15 Fun Rainy Day Activities For Kids

When I think of the perfect rainy day, I  picture myself curled up in a blanket with a good book, or taking a long (much needed) nap. If you’re alone, I’d suggest those things. Maybe even throw in a bubble bath. But if you have kids, napping or reading or bathing might be difficult.  Luckily, there are many rainy day activities for kids to enjoy so you can keep them entertained and maybe even snag some time for yourself!  Here are some fun family rainy day ideas you are sure to enjoy.

15 Rainy Day Activities For Kids

Rain-themed activities can be a great choice for kids. By focusing on a rain theme, children are encouraged to appreciate and understand nature’s processes, even if they’re playing indoors. It fosters a respect for the environment and introduces them to the idea that nature can be interesting and exciting.

Rain Dance Party

Turn up your favorite tunes and clear the floor! I have countless memories of my sister and I strutting our stuff around the living room. If your kids like dancing, try it! You’ll probably get a kick out of your kids’ moves! It may be just be a new favorite for your indoor activities list. Play music and encourage kids to make up a “rain dance.” Pretend you’re splashing puddles and catching raindrops.

Book Or Movie Marathon

One of my favorite Rainy Day Activities Kids Will Love is a book or movie marathon. Pull out your favorite books or DVDs and your comfiest pillows and blankets.  I like picking a theme, genre, or trilogy! Rainy days are perfect for movies because the house stays relatively dark.

Indoor Treasure Hunt

Make a set of clues for your player(s) and make sure each clue leads to the next.  Place each clue inside of something, such as an envelope, and label each clue (i.e. 2/10) so that the kids can keep count of the clues.  Try giving each clue a clever rhyme for fun!  Whoever solves all of the clues and finds the treasure or prize—change, toys, maybe special privileges—is the winner!  The harder the clues, the longer the hunt!

Create Your Own Spa

My mom used to set up spa stations in her bathroom for nails, hair, and makeup.  My sister and I would spend hours acting as if we owned a salon!  Giving my mom the best of the worst hairstyles and multi-colored nails was normal.  And watching my sister try to win an imaginary award for the most braids in one head (the head being my head) was hysterical. If you have a girl, this is perfect!  Although we did teach my brother how to braid; it has come in handy over the years.

Indoor Camping

I think I can call myself a master in the art of fort building.  My siblings and I would move and stack furniture in only the most optimal arrangements for blanket placing. We would spend hours in those forts with flashlights reading, telling stories, snacking or pretending to camp.  Sometimes we would leave one end open and set up some movies.  Simply try throwing some blankets between chairs and tables with your kids!  You’d be surprised just how much fun it can be!

Bake

I loved making cookies, brownies, fudge, or anything sweet with my family.  And I blame rainy days for my massive sweet tooth.  We also liked making our own pizzas.   It was fun to try and toss the dough and top the pizza with obscure ingredients from the fridge!

Games

Board games, card games, word games, or any sort of game you can think of will pass time!  And games are a great way to bond as a family.  Games like Monopoly, Uno, Sorry, and Clue were popular in our household.

Arts And Crafts

I loved finger painting, coloring, making bracelets, necklaces, helping my brother build airplanes, etc. There are endless possibilities for indoor crafts! But if you’re looking to stay in the rainy spirit, try decorating umbrellas with paint or markers!  Nylon white umbrellas with plastic knobs work best.

Bath Time Fun

Getting into the watery spirit, let your little ones take a long bubble bath. Or maybe make some fun colored soaps to play with!

Play In The Rain

If the rain isn’t coming down too hard, put on your best rain boots and coats, and grab an umbrella.  I loved playing in the rain and jumping around in the largest puddles I could find!  It is getting cold though or if there is chance of lighting, do not try this.  If you liked this one, here are some more fun rain-themed activities for kids.

Rain in a Jar Experiment

• Materials: Glass jar, shaving cream, water, blue food coloring, dropper.
• Instructions: Fill a jar with water, top with shaving cream (this represents the clouds), and let kids drop blue food coloring onto the “clouds.” As it saturates, the blue “rain” will fall into the water, mimicking rain.
• Learning: Explains how rain falls when clouds get too heavy.

Rainy Day Obstacle Course

• Materials: Towels, pillows, chairs.
• Instructions: Create an indoor obstacle course where kids have to hop over “puddles” (pillows) and crawl under “rain clouds” (towels draped over chairs).
• Learning: Builds motor skills and imagination.

Make Rain Sticks

• Materials: Paper towel rolls, aluminum foil, rice, tape, markers, stickers.
• Instructions: Fill paper towel rolls with rice and crumpled aluminum foil, then seal both ends with tape. Let kids decorate the outside. The sound of the rice moving inside mimics the sound of falling rain.
• Learning: Teaches about the calming sounds of rain.

Create a Rainy Day Collage

• Materials: Construction paper, cotton balls, glue, blue paint, glitter.
• Instructions: Use cotton balls for clouds and blue paint or glitter for raindrops on paper. Kids can get creative with colors and textures.
• Learning: Helps develop fine motor skills and creativity.

Rainbow after the Rain

• Materials: Paper, watercolors or markers, cotton balls.
• Instructions: Draw a rainbow after a rainy day and use cotton balls for clouds. Discuss how rainbows form when sunlight passes through raindrops.
• Learning: Introduces basic science behind rainbows.

Weather-Themed Sensory Bin

• Materials: Blue water beads, small plastic animals, and tiny umbrellas or boats.
• Instructions: Create a sensory bin where kids can explore “rainy weather” using water beads as raindrops and placing toy animals or boats in the “water.”
• Learning: Encourages sensory exploration.

These activities mix fun with learning while tapping into kids’ curiosity about rain and weather.

Conclusion

Rain-themed activities introduce children to basic weather concepts like rain, clouds, and how the water cycle works. This fosters curiosity about the natural world and can spark interest in science. In addition, whether it’s creating rain-themed art or making up a rain dance, these activities encourage imaginative thinking. Kids can express themselves through drawing, crafting, or movement, all while staying engaged with a specific theme.

On actual rainy days when outdoor play is limited, rain-themed activities keep kids entertained indoors. It turns a potentially gloomy day into an opportunity for fun and creativity, providing a healthy distraction from boredom. I hope you find these Rainy Day Activities for kids useful. I encourage everyone to get creative when it rains!  What do you do on a rainy day?  Give us your thoughts on your favorite fun family activities for a rainy day!

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