30 Things to Do on a Rainy Day with Kids
Credited to Steven Borders
Spending time in the sunshine is the best way to release some of your children's never-ending energy. But what do you do when a rainstorm bursts your sunny bubble? Being cooped up indoors on a stormy day with energetic kids can feel overwhelming, so make a game plan. Have some toys or activities reserved just for days like this. And if you need some more boredom-busters, here are 30 activities you can do with children of all ages on a rainy day.
Make playdough or slime - The thought of turning your kitchen into a slime factory might be scary, but the mess is totally worth it! Find a recipe online for playdough, slime or oobleck (not quite a solid but not quite a liquid either) and let the fun begin. You can even make the playdough edible if you have a younger baby that likes to taste everything.
Paint the toys - This is a great activity, and if you want to keep the mess to a minimum, layout out some inexpensive plastic drop cloths. Just set your kids up with an ice tray filled with washable paint and let them go to town painting their (plastic only) toys. When they're done, bath time for the kids and the toys!
Sensory bins - Sensory bins are a great way to let little ones explore with all their senses. Just take a plastic storage container or box and fill it with interesting textures. You can try sand, water, uncooked rice, water beads or anything they love to get their hands on. Add a few plastic toys and scoopers to the bins. If your children still explore with their mouths, try something edible like "sand" made from crushed Cheerios.
Movie Day - Chances are, the rainy weather has you feeling a little lazy. Nothing beats a movie on a rainy day! So make some popcorn, find a blanket and snuggle up with your little ones. Genius Tip: Pick a movie from this list of family-friendly classics.
Tape Road - This is a great activity if you have kids who are obsessed with all things on wheels. Find a roll of painter's tape and mark out a "road" for them on the floor. Grab a few vehicles and then let the racing, parades, police chases or anything else their imaginations can dream up commence.
Phone-a-Friend - Sometimes, you need to call in backup. This is a great activity for grandparents or friends. Call or video chat with them and have them entertain your children while you get a little work done. They can read a story, show them pictures, play a game or ask your kids to find things around the house to show them.
Scavenger Hunt - This activity takes a little pre-planning, but it can be a great way to burn some time and energy. Create a scavenger hunt or treasure map for your children to follow. Depending on their ages, you can make it as elaborate as you'd like. For younger ones, ask them to find things around the house that are a specific color or shape. For older children, create clues or have them find hidden objects.
Egg Hunt - Who doesn't love a good egg hunt? And who says you can only do them at Easter? Keep some plastic eggs handy year-round for rainy day egg hunts and take turns hiding and looking around the house for them. If you don't have eggs, feel free to substitute with stuffed animals, matchbox cars or anything you can hide easily.
Explore a Museum Online - There are plenty of ways to use the internet to broaden your children's minds on a rainy day. Many museums and zoos offer free virtual tours, sometimes even live streaming in real time. You can explore sites around the world from the comfort of your home.
The Floor is Lava - An all-time kid favorite! Just set out pillows, stools, furniture or blankets across the floor and see who can get from one side of a room to the other without falling in the "lava."
Exercise Video - If your little ones have boundless energy, try an at-home workout video. There are plenty of options on sites like YouTube that are specifically geared towards children. For example, you can find children's yoga videos and dance videos that are sure to burn some energy (and calories).
Make Your Own Pizza - Nothing goes better with a rainy day than hot pizza pie. Get your kids in the kitchen to help you make some unique pizza creations. They can help roll out the dough (make your own or buy it pre-made) and add whatever toppings they choose. Let each child create their own little personal pizza to really make the activity special.
Build a Fort - What kid doesn't love building forts? Use your couches, cushions, blankets, bar stools and anything handy to create a fun kid-sized fort for your little ones to play in. Let them take in flashlights so they can read, or even let them eat lunch in their secret fort.
Arts and Crafts - Arts and crafts are a perfect indoor activity for rainy days! The possibilities are endless even with a few basic materials like crayons and paper. Younger children can color and play with popsicle sticks or stickers. Older kids can bead necklaces, create collages or experiment with acrylic paints on canvases.
Tea Party - Invite all your dolls and stuffed animals for a good old fashioned tea party. Make sure everybody dresses up in their fanciest clothes and brew some tea (or air) for a tea party to pass the time. Just don't forget your hat!
Dress Up - Speaking of dressing up, don't forget about your costume closet. Let your kids dress up in old Halloween or dance costumes or give them a selection of grown-up clothes. Let their imaginations go wild as they pretend to be doctors, superheroes or monsters. If you don't have costumes lying around, you can create accessories with construction paper.
