Whether it's an April shower, a sick day or just a quiet day indoors, things can get boring pretty fast. If you don't want your kids to veg out in front of the TV for hours, then arts and crafts can provide a great diversion. But don't run to the store for an armload of coloring books and activities. Fun, fabulous and engaging games, crafts, coloring sheets and much more can be found with just a click of the computer mouse. Tailor crafts to your kids' favorite television and film characters. Disney's Web site, for example, has plenty of printable coloring pages for Toy Story fans - not to mention all the other Disney channel fixtures, from Winnie the Pooh to Wizards of Waverly Place. Nick Jr. offers even more - print out Max and Ruby games, Fresh Beat Band Memory Matching, Dora puzzles and mazes, and much, much more. Both sites offer great games for younger ones who are just starting to learn how computers work, plus interactive, family-friendly games for older, more experienced kids.
Find quizzes, puzzles and mazes to challenge your child's mind at FamilyFun.go.com, another Disney-affiliated site. It also offers paper crafts such as origami, 3-D characters, and paper airplanes and other fun activities. Use the site to get organized if you're constantly trying to keep track of your kids' stuff and schedules. In the Kids' Planners section of the site, you can find printable checklists for road trips, shopping, reading lists and so much more. Find homework charts, weekly and monthly calendars for school and other activities, and subject dividers over in Charts & Calendars. The Internet can keep kids engaged, creative and even organized, so why not log on the next time you hear cries of "I'm bored"?