It’s only Wednesday. You’ve constructed your 10th Play-Doh snake, watched every episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and witnessed your toddler run his fifth lap around the kitchen. And it still hasn’t stopped raining outside.
Rainy days make us adults restless, which means they definitely take a toll on our energetic kiddos. If you’re stuck inside and in need of a few fresh ideas to occupy your stir-crazy kids, look no further. I started a Pinterest board years ago for moments like these.
You may think you’ve already tried absolutely every activity imaginable, but you’d be surprised what simple pastimes you haven’t thought of yet.
Organize an indoor treasure hunt
Make a list of “treasures” for your children to find around the house. They’ll be up and moving (bonus) and distracted focusing on their search. Don’t make the list too complicated—just enough to wear them out a little before lunch.
Clean the playroom
Although also a chore, this activity tends to get kids excited about old toys they’ve forgotten. I try to store away separate containers of random toys to switch out when my son gets bored with what’s already in his playroom. So far, it has worked like a charm.
Bake
Flip through your cookbook for simple recipes your little ones can help with. Baking is a great way to kill time and keep the kitchen smelling great, which improves everybody’s mood.
Throw a living room dance party
“Alexa, play the ‘Baby Shark’ remix!” Clear a spot in the middle of the floor for the kids to get their wiggles out. Our top three dance party tunes right now are “Who Let the Dogs Out,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “Shake It Off.”
Have a mini yoga session
After your dance party, pull out the yoga mats for a calming yoga session in the living room. Play relaxing classical music or find a yoga instruction YouTube channel to play from your tablet.
Dig out the old photo albums and memorabilia
My son loves random “treasures” almost more than his own toys. Sorting through random boxes in storage is one of our new rainy day pastimes. We find old photos, treasures, toys, decorations and more.
Create an indoor obstacle course
If you happen to have a mini trampoline, tee-pee tent, a bunch of pillows and a retractable tunnel (just a few examples), create a fun and resourceful obstacle course for your kiddos to run through.
Play dress-up
Lately, my 4-year-old loves digging through the laundry basket to put random articles of clothing on his head or trying our giant shoes on. Make a game out of it and find old hats, shoes, big clothes and other accessories to play dress-up. Take funny photos and make a collage.
Make sock puppets
What better way to utilize all of your mismatched socks than to make some sock puppets and then put on a puppet show?
A few quick, at-a-glance activities:
- Make your own play dough.
- Try plastic bottle bowling.
- Dye paper.
- Make masks.
- Create and play with sensory bins.
- Splash at a water table.
- Build a block tower.
- Make a race track.
- Craft your own storybooks.
- Paint.
- Make DIY shaving cream.
- Melt crayons.
- Build a fort.
- Have a toy car race.
- Play board games.
- Fold paper airplanes.
Emily Morrison is a freelance writer, former copy editor, full-time mommy and Disney fanatic who lives in Independence with her husband, 4-year-old son and two dogs.