Rainy Day Activities for Kids
20 Cures for the Rainy Day Blues
Being stuck in the house with little ones on a rainy day doesn't have to be a nightmare. When the "I'm bored's" begin, here are some activities that can counter any whine! These are a few suggestions to help! (I like to keep a rainy day kit at the house that has a lot of the items mentioned below, and sometimes a new game, just for something different!) The suggestions use things that you find around the house for the most part, so it's easy to do any one of them!
1. Build a living room fort together and bring out the movies.
2. Do a new craft - Make paper bag puppets and use an old cardboard box for a theater.
3. If you have little girls, turn your kitchen/bathroom into a spa! (Do nails, use the sink as a "jet tub", and maybe a little make-up fun!)
4. If you have little boys, make fake swords from cardboard paper towel rolls. Draw on some mustaches with washable markers/face paint, and let the pirate fun begin!
5. Tape a very large piece of white paper down the length of your kitchen table. Coloring murals is a fun (and quieter) way to enjoy the day. Place tarps/old sheets on the floor under the table and under the paper, and bring out the finger paint for extra fun!
6. If it's warm, let them play in the rain! (It's good for the soul, both young and old)
7. Make a batch of cookies or a special treat together!
8. Make a mini parachute. (Take a bathroom dixie cup, four pieces of string, and a tissue or handkerchief. Tape the corners of the tissue to the string and attach to the cup. Launch them off of the top of the stairs with action figures inside for great playtime.
9. Pot and Pan Kitchen Band (for the brave at heart)
10. Get a bucket of soapy water and have the kids play "car wash" with their plastic toys. The toys get cleaned and your kids have a blast!
11. Play-dough either homemade or store bought is usually a pretty big hit.
12. Have your kids write and illustrate their very own storybook! Help them develop creative skills by making up funny stories!
13. To combat the pent up energy, clear space in the playroom or hallway and do some fun relay races!
14. Attach sponges to socks and have a "skating party" in the kitchen/tile surfaces of the house. This is a chore-turned-fun when you bring on the suds!
15. If there aren't any cars in the garage, get out the side-walk chalk and draw a hopscotch court. You can also bring out bubble mix, hula hoops, jump rope, and other fun toys!
16. Punch two holes in paper plates and attach a piece of ribbon or string. Have your kids color fun masks!
17. Move all the furniture against the wall in the living room and have a dance party!
18. Anything jello. It cheers kids right up no matter how bad the blues.
19. Learn something new like magic tricks or a new card game.
20. If you want to get out of the house for a bit, try a kids museum or the movies!
The possibilities are endless. If your kids boo at every suggestion, just convince them to try just one and before you know it, everyone's having fun!
