Summer is the time to hang outdoors, but you know as well as I do it’s bound to rain from time to time. When it does rain, kids linger indoors begging for activities to keep them busy. Keeping your craft cupboard stocked with supplies and mapping out a list of indoor craft activities will prepare you in advance for the rainy day blues.

Not only do crafts entertain and keep little hands busy, they also encourage kids to exercise their creative mind.

Making a rain stick from an old mailing tube and a few other household items is a great way to commemorate indoor fun on a rainy day, as kids can use their rain stick later to mimic the soothing sound of rainfall outside.

You will need:

  • A cardboard mailing tube with the lid
  • 2 cups of dried beans (uncooked)
  • Hot glue gun
  • 12 screws (2 1/2 inches)
  • Markers, paints, ribbons, sequins, seashells, etc.

Start by having kids decorate their mailing tubes to their preference. Paint or color the tube with markers and glue on decorative ribbons, sequins, seashells. Set them aside and allow the paint and glue to dry. If using a hot glue gun, supervise kids to make sure no one gets burned by stray, melted glue strands.

Once the tube is dry, empty two cups of dried beans into the tube and seal off the ends by adding a strip of hot glue around the lid and pushing it into place. Let the glue cool and dry.

After the ends are glued into place, tap the screws into the tube in a spiral pattern around the entire tube. Place screws about two inches apart and twist them into the tube at least 1/2 inch.

The screws will catch the beans as they flow through the tube, creating a soothing, rain-like sound, and you can alter the sound by screwing them in at different lengths.

There is nothing more soothing than the soft sound of rain, and now your kids can enjoy that lulling music anytime they want.