Rain Rain Go Away: 5 Indoor Activities for Kids to Keep You Sane
Even if your city doesn’t average 59 rainy days a year like Mobile, Alabama, the rainiest city in the continental U.S., you’ll likely face plenty of rain days that force you indoors.
Spending too much time indoors with the kids can quickly make everyone stir crazy. The same indoor activities, toys, and games the kids play with getting boring, and you may run out of fresh ideas.
Instead of losing your mind, try one of these five fun rainy day activities.
1. Cooking Activities
Cooking keeps your kids entertained and gives you a tasty snack when you’re done. Baking and cooking also works on math skills and can encourage reading skills.
Older kids can handle most of the steps themselves. For younger kids, you’ll need to help with measuring and handling any sharp or hot items.
Get creative with a cooking challenge. You might let the kids create their own cupcakes by adding extra ingredients. Or bake mini cakes and let them decorate them.
2. Made-Up Games
Are your kids tired of playing the same board games? Shake up rainy day gameplay by creating your own games.
Grab those old board games that are missing pieces. Let the kids come up with completely new games using those parts. They might use the board from one, a spinner from another, and playing pieces from a third game.
You can also use items from around the house to come up with games. Encourage the kids to come up with rules and guidelines for how to play.
3. Ultimate Blanket Fort
Show how cool of a parent you are by taking your fort-building skills to the next level. Grab all of the lightweight blankets and sheets you can find to build a huge fort that spans the entire living room. Pull in the dining room chairs or card tables to support your blanket fort.
Once you build the fort, your kids have a fun place to hang out for the day. They can read, play games, or even nap inside the blanket fort.
4. Put on a Performance
Do your kids have a dramatic side? Encourage them to produce a dramatic performance to pass the time.
Help them create a place based on their interests. Or grab a bunch of dress-up clothes and have them put on a fashion show.
5. Escape Rooms
Need to get out of the house completely? Being cooped up indoors on a rainy day can make everyone’s patience thin. Venture out of the house for a change of scenery.
An escape room is a perfect way to keep your older kids engaged. It’s an interactive experience that makes them think and lets them have tons of fun.
Most escape rooms are hour-long experience with a wide range of themes available. You work together to find clues and solve puzzles to help you escape from the locked room.
Invite your other parent friends and their kids along for the adventure. The kids get to hang out with their friends while enjoying the highly interactive activity.
Plan Indoor Activities
Don’t let rainy weather ruin your day. Getting creative with indoor activities keeps everyone happy and keeps you from going insane. Check out our DIY & Crafts section for more rainy day activity ideas.
