Fun and Educational Activities for Kids During Hurricane Season
Hurricane season can be a stressful time, but keeping your kids engaged with fun and educational activities is a great way to pass the time while staying safe indoors. Here are some ideas for parents to make the most of those indoor days:
Indoor Camping
Transform your living room into a camping site! Set up a tent or build a fort using pillows and blankets. Bring in flashlights and enjoy some fun indoor s'mores (made in the microwave) or tell family stories. This keeps things exciting and helps kids feel safe during the storm.
Board Games and Puzzles
Bring out classic board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Candy Land. Puzzles are another great way to pass the time while helping to develop your child's problem-solving skills. If the power goes out, card games are an easy way to stay entertained.
Crafts and DIY Projects
Engage your kids in creative projects with supplies around the house. You can create hurricane-related crafts, like drawing or creating their own weather station models. This is a fun way to teach them about weather while being artistic. Click here for weather related printable.
Baking Together
Rainy days are perfect for baking! You can teach kids basic kitchen skills by baking cookies, cupcakes, or other simple treats. Let them decorate their creations as a creative outlet.
Story Time and Reading
Snuggle up with your favorite books or engage in an interactive story time where each person adds a sentence to create a story together. For older kids, this can also be a great time to catch up on school reading or books from their favorite series.
Hurricane Learning on YouTube
Introduce kids to the science behind hurricanes and extreme weather with some informative YouTube channels:
SciShow Kids – They offer engaging videos about various weather patterns and phenomena, including hurricanes, in a way that’s easy for kids to understand.
Dr. Binocs Show – Known for fun and simple explanations of complex science topics, including natural disasters.
National Geographic Kids – Their weather videos explain natural disasters like hurricanes in a visually compelling way.
Peekaboo Kidz – Offers educational videos on a wide range of topics, including how hurricanes form and their effects.
Hurricane Science Experiments
Teach your kids about hurricanes through hands-on science experiments:
Tornado in a Jar: You only need water, dish soap, and glitter to create a tornado in a jar, demonstrating how whirlwinds form. Click here for a tutorial.
Weather in a Bottle: Simulate weather patterns in a bottle using hot water, ice, and food coloring.
Wind Experiment: Use a hair dryer and small lightweight objects to show how strong winds can move things, just like hurricane-force winds.
These activities not only provide entertainment but also help kids learn about hurricanes in an interactive and engaging way.
Stay Safe and Learn Together
Keeping kids engaged during a hurricane can be both fun and educational. By combining creativity, learning, and play, parents can make the best of a challenging situation and even turn it into a time for learning and bonding. Make sure to always stay updated on weather alerts and stay safe indoors!