Rainy Day Activities

The following list includes some filler activities that have been passed on from summer to summer.  You will notice that some are more practical than others.  We hope that somewhere in the list you might find an idea or two to add to your bag of tricks.

Don't Eat Pete:

Draw 12 squares on a piece of paper. Place one piece of candy on each square. Choose a person to leave the room while the others decide which square will be "Pete." The person comes back in and begins choosing the candies one by one. If he/she chooses "Pete," everyone yells out "DON'T EAT PETE!!!" and the round is over. Any candy that he has chosen he gets to keep. Replenish the candy and send the next person out...continue until everyone has had a turn.

Rope Throwing Contests:

Get a long rope, tie a sock (filled with sand) to the end of the rope. Show the boys how to coil the rope and throw it. Make a target by drawing three different sized circles, one within the other.  Tap the target to the floor. Mark a spot for boys to stand behind. Give each boy three throws of the rope. Any pare of the sock touching a circle will earn points.  See how many points each boy can get.

 

Kangaroo Hop Relay:

 Divide boys into 2 or more teams, depending on how many there are.  Line boys up.  First player in line assumes a semi-squatting position.   Keeping their feet together, they spring forward to cover a set distance.  When the first team member crosses the finish line, the next one in line goes, until all boys have had a turn. First team to finish wins.

 

Gorilla Relay:

Divide boys into teams.  Line them up.  First member will spread his feet about 24 inches, bend down and grab his ankles. They will walk forward, keeping knees straight. When first "gorilla" finishes, he tags the next in line.  First team finishing wins.

 

Rooster Fight:

Place boys(2) into a circle.  Each hops on one leg, holding the other. To win, he must make opponent lose his balance or step out of the circle by  bumping shoulders. Can also have a tournament using elimination, until only one boy is left.

 

Crab Relay:

Divide into teams.  First boy crawls crab-style to a line 15 feet away, stands up and runs back to tag the next boy, continue until all boys have had a chance to run the relay.  First team done wins.

 

Circle Stride Ball:

Players stand in a circle with feet spread and touching the foot of the player on either side of them.  The player who is "IT" stands in the center with a volleyball.  He tries to roll the ball out of the circle between the feer of the players.  If he is successflul, the person who allowed the ball through is the new "IT."  Players may use only their hands to stop the ball, and may not use their feet.

 

Calendar Pitch:

Place one page from a LARGE calendar on the floor as a target.  Each player tosses three markers (bottle caps, checkers, etc.) from 5 to 6 feet away. Total the score by adding the days in the squares where markers land.  "On the lines" don't count. Must be IN the date square.  Count double for holidays.

 

Ring Toss:

Clamp clothespins around rim of bucket or wastebasket.  From 10 feet away, have boys try to toss jar rings over clothespins.  If you want to score with points, you can color code the clothespins.

 

Bean and Straw Race:

Line up dens in relay order. Using a straw, the first boy in line picks up a bean by suction and drops it into a bowl.  Each boy needs his own straw.  First team finished wins.

 

Paper Clip bingo:

Teams are lined up at one end of the room.  An empty egg carton is placed opposite each team at the other end of the room.  Each compartment of the egg carton is numbered with a point value.  Each boy has a paper clip.  In turns,  the boys run up to the carton and drop the clip from nose level into the hole with the highest number.  If a boy misses the hole, he picks the clip up and tries again.  Then he runs back to tage the next person in line.  When all teams are finished, points are calculated.  High point team wins.

 

Blow Alley:

Play this game on the table or floor.  Set up golf tees like bowling pins.  Boys propel an inflated balloon by blowing through a straw and try to knock down the "pins."

 

Shot Put:

Throw peanuts into a jug 4 feet away from the player.  Allow five attempts.

 

Sponge Put:

Using correct shot-putting form form, have boys throw a a dry sponge, balloon or inflated paper bag.

 

Discus Throw:

Use paper plates.  Contestant should use good discuss throwing form. Measure to point where discuss lands.