Fun Rainy Day Activity Ideas for Parents and Kids

August 09, 2021 4 min read

Parents reading with their child on the living room floor.
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12 Ways to Have Fun With Your Kids When the Weather is Bad 

A rainstorm might have ruined your outdoor plans, but it doesn’t have to ruin your whole day. You and your kids can make the most of a rainy day with a bit of creativity, the right gear, and a positive attitude.  

Whether it's good old-fashioned arts and crafts or a movie marathon, there are endless ways to have fun without stepping foot outside your door.

That being said, this article will include a list of activities and ways to spend a rainy day indoors without sacrificing on fun.

READ MORE: INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR OUTDOORSY CHILDREN

The Ultimate List of Rainy Day Activities

Create a Rainy Day Box 

A rainy day box is a box filled with fun goodies that you can put together and have ready to go when thunder starts rolling in. You can also get your kids involved by allowing everyone to contribute their favourite items and even decorate the box.

Here are some ideas for items to fill your box with:

  • Crayons and/or markers

  • Construction paper

  • Colouring books

  • Paint supplies

  • Craft supplies

  • Baking & decorating supplies

  • Toys

  • Movies

  • Books

  • Board games

Hang in an Indoor Hammock 

It's no secret that kids LOVE hammocks. So when the weather is crummy and they can't enjoy a hammock outdoors, why not bring one inside for extra fun and relaxation? Let your kids take turns or snuggle up in the hammock together, and let them bring an item from the rainy day box.

Check Out Our Full Selection Of Hammocks And Hammock Accessories
READ MORE: EIGHT REASONS YOU SHOULD GET AN INDOOR HAMMOCK FOR YOUR HOME 

Indoor Camping

Set up a tent (a camping hammock can also work!), get a hot plate for roasting marshmallows, and dim the lights and tell "campfire stories" in the living room or basement. Bonus points for spending the night in your indoor "campsite."

READ MORE: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HAMMOCK CAMPING

Play a Board Game 

With so much focus on technology, kids these days often do not get to experience the fun of classic board games. So, when the rain starts to pour, bust out your favourite classics like Clue, Monopoly, or Scrabble, and teach your kids how to have fun the old fashioned way.

Not only will your kids learn something new, but you'll get to take a fun trip down memory lane and share your own childhood experiences with your kids.

Watch a Movie

Movie marathons were pretty much designed for rainy days! If you and your kids are tired of the same old Disney movies, put on some of your favourite older flicks from your childhood – no reboots allowed!

Learn About Weather

Turn a boring rainy day into a fun science lesson by teaching your kids about weather patterns and get them to try out some fun science experiments.

Make Something With Clay

Whether it's as simple as play dough or a more complex piece of art, playing with clay is a fun way to get your hands dirty without going outside. The best part is you get a sweet momento to show for it.

Cook or Bake Something

Teaching your kids how to navigate the kitchen at a young age is a great way to get them engaged in cooking and enjoy the food that they eat. A rainy day is the perfect time to teach them some simple recipes. Try to make the recipes more kids friendly, though. For example, bake cookies in fun shapes and let the kids decorate them.

Build a Fort

Is it really a rainy day without building a pillow fort? Get creative and have your kids brainstorm ideas for building the perfect fort. Use furniture, pillows, blankets, and more.

READ MORE: OUR TOP STAYCATION ESSENTIALS

Create an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

This is a great way to help keep your kids mentally stimulated while still having fun. Create a list of items and hide them in different parts of the house. Give your kids the list and have them set out to find every one. This is a great way to keep the kids busy while you get to relax for a bit. 

Storytime 

Kiddos getting tired after a long day of activities? Slow things down a bit and let them pick out their favourite books for a sit down story time. If your children have good reading comprehension, you can let them read quietly to themselves why you do a bit of clean up.

READ MORE: THE 20 BEST BOOKS OF 2020 TO READ IN 2021 (For Parents!)

Take a Nap

After a fun-filled day of indoor activities, your kiddos (plus mom and dad) are bound to be a bit tired. So, what better way to wind down than with a nap in your cozy indoor hammock? 

As you can see, there's no shortage of ways to have fun with your kids during bad weather. All you need is a bit of creativity (and a cozy hammock), and you won't even notice that the weather is crummy.

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