Some days, the rain just won’t let up. The kids are bouncing off the walls, the energy levels are high, and suddenly, your cozy home feels way too small. But over the years, I’ve learned that a little rain doesn’t have to mean a boring day stuck inside. In fact, it’s the perfect opportunity to make some of the best family memories!
We’ve tried and tested countless indoor activities, and today, I’m sharing our family’s go-to ways to beat the rainy-day blues. Whether you have toddlers, big kids, or even teenagers, these activities will keep everyone entertained and, most importantly, having fun together.
Table of Contents
1. Get Competitive with Board Games & Card Games
One of the easiest ways to turn a rainy day into a blast is by pulling out board games. Our boys are little still, so we focus on simple games but when the cousins come to play we have options for more strategic games for the older kids!
Some of our favorites:
- For little ones (ages 3-5): Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, or Memory.
- For the whole family: Uno, Guess Who?, Jenga, and Trouble.
- For older kids & adults: Monopoly, Catan, and Ticket to Ride.
To make it extra fun, we like to set up a “Family Game Tournament” where we keep score and offer silly prizes (like getting to pick the movie for the night or choosing what’s for dinner).
2. Crafting & DIY Fun
Crafts are a huge hit in our house! My boys love getting their hands messy and creating something from scratch. Some of our favorite DIY activities include:
- DIY Storybooks – The kids love making their own picture books. We staple paper together, and they draw the pictures while I help write their stories.
- Salt Dough Creations – A simple mix of flour, salt, and water creates a moldable dough that hardens when baked. Perfect for making handprint keepsakes or homemade ornaments.
- Paper Bag Puppets – We take old paper bags, markers, googly eyes, random craft supplies and glue to create fun characters, then put on a puppet show!
- Recycled Art Challenge – We grab items from the recycling bin and see who can make the coolest creation. It is so amazing what kids come up with!
Bonus Tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, set up a “craft station” with supplies and let the kids go wild with their own projects.
3. Indoor Scavenger Hunt
One of my personal favorites is an indoor scavenger hunt! It’s so easy to set up, and the kids get super excited about it.
Some fun scavenger hunt ideas:
- Classic Item Hunt – Create a list of random household objects (a red sock, a wooden spoon, a stuffed animal) and have the kids race to find them.
- Color Hunt – Ask the kids to find something for each color of the rainbow.
- Clue-Based Hunt – Write out clues that lead from one spot to the next, with a small prize at the end. This is great for the older kids as it can be more challenging!
We once did a scavenger hunt where the final clue led to a surprise movie night, complete with homemade popcorn and the air mattress in the living room. Huge hit!
4. Build an Epic Fort & Have a Movie Marathon
If there’s one thing my kids never get tired of, it’s building forts. We pull out all the blankets, couch cushions, chairs, and some of their fun pop up tents to create a cozy hideout. Sometimes, we even add fairy lights to make it extra magical.
Once the fort is ready, we settle in for a movie marathon with these essentials:
- Cozy pajamas and stuffed animals (stuffys)
- Homemade popcorn or a fun snack mix
- A movie theme (Disney classics, adventure films, or family comedies)
Pro tip: Let the kids “buy” their snacks with pretend money before the movie starts. They love this little role-playing game!
5. Get Moving with Indoor Obstacle Courses & Dance Parties
Just because we’re inside doesn’t mean we have to be still! We love setting up an indoor obstacle course using furniture, pillows, and toys. Some fun challenges include:
- Crawling under tables
- Jumping over pillows
- Balancing on a “beam” over an air mattress (see photo above!)
- Tossing bean bags into a laundry basket
If we’re short on space, a dance party is our go-to. We crank up some music (kid-friendly playlists or throwback hits) and have a full-on dance-off. Not only does it get energy out, but it’s also a guaranteed mood booster! We love setting the mood by turning on our disco ball, it adds the perfect touch of fun to the dance party!
6. Bake Something Delicious
Nothing beats the smell of something baking on a rainy day! The kids love helping in the kitchen, and we always find ways to let them be involved.
Some easy and fun baking ideas:
- Decorating cookies – I will make dough ahead of time and store it in the freezer or you can use store bought and let the kids go wild with sprinkles and frosting.
- Banana bread or mini muffins – A great way to use up overripe bananas and get the kids measuring and mixing. Even though it your kitchen will be messy, its worth the fun!
- Homemade pizza – Everyone gets to add their favorite toppings to their own mini pizza.
Of course, the best part is enjoying the treats together afterward!
7. Science Experiments & Sensory Play
For something a little more hands-on, we love doing simple science experiments or sensory activities. Some of our favorites:
- Baking soda & vinegar volcanoes – Classic and never gets old!
- Magic milk experiment – Add drops of food coloring to a plate of milk, then touch it with a soapy cotton swab to see the colors swirl.
- Cloud dough – Mix flour and baby oil for a soft, moldable dough that’s perfect for little hands.
- Ice melting fun – Freeze small toys in ice cubes and let the kids “rescue” them with warm water.
8. Read, Write, & Imagine
When we want a quieter activity, we turn to books and storytelling. We’ll snuggle up and read together, or we’ll make up silly stories. One of our favorite things to do is:
- Pass-the-story – One person starts a story, and everyone takes turns adding a sentence.
- Act out a favorite book – The kids love dressing up and reenacting their favorite stories.
- Moonlight story projector – This device is great for creating an interactive and engaging storytelling experience for the boys. The device simply clips onto a smartphone and projects images from story reels onto the wall or ceiling!
Rainy days used to feel like a challenge, but now we see them as an opportunity for creativity, connection, and fun. Whether we’re competing in board games, crafting up a storm, or snuggling up for a movie night, we always find ways to make the most of our time indoors.
So next time the rain starts to pour, don’t stress- embrace it! These simple activities have brought so much joy to our home, and I hope they bring the same to yours. What are your favorite rainy-day activities? Share in the comments!
Happy Playing!
With love,
Bri & Cat
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