INDOOR ACTIVITIES
If rotten weather sends you scrambling back indoors, keep the good times hopping inside. Double bonus: Build family fitness and make the house shine when you play these ultra-fun spick-and-span games.
Motocross Mop Race
Suitable for: Ages four and up (Note: Anything that gets kids moving, even walking, will boost aerobic fitness. My kids used to run when they did this and get out of breath and red in the face -- the younger one especially [the 12-year-old is too savvy to get too worked up]. Of course, they don't move much dirt when they do this, but what the heck.)
You'll need: A dry mop; kitchen timer or clock with a second hand
Method:
1. Set the first course for your mop race; for example, try a wide path from the kitchen to the front door and back.
2. Make sure all participants know what they need to mop -- under the kitchen cupboards, for example, or behind the stairwell.
3. Send the mop racers through the course one at a time. Cheer them on as they compete for fastest time, biggest dust bunny nabbed or most glamorous technique.
4. Repeat the race in various parts of the house, varying the events to include backward mopping, no-hands mopping or upside-down mopping.
5.By the end of the races, you should have winners in every category -- and a shining, dust-free floor.
Duster Scavenger Hunt
Suitable for: Ages five and up
(Note: My mother used to do this for my sister and me when we were kids. It was the only way we would do a good job of dusting. The key here is that you need to know your child; kids need to be capable of dusting carefully and handling fragile objects for this game. If you don't want your children near Grandma Tillie's antique tea set, don't play the game anywhere near it. But since all kids need to learn how to clean house anyway, have them learn by tidying a more conducive environment first, such as their own playroom or bedrooms. And make sure they're supervised.)
You'll need: One duster per person; an assortment of small "treasures," such as coins, stickers, pencil toppers or plastic spiders
Method:
1. Before you begin, hide the treasures around the rooms you will use for your scavenger hunt. Hide some items in sneaky places, such as behind photographs and under lamps. Place others in more obvious locations, such as on the mantelpiece or on the coffee table.
2. Tell your dusters that the treasures are finders-keepers and that the best dusters will find the most treasures. Explain how to dust efficiently and effectively, starting from high objects (put treasures up there) and working your way down to the lowest levels. Show the hunters how to pick up all objects carefully and dust underneath and around them.
3. Set the dusters free. Supervise younger children and less experienced dusters, especially if you have assigned them a room with breakables.
4. Keep them at it until all of the treasures are found or they have finished dusting the designated area. Celebrate a job well done by oohing and aahing over each of the treasures.
Page 4 of 5 -- Discover how you can make laundry and tidying up a fun activity with your little ones on page 5
