5 Indoor Rainy Day Activities for Kids
Labor Day has come and gone. For many, school is back in session, and it won’t be long until we officially welcome the fall season. This year, fall starts on Wednesday, September 22. Despite the days becoming shorter and the nights longer, many anticipate fall because of all it offers: a plethora of fun and festive activities like apple and pumpkin picking, a spectacular show of colorful foliage, and the much anticipated crisp and cooler temperatures after a long, hot, and humid summer.
Fall also brings rainy days. While the weather may limit outdoor activities, you can still keep kids entertained with indoor activities. As a toddler parent, I know all too well the pressure and difficulty in coming up with clever indoor activities that will keep my son busy and having fun. Toddlers are curious and wondrous, and keeping them occupied is a job itself.
Now, don’t get me wrong – we use screen time in our home, especially when we need to get work or household tasks done or we want a moment to relax after a busy day. We are mindful of using it in moderation. Educational television shows and age-appropriate video games can help children learn, develop problem-solving skills, and boost their social and emotional well-being.
Bu, as us toddler moms know, television shows and video games keep kids occupied for only so long. Or, maybe your children are older, and you want to encourage other activities they can engage in so they don’t waste the day glued to a screen. In any instance, check out this list of fun ways to keep kids active and having fun when the weather’s a little too wet. Most of these activities don’t require you to buy special toys or tools, either.
1. Create a Scavenger Hunt
A classic scavenger hunt, or treasure hunt, is not only a fun way to get kids moving, but it’s also an activity the whole family can enjoy. Start by selecting a theme. Examples include a color hunt, around the house, and rainy day attire. Then decide if you want to provide a list of the items the kids have to find, or you can do a clue-based hunt, in which you leave clues around the house about the next place to look.
Not only is a scavenger hunt a great activity for families with younger kids, but it’s also a great rainy day idea for families with teenagers. A scavenger hunt keeps kids of all ages active, engaged, and laughing!
2. Bake or Cook with the Kids
Rainy weather is a great opportunity to get the kids in the kitchen and cook or bake something yummy together.
My toddler absolutely loves to help me in the kitchen, especially when baking cookies and sometimes when making dinner. He may not be the best sous chef or baking assistant, but his eagerness to do it with me makes me smile. Because he’s only three years old, I concentrate on simple baking recipes, those that require only a few ingredients and little work. Last Christmas, we made homemade cutout sugar cookies. We mixed all the ingredients to form the dough, then we rolled the dough on the counter with a roller, and then we got to work with the cookie cutters. My son couldn’t get enough of all the fascinating shapes the cookie cutters made. Then we placed the cookies on the baking pan and into the oven. After they were done baking and cooled off, we decorated them with colored icing and topped them with sprinkles. Of course, our favorite part is eating them!
Baking and cooking are great for teens as well. They are fundamental (and delicious) life skills. Do you have Grandma’s famous chicken soup recipe? A homemade dessert recipe of your own? Is your pup’s birthday approaching and you’d like to gift them homemade treats? These are all great ways to introduce cooking and baking to your teenager and make for a perfect rainy day activity.
3. Do Chores Together
Toddlers like to help out, no matter what it is. So, while the weather’s wet and you’re indoors, encourage toddler chores like picking up toys after play and putting them in their toy box. My son also loves to lend me a hand when switching the laundry, loading the dishwasher, cleaning out the pantry, vacuuming, or mopping the floors. I say to him, “Good job” after he’s finished, and he excitedly replies, “I did it!” While it may have taken triple the amount of time to get it done, letting him help me teaches responsibility and he’s having fun.
4. Build a Fort in the Living Room
What’s a rainy day without a fort or tent in the living room? Grab the kitchen chairs and drape large sheets over them to create a “roof” and “walls”, and place comfy blankets and pillows on the fort’s floor. Or, you can keep it simple and easy by popping up a tent. Either way, crawl inside, play a game, read a book, or enjoy a snack.
5. Reuse the Cardboard
Cardboard boxes are a “toy” that young kids get a kick out of using. Grab the cardboard boxes from the recycling bin and use your imagination to create just about anything! Some ideas include a train, car, plane, traffic light, playhouse, puppet theater, and tunnel. The kids can cut and color the boxes to create whatever they’d like.
How do you keep your kids entertained and busy on rainy days? Share your tricks and ideas in the comments!
