Rainy days and cold days can be really tough when you have littles running around.
Back when I lived in Kansas, I nannied three little girls (ages 1-5) for two years throughout all seasons of Kansas weather: beautiful Spring, hot Summer, breezy Fall, and the dreadfully cold Winter. With three kiddos under the age of five stuck in the house during the cold and rainy months, I had to get creative QUICK or all four of us were liable to pull our hair out!
Here is my TOP 10 list of TRIED AND TRUE indoor activities for rainy or cold days:
ACTIVITY #1: Indoor Picnic
We all wish we could be outside enjoying beautiful weather, but when the weather isn’t cooperating, why not have an indoor picnic instead?! While this is a very easy and simple activity, the kids LOVE it! Put a big blanket down on the kitchen floor, prep picnic type foods, get those juice boxes ready, and have at it! You’ll really be surprised how much enjoyment the kids get out of such an easy to do indoor activity. Don’t forget to grab yourself a sandwich and join the kids down on the floor!
ACTIVITY #2: Gross and Fine Motor Manipulatives
Here’s a fun activity your kids will surely love and that hardly takes any prep work! Grab a few different types of dried beans from the pantry (like lima beans, navy beans, and pinto beans), pour the beans in different size containers (like a rubber-maid bin), throw in a few options of utensils for the kids to use (like measuring cups and table spoons), and let the kids have at it! The kids could EASILY spend over 30 minutes scooping, pouring, and dumping the dried beans from one utensil or bin to another. This activity is especially great for pretend play and for developing both gross and fine motor skills, especially with scooping and pouring. Be sure to have some extra spoons and utensils available for the kids to stir the beans and get creative. And don’t forget your camera; you will definitely want to snap some pictures of the kids having a ball!
ACTIVITY #3: Indoor Movie Party
This activity is really fun especially if you get the kids excited about having a movie party during the day. Have the kids pick a favorite movie, throw on their PJs (yes, even during the middle of the afternoon!), grab their blankets, pillows and sleeping bags, and set their little lounge area up on the floor. And don’t forget to make those fun movie snacks like popcorn, trail mix, and some candies. The kids will be occupied for at least an hour and you’ll find yourself with some time on your hands.
ACTIVITY #4: Arts and Crafts
If you’re anything like me, you’ve saved a bunch of stickers, cards, ribbon, string, button, stamps, and other stationary accessories and compiled them into your “craft box” for rainy days. Grab those glue sticks, scissors, markers, crayons, construction paper, stencils, and whatever other art supplies you have and let your kiddos create away. During this activity, I like to let the child create whatever they want with the materials that are out on the table. This is a great way for kids to be creative and to explore how to use different materials in their art project.
ACTIVITY #5: Reading Party
Much like the movie party, the reading party is a relaxing time for both kids and moms. Have the kids set up their own reading area with their pillows, blankets, sleeping bag, favorite stuffed animal, favorite books, a small snack, and, if you’re really crazy, have the kids throw on their pajamas. Set a timer for 30+ minutes (depending on the age of the child) to indicate how long the reading party will last. The rules are simple: no talking and everyone must stay in their area. If there’s a good book you’ve been meaning to catch up on, grab your blanket and join your kids! And, if you’re lucky, your littles may just fall asleep.
ACTIVITY #6: Puppet Show
You don’t have to go anywhere for this activity! If you have puppets around the house, have your kids create their very own puppet show. If you don’t have any puppets, what another great activity it is to create puppets from old socks. This activity may need a little facilitation from you, but you’re kids will really love getting creative with their puppet story. Want to make it extra fun? Record the puppet show on your phone and have the kids watch it afterwards!
ACTIVITY #7: Hide-and-Seek
Who doesn’t love a good ole’ game of high-and-seek? This game is loads of fun if you have a handful of kids who are a bit stir-crazy. Be sure to outline the rules of the game (like where they are NOT allowed to hide) and break them up into teams if you have enough kids. Want to take it up a notch? Try playing hide-and-seek in the dark with flashlights. The older kids will love it!
ACTIVITY #8: Scavenger Hunt
Much like hide-and-seek, a scavenger hunt is a great indoor game that can take up a good chunk of time, and it doesn’t have to cost you any money! Google “scavenger hunt ideas for kids” to find some great options for the age range you’re looking for. This activity may take a little planning on your part but it’ll keep the kids occupied, and it will help develop their reasoning skills… win, win!
ACTIVITY #9: Write and Illustrate a Book
Writing and illustrating their own book is a great activity for those creative-minded kiddos. If your child likes reading or looking at books, give them the opportunity and encouragement to create their own! If they don’t know how to write, have them tell you their story so you can write it down, and then let them color the pictures for each story page. At the end of the night, have your child read their story to the family. Your child will definitely be proud of his or her creation!
ACTIVITY #10: Create your own game
For those creative and active kids (and moms), this activity will be a win! Have your child create his or her own game. It can be a card game, a board game, or a more active game/activity (like hopscotch). If you have a young kiddo, you may need to help come up with a game idea. I’ve done this very thing myself and it was SUPER easy. If you have those big foam alphabet puzzle pieces that take up your entire living room floor (you know what I’m talking about?), you can get creative with those quick. Here’s what I did. Put together all pieces of the puzzle on the living room floor and shove the coffee table out of the way. Here’s where the game comes in: have the children stand in a line. When you call out a letter of the alphabet, the first child in line needs to jump to that letter. Do the same thing with the second child and so on and so forth. You can always switch it up a bit by calling out the name of an animal, and the child will jump to the first letter of that animal. This is a great way for the kids to practice their letters, and, if you’re relaxed with the rules in your house, you’ll let the kids jump from the couch onto the letters. The kids will LOVE it!
Keep these indoor activities in your back pocket for that next rainy day when you find yourself wanting to pull out your hair!
