Don’t let gloomy days rain on your parade. Make the most out of stormy weathers with these fun parent child bonding activities that are sure to bust their boredom.

1. Fort Fun 

If you put together a lot of pillows, a few blankets, a couch or a bed, what do you have? A fort. An island. A castle. All of the above. With a little bit of imagination, you and your kids can create a world of your own. Best of all, fort-building is easy to clean up.

2. Movie Magic

Don’t let that large-screen LCD and extensive DVD collection go to waste. The next time a storm comes your way, set up your very own movie marathon. Ask each of your children to pick their favorite movie, microwave some popcorn, turn down the lights and squeeze in the sofa for a few hours of movie magic. Of course, if the power gets cut off, you can always use the other activities listed here.

3. Game theories

Fun in a box: that’s what board games should have been called. Stock up on family favorites like Cranium, Pictionary or Scrabble and break it out whenever the clouds start darkening. Choose games that help build skills for your young ones like those offered by Playroom Entertainment (contact Alem Ang at alem.ang@gmail.com), an award-winning games company known for fast-action games for kids that clean up in a jiff.

4. Scavenger hunt

Put a twist on the regular scavenger hunt by customizing it with educational clues. Incorporate the lessons your children have learned in school by adding specific items on their to-find list.  Did they just learn colors? Ask them to find items of a specific color all around the house. Whoever completes your list first wins.

5. Storytelling time

Children love their princesses and knights in shining armor. Spark your children’s imaginations by weaving stories in tandem with your young ones. Start the story with one sentence. Then ask your child to fill in the next. Parent and child take turns until one of you can figure out a happy ending, or when the sun shines again.

Photos: popcorn, board game marker