Don’t get the rainy day blues. Amanda Blinkhorn shows how a little bit of imagination is all you need to keep the kids occupied

Taking a walk in the countryside is a great way to discover new places and enjoy the beauty of the British landscape. There are all kinds of walks, trails and routes to choose from. Whether you are a committed hiker or a casual rambler, you'll find something suited to your interests and abilities.

What the experts say

How do you cope when you’ve got a crew of children with you who are desperate for some sparkling entertainment and it’s chucking it down outside? We called in the professionals.

Cassandra Jardine, mother of five and author of ‘How To Be A Better Parent’, swears by a quick game of ‘Collections’ where you chose a category of things and each child races to name one for each letter of the alphabet. ‘It’s a game in which children can easily beat adults, provided you choose something like television programmes, football teams or bands,’ she says.

Sarah Henderson, Brown Owl with the 7th St. Pancras Brownies in North London, says that nine times out of ten, wellies and a raincoat will get you out of the worst of it. ‘I’ve taken 18 Brownies round Chessington World of Adventures and it poured down all day, but we had a brilliant time,’ she laughs. If all else fails, she says, she always falls back on her emergency song. ‘Get everyone to join in with a rendition of Singing In The Rain – it never fails!’

Noel Janis Norton, director of The New Learning Centre in North London, which runs parenting classes, agrees that adults are far too quick to take a rain check when the clouds begin to gather. If consigned to indoors, however, she says you can help kids play independently by providing them with inspiration. ‘Play alongside them, not with them, if you want them to play by themselves. If you let them see you being enthusiastic and engaged then they will do the same.’

Three red hot solutions for rainy day blues

1. Pirates

Lie three or four chairs on their side to create the skeleton of a ship. Cover partly with blankets, use a sheet and a broomstick to create a sail, and tie a scarf to the top to create a Jolly Roger. Furnish the crew with some simple provisions and a treasure map. Hide the treasure (dressing-up jewellery and chocolate coins will do the trick) and let them set sail.

2. Racing Demon

There’s not a drizzly afternoon that can’t be revived with a few chocolates and a game of ‘Racing Demon’. Provide each child with a deck of cards. Count out a stack of 13, 12 face down and the top one face up. Next to it place a line of four cards face up. Go through the rest of the pack in threes, laying down red/black/red/black from the face up cards and replenishing them from the face down pack. The object is to get all the aces out and build up to the king. The only difference between this and ‘Patience’ is that you can build on everyone else’s aces. Fierce but fun.

3. The Queen’s coming to tea

A variation on the old standby ‘Let’s make a cake’, but excellent for whiling away a couple hours. First get everyone busy making fairy cakes, the fancier the better. While they are in the oven, raid the dressing-up box and pick your queen. Decorate children and cakes as lavishly as possible and welcome the queen into your lovely home for tea and cakes. Dancing is optional.

Perfect Strategy for Rainy Days

Do:

• Pack wellies, macs, towels and a set of spare clothes if you are planning to venture far from home.
• Lead by example. If children see you enthralled by something they will be more likely to follow.

Don’t:

• Promise things without qualification. ‘Unless it rains’ can get you out of some sticky situations.
• Create a problem where there isn’t one. If the kids aren’t fussed about the weather, don’t make it an issue.

Feature courtesy of Jump magazine. Click here.