What is a heavy rain warning?
A heavy rain warning is issued by the national meteorological service when weather conditions indicate that significant precipitation is likely in the hours to come. This may include showers, thunderstorms, and gusts of wind. Heavy rain warnings are generally issued for areas sensitive to floods and landslides, especially in coastal areas.
It is true that young people are often thrilled during the period of heavy rain, as it means the closure of schools due to unfavorable weather conditions. But for many parents, it can be a real hassle to find someone to look after their children. Expat Mag offers you all the solutions to have your children looked after during this complicated period.
How to keep your children busy during heavy rain days?
During the entire period from January to March, pay attention to government announcements regarding heavy rain warnings. These announcements are usually shared very early in the morning on the internet and on the radio. Do not hesitate to contact your children's school for more certainty.
Indoor activities
If you are working from home, plan indoor activities. On days of heavy rain, it can be difficult to organize outdoor activities. Instead, plan indoor activities such as movies, drawing workshops, cooking sessions, or board games. There are several made in Mauritius games that can be very entertaining, including Tit'Albert and Morissimo, the local Trivial Pursuit. These games are available at all Mauritian bookstores.
Find a babysitter
In case you work in-person, you might be tempted to hire a babysitter. However, finding a babysitter for rainy days in Mauritius can be a difficult task, especially if you don't have any local contacts. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to find a trustworthy person to take care of your children.
- Use social media: social media can be an excellent resource to find a babysitter in a short period of time. Post an ad on Facebook or Instagram to look for a babysitter in your area. You can also join local groups on social media to ask for recommendations.
- Search on babysitting services websites. Mauritius has its own platform for searching for babysitting services on the island: Mo Babysitter.com.
- Call on a babysitting agency: there are babysitting agencies offering quality services such as Babyplus Official or Douce Heure d'Enfance. These agencies allow you to find a trustworthy, qualified, and experienced person to take care of your children.
- Take a look at the Expat.com babysitter directory.
Before choosing a babysitter, make sure to check references and meet the person in person. You can arrange a video call to ensure that the person is the right one for you and your family. It is also important to discuss rates, working hours, and responsibilities before entrusting your children to someone.
Leisure centers
Find out about clubs and leisure centers for children. Intended for young children, these institutions often offer indoor activities during rainy days.
- Coco Town - Located in Grand-Baie La Croisette, Coco Town is a leisure center for children offering indoor activities, including trampolines, slides, swings, DIY workshops, and dance classes. Coco Town offers child care services ranging from a full day to a few hours.
- Located in Flic-en-Flac, the Zanacoco leisure center welcomes children aged 3 to 12 throughout the year from Monday to Friday.
