12 Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Rainy days can feel daunting. Knowing your kids will be cooped up inside all day can send any parent into a tailspin. While it’s easy to turn on screens and call it a day, rainy weather can also be an opportunity for creativity, connection, and play.

Below are 12 rainy day activities for kids, from classic indoor games and crafts to ways to explore outside when the weather allows. Many use supplies you may already have at home, giving you a few options to help everyone make the most of a gloomy day.

Indoor Games and Activities for Rainy Days

Choose a game or activity that fits your child’s age and interests.

1. Board Games and Charades

For younger kids, pull out classics like Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and charades. Zingo is another preschool option that gives kids practice with matching.

For older kids, take out games that may be trickier or take a little longer. Games like Monopoly (targeting skills in numbers and money sense), chess, checkers, Guess Who (targeting skills in deduction and yes/no questions), Pictionary, and Blokus are great for slightly older kids.

Related: 30 Best Family Games for Kids and Parents

2. Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are often considered outdoor activities, but they are equally great indoor activities for kids. Make a list of items (something green, something you use to eat, etc.) for your child to find around the house. Or organize the hunt by room, such as kitchen items or playroom items. Create a visual scavenger hunt using pictures for younger children who are not yet reading.

3. Building a Fort

Grab blankets and pillows, clear a space in the living room, and task your children with building the ultimate fort. You’d be surprised by how long this activity can captivate kids. It also helps them develop skills in task planning, teamwork, and problem-solving.

4. Family Puzzle Time

Break out a large puzzle and delegate tasks to everyone. One person can find the edge pieces, one person can find the corner pieces, and so on. Work on coordinating everyone’s efforts to put together the puzzle.

5. Silly Family Fashion Show

Have everyone go into their rooms and assemble the silliest outfit they can find. Then, have everyone walk down the hallway as if it’s the runway. It’ll be so fun to see everyone strike their best pose. You can also play upbeat music and shine lights to make it more realistic. Creativity plus laughter is the best combination.

6. Cooking and Baking

Some of my favorite indoor activities for kids involve the kitchen. Have your kids help you pick out a recipe and give it a go. Sometimes, involving kids in cooking a new meal or recipe helps motivate even the pickiest eaters to try something new, as it gives them control and ownership over the situation. Plus, they see all the ingredients that went into it.

Indoor Craft Activities for Rainy Days

These indoor craft activities help kids stay creative while practicing fine motor skills and focus.

7. Sewing

Depending on your child’s age, you might want to teach them how to sew with your supervision. Have them make a pillow or special clothing for their favorite teddy bear. The point is not for the finished project to look recognizable, but for your child to engage in the action of stitching and sewing.

8. Recyclable Creations

Look through your recycling with your child and choose clean materials without sharp edges. You’d be surprised what kids can create with cardboard boxes, paper rolls, plastic milk jugs, and their imaginations! They could craft anything from animals to robots to cars.

9. Process Art

Set out age-appropriate supplies, such as paper scraps, crayons, glue sticks, and tape. Then, let your child engage in “process art.” This means creating art with a focus on engagement with materials and the process of creating rather than the finished product.

Outdoor Rainy Day Activities

On a mild rainy day, put on rain boots and coats and try one of these activities together. If you hear thunder, go indoors and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back outside.¹

Related: How to Play with Your Kids Outside on a Rainy Day

10. Explore the Rain With Your Senses

Discuss how the rain feels to your child’s senses. What does it smell like? What does it sound like when it hits the ground versus when it hits a car? Have them hold out a hand to feel the raindrops. Do they feel warm or cold?

11. Play With Puddles

Find shallow puddles away from roads and drains, then have a puddle-jumping competition and see who can make the biggest splash! Or bring a ruler outside and measure how deep different puddles are. Which one is the deepest? Why might that be?

12. Count Worms

Go for a walk and count how many worms you see. Worms tend to come to the surface or get uncovered when the ground gets wet. You’ll often see them on top of lawns, in puddles, or even floating down sidewalks. As you count each worm, talk about it. Is it a long one or a short one? Is it moving or staying still?

Rainy day activities for kids don’t have to be complicated. Pick an idea that fits your child’s interests and the supplies you have, and give it a try together.