Fun Rainy Day Activities with a Toddler

Rainy days can be tough on little kids. Nobody likes to be cooped up inside all day long, especially when you are full of energy and excitement, like my kiddos! So, here I'll outline a few ideas for some fun rainy day activities for your toddler or the toddler in your life.

Kids of all ages, but especially toddlers, love playing with play doh. I know my son adores it! You really only need a few shapes and a few colors of play doh to provide hours of fun! My son has the play doh "breakfast cafe" and he absolutely loves making multi-colored pretend waffles, eggs, bacon, and so on which we can then pretend to "eat"! So great! It boosts his imagination and also teaches him fine motor skills. So, definitely a win-win in my book!

If you have a child who is artistic at all, like my son, then chances are your toddler will enjoy fingerpainting. You can give him or her a paintbrush, or let the child use his/her hands to create a beautiful picture! I put my son in his high chair, so that the paint doesn't get everywhere and make a mess. Sometimes I also let him experiment with watercolor paints (just watch your child with the water, so it doesn't get dumped everywhere!) Then, place the pictures on the kitchen counter, on top of a paper towel, to dry. Give them to Daddy when he gets home from work, or to Grandma and Grandpa, or a favorite cousin, Aunt or Uncle. Or keep them in a folder for your own mementos. If too many pictures pile up and you feel overwhelmed, consider doing what a gal I used to nanny for did: create a book for your child's artwork, by taking a photo of the painting, then uploaded it to your computer, and creating a memory book on a website such as Shutterfly.com. This is a great space-saver, but also enables you to cherish your child's artwork for a lifetime!

Someone's birthday is always coming up, and what better way to say "Happy Birthday" (and do so inexpensively) than a homemade birthday card? For example, we have lots of blank "Peanuts" cards here at our house, so we turned many of them into fun birthday cards. I gave my son some fun "dot pens" that he loves to use to create pictures, and let him go to town on the blank cards. His pictures come out looking very abstract and cool! Then, on the other side, I write a little note and "Happy Birthday" to the friend or family member we are giving the card to. It saves our family a little cash, since birthday cards can get pretty pricey, and it's also a great way to make the recipient feel extra-special!

For some reason, toddlers love making "forts" and "tents" in the living room, especially on a rainy day! Using pillows and blankets, create a fort of your own that you are your toddler can hide out in. Use your imaginations to make up a story about why you are hiding out in the fort, and what you are doing. For example, in the story, "We're Going on a Bear Hunt", the whole family goes on a bear hunt and finds a bear cave. You could pretend you and your child are bears living in a cave! Or, get a flashlight and bring some of your child's favorite books into the fort to read together. Make it creative and fun!

The only downside with this option is that sometimes sick kids use the playplace as well, so use your discretion when going there.

• If you do have concerns, consider asking the staff when the best time to go there would be.
• Ask when the playground equipment is cleaned, since they do have someone come clean it regularly.
• Then, only take your child there during these times.
• Also, make sure your child always washes his/her hands after playing.
• Remember: Don't take your child to the playplace if he/she is sick with a cold or flu!

This one does involve leaving the house in the rain, but if your child has lots of energy and still wants to run around and play, consider going to an indoor playplace at a location like Chick-fil-A. You can get your child a kid's meal or bring your own snacks, and let him/her play on the slides and run around in the enclosed play area they offer. It's great fun when it's too cold/rainy to play outside in your backyard or at the park. This option sometimes works out really well and can be a lifesaver when you have a very active toddler who needs a safe place to play!