Whether it's an unexpected afternoon thunderstorm or a welcome morning shower, summer weather often includes rain. When it does, be prepared for some non-digital entertainment to keep the kids from climbing the walls. It can be as simple pouring some cornmeal on a cookie sheet and setting your preschooler's imagination loose (see photo at right). Family board games for all ages are perfect for such occasions. Or send the kids on a cranial adventure with a good book. Below are a variety of games and books you might want to keep in your arsenal of rainy day boredom busters.
Game of Life ... zAPPed - Hasbro bridged the board game/digital divide with its new zAPPed Gaming line, the first offering of which is the Game of Life. Cue up the game's app on the iPad and place it in the middle of the game board, which has a virtual spinnter and other interactive features.
Lids 'n Lizards - New from Super Duper for ages 4-11, this game keeps kids sharp while entertaining them with hidden plastic lizards that lurk beneath plastic lids.
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Spot It! - You'll be surprised at how quickly your child can spot the similarities between the cards in this portable matching game.
"It's a Zoo in My Backyard!" - Dillonvale resident Brenda Harris wrote this children's book based on the creatures she can spy from her back deck.
"The Magic Wheel" - Go an an around-the-world adventure via a magic hamster wheel, led by a hamster, a mouse and a Siamese cat. Written by M.G. Elliott, with an uplifting Christian theme.
"Perfectly Perilous Math" - New from Sean Connolly, the author of "Totally Irresponsible Science."
"Finish This Book" - Beware: Kids may want to spend their entire summer working on their opus. By Keri Smith.
