and try to get it to hit the target. At first, stand close to the target, stepping back as your aim improves.Hands-free balloon volley: Divide a room or playing area in half with a ribbon. Place two chairs on either side of the room, tying the ribbon to the backs of each so it’s about three or four feet off the ground. Players then propel the balloon back and forth over the “net” like a volleyball—except they have to use their feet, not their hands.
Figure skaters can practice their spins with a spin trainer. And no matter how much space you have, or whether you play a sport or not, almost everyone can enjoy a good stretch.
