Hi, Since I’m all about motion and play I thought I’d share some imaginative activities for kids to do on cold or rainy days. When I was little my 3 brothers and I spent many cold/rainy days putting on our own plays and they are fond memories for me. This first series is a selection of low cost theatrical plays that kids can do with very few props and/or costumes that I found on PBSKids.org. I hope your kids enjoy them! Cara Zara
A Switching of Shoes
CAST:
Mother
Kid
Ghost
Teacher
PROPS/COSTUMES: backpack; chair to be used as the driver’s seat of a car; textbooks with subject names on spines; briefcase overstuffed with papers; kitchen table and two chairs; desk and chair for classroom. Costumes: business clothes for Mother; everyday clothes for Kid; casual clothes for Teacher; oversized business suit for Kid; undersized kid clothes for Mother; white suit and white make-up for Ghost.
SETTING: A kitchen, a classroom, and a traffic jam.
(Kid is sitting in the kitchen at the table doing homework. Textbooks are piled up on the table. Mother enters with briefcase overflowing with papers.)
Mother: What a day! The traffic was horrible. I have such a headache.
Kid: That’s nothing. I just spent a whole day at school and now I have six hours of homework.
Mother: Kids have it so easy! No job! No bosses! No commute! Wish I were a kid!
Kid:
Adults have it so easy. No homework! No tests! I’d give anything to be in your shoes!
(Poof! Ghost appears.)
Mother: Who are you?
Ghost: I am the Official Ghost of Switching Shoes That Really Need To Be Switched, Division A, Sector 3. And I am here to show you…
(Ghost points to Mother.) …a kid’s world! And to show you…
(Ghost points to Kid.) …an adult’s world. Come with me.
(Ghost magically tele-ports Mother to school. Mother is now dressed in Kid’s clothes, which are too small for her. She also carries Kid’s backpack. She sits at a school desk.)
Teacher: I expect that 10-page report on the biology of a mosquito due tomorrow.
(Teacher addresses Mother.)
By the way, I have to give you a few textbooks that you didn’t get at the beginning of the year.
Mother: But I’m not…
Teacher: Here. A 300-page book on the bladder of the frog…
Mother: B-b-but…
Teacher: A 300-page book on the development of toilet paper, A Brief World History, oh, and a few other books.
(Teacher hands Mother four big thick books. A fifth book gets put in Mother’s backpack. Mother stares in disbelief. She groans.)
Mother: Can’t . . . move . . . books . . . too . . . heavy!
Ghost: Alright, let’s head home. Only twelve blocks!
(Mother groans again. She tries to walk and collapses under weight of books. Ghost leaves her and returns to Kid in the kitchen.)
(Ghost magically tele-ports Kid to a car sitting in traffic. Kid is now dressed in Mother’s clothes, which are far too big for her.)
Ghost: Now, here’s what it’s like in an adult’s world.
(Sound of honking of car horns.)
Kid: I get to drive? Yes!
(Kid puts hands on wheel, ready to drive. More honking car horns.)
Kid: Why aren’t we moving ?
Ghost: Well, this is the world of an adult. You’re stuck in traffic, just like every morning. Wake me up in two more hours when you get to work, okay?
(Long horn sound and yelling.)
Kid: Whoa, why are they honking at me? What am I doing wrong? And why is my car smoking?
(Back in the kitchen, Mother enters with books and slumps at the table, exhausted.)
Mother: I’m in such pain!
(Kid enters with overstuffed briefcase and slumps at the table, exhausted.)
Kid: I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to hear again thanks to those car horns!
(Poof! Ghost magically appears.)
Ghost: So, did you like a day in each other’s shoes?
Kid/Mother: No way!
Ghost: Good!
(Ghost switches them back. You can show this by just having Mother and Kid exchange backpack and briefcase.)
Ghost: My work here is done. Oops, I have to get to my next appointment!
(Ghost winks at audience. Ghost exits.)
(Mother and Kid hug in relief.)
Cara Zara 