Indoor Activities for Kids to Do on Rainy Days
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I am all too familiar with the dread that comes when gray rainclouds form on a day with no pre-made indoor plans. Concerns about kids being stuck inside with pent-up energy or overextended screen time are real.
That’s why it’s essential to have rainy day activities on hand when outdoor activities are a no-go. Rainy days can be a great way to introduce imaginative play, creativity, and fun indoor activities, too! From trampoline parks and escape rooms to free activities like a new book from the library or an easy-to-throw-together indoor play area, let's change gloomy afternoons into unforgettable adventures!
Here are the best toys and tips to keep kids (and you!) feeling sunny even when the weather won't cooperate.
Learn on Rainy Days
This first idea may sound surprising, but with everyone stuck inside the house, get caught up on chores (but in a fun way!) This may be a little more fun for smaller kiddos. They tend to be more thrilled about the prospect of roaming the kitchen with the Swiffer or helping to match socks. But the bigs can benefit from the slower day to learn a new skill like how to do their laundry or sew on a button, and maybe even earn some money for their help as extra motivation!
Okay, now for something a little less “Ugh, Mom. Boooring!” For bigger kids and tweens, ask them what they are curious or dying to learn more about. Boot up YouTube or Google and go on a deep dive. This is an example of being intentional with screentime by guiding them to research instead of getting stuck on virtual reality gaming for too long.
If you want to get out of the house but are still planning for an indoor activity, check out a local museum, take music classes, or even explore art galleries! These provide quality time while also learning something together.
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Make on Rainy Days
One of the best things about art is that you get to play with cause and effect with incredibly low stakes. Mix some art and science concepts and make a hypothesis on what would happen if you were to place strips of colored tissue paper on watercolor paper and place it out in the rain. After a good soak and removing the tissue paper, prepare to be delighted by the beautiful piece of art left behind. You can call it an artistic science experiment.
Bigger kids may take advantage of the indoor day to create the comic that has been running in their imagination. Or even to try something totally new, like origami or nail art.
If you want a fool-proof way to entertain younger kids for hours, grab your leftover cardboard boxes and see what they can make with them! YouTube is a great resource for ideas.
Play on Rainy Days
There are so many fun ideas that fall under the category of play! Free play is, of course, encouraged. But for those who need some ideas, here is a short list to choose from when rainy days are back-to-back and you feel like you're out of options:
Indoor playground - look up a local indoor play space to venture to with the whole fam. Our recommendation would be to arrive at a time when it's less busy, and bring lots of snacks, much like you would if you were at an outdoor park.
Laser Tag - this one would be an idea to drop in your BFF group chat so your mom friends and their kids can meet you there! It's an idea that's better together because your kids will want to play with their friends, and you’ll get some alone time with friends.
Trampoline Park - want a way to wear your kids out by evening? A trampoline park it is!
Treasure Hunt - create an impromptu scavenger hunt asking your kiddo to build a rainbow by finding a toy of each color or even fulfilling the whole alphabet, letter by letter. A is for airplane. B is for book…
Board Games - dust off the board games. These are so much fun for the whole family! You likely have your favorite classic game, but here are a few of our favorite more modern options too: What Do You Meme? Skyjo, and Codenames.
Sensory bin - these are great for little ones developing their fine motor skills! Just fill a tub with items that your toddlers will want to explore, like pasta, sand, water beads, or shaving cream! Make sure it's age-appropriate so they don't put things in their mouths that they shouldn't.
Live Performance - and we don't mean just seeing your favorite artist; we're talking about your kids putting together a concert and performing live for you! This is a great idea for budding stars who want a good excuse to showcase a choreographed dance or song they've written!
You don't need to leave the house to play, and rainy days don't require a secret stash of new toys. You likely already have everything you need to bring the play inside and have a great day.
Eat on Rainy Days
Skip the peanut butter and jelly and have an out-of-the-ordinary lunch. Grab your snacklebox and let the kids help fill it with fun options you may not usually encourage. There should be perks for being stuck inside all day, and some extra sweets could be one of them! (Check out ideas for what to put inside here!)
Ice cream doesn't have to be reserved just for hot days outside. Set out a fun ice cream bar on rainy days, too! Keep a big tub of vanilla ice cream on hand, along with toppings, so the kids have something to look forward to for an afternoon snack.
We love these kitchen tools that promote learning knife skills, but keep small hands safe. And for tweens and teens, the various components can be inspiration for a chopped-style cooking competition, or perhaps the extra time in the house together is the perfect opportunity to teach them to follow a recipe. This cookbook is great for junior chefs.
Relax on Rainy Days
Want a happy toddler? Just add water. Bathtime on a rainy day can be even more fun by giving it a little splash of something extra. New bath toys that are saved for a literal “rainy day” or even toys that are not necessarily a bath toy, but can get wet (like cars and figurines) can make the bath a great time versus a “to-do.”
Punch it up a notch and get out some bubbles or even bath crayons for an even better time! And mama, grab a book to read while they bathe because, as long as you're right there supervising (if they're young), this is your chance for YOU to relax, too!
Older kids and especially your growing tweens and teens may love to take advantage of a chill day for a bit of a cozy up “reset.” Bathtime doesn’t have to be just for the little ones, and a nice bath bomb can help your bathroom feel like a spa. Use the slower day for some self-care, like a hair or face mask. Join them in on the fun for a special bonding moment, too!
No matter how much rain falls outdoors, great memories and fun can be made inside. Try out a few of these activities and watch creativity and laughter fill your home even on the gloomiest of days. Does your family have a rainy day activity, craft, or ritual? Share your best ideas here and tag @thecitymoms!
