By: Isabel Kallman
Founder of AlphaMom.com
VTech Advisory Council member

Dreary skies and spring showers do not have to mean your kids’ time can’t contain fun indoor activities that brighten their days and brainpower. Here are some ideas prepared with your kids in mind:

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Sometimes new adventures can be discovered within the walls of your own home. Create a list of items hidden in your house and have your child find and photograph each object. For older kids, the list could include riddles and clues to lead them to harder-to-find objects. For children who are still learning to read, ask them to photograph everything a certain color or any item that can be turned on and off. Use the Kidizoom Camera to capture the object images – this camera is perfect for little hands and it can connect to your PC so your child can share a picture slide show of their findings.

Go Abroad From Your Living Room

Embark on a new adventure around the world from the comfort of your couch. Create passports and boarding passes and line up chairs to transform your living room into an intercontinental flight – moms and dads make particularly good “pilots.” Let your child choose which far-off destination they would like to visit and read a book, watch a movie or cook a meal inspired by that country. This is a stress-free vacation that your entire family will enjoy.

Celebrate National Reading Month

This March, recognize National Reading Month by asking your kids to pick out a few of their favorite books. Use a theme from one of the books as inspiration for a party. For example, if your child chooses a pirate-themed book, turn lunchtime into a mini buccaneer celebration – you can eat finger foods and make a treasure map to help your child search out their dessert.

Host an Indoor Olympics

When stuck indoors during a gloomy day, help your child burn off some pent-up energy by participating in a pretend Olympics. Design a safe, indoor obstacle course, hold a game of Simon Says or Hide-and-Go-Seek, or play one of the Action Mania games on V.Smile Motion. Reward your little Olympian by turning on some classical music while handing out homemade medals.