Creative Rainy Day Activities to Keep Your Kids Away From the TV
When your kids are cooped up on a rainy day, it can be hard to keep them entertained. Plopping them in front of the TV all day is a quick fix, but it’s not going to be good for their brains. We’ve put together a list of the best rainy day activities, indoor and outdoor, to keep your kids learning and away from the TV.
1: Weather- Themed Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Being cooped up on a rainy day can result in idle hands making trouble all over your house. To keep them busy, try an indoor scavenger hunt. Scavenger huntshelp your kids practice problem solving skills in a fun and engaging way. The best part is that they’re totally customizable, so you can create a science-themed one for a rainy afternoon stuck in the house.
During your rainy scavenger hunt, hide clues with weather facts on them. This will incorporate the rainy day AND science into fun and games! For example, you can make them a hunt that also involves the rain outside. If there’s a storm, seeing a lightning bolt can be one of the items they need to find, or perhaps a worm on the driveway.
- Build a house for an abominable snowman
- Create a cafe for gnomes
- Make something that feels like winter
- Build something that smells pink
4: Make Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are a tactile hands-on-learning tool that will keep your kids engaged on a rainy day. Not only are they fun to play with, you can make an activity out of creating the sensory bins. DIY sensory bins will stimulate multiple senses at the same time, and they’re fun to play with!
Making sensory bins is fun and easy. You can even tailor them specifically to your kids needs when it comes to stimulation. For a rainy day, make weather themed sensory bins. Here’s what you’ll need:
Containers
The first thing you’ll need to do is decide on your containers. One of the best things about making your own sensory bins is that you can let your kids pick what they like! You can use food storage bins, quart containers, or even plastic bags will work.
Choose Your Fillers
Now onto the fun stuff. When you’re choosing fillers, it’s important to consider your kid’s age and learning style. We like rice, beads, buttons, and salt. You can mix and match your fillers to make exciting sensory textures within the bins and find what you like. If you’re planning a rainy day theme, try dying pasta blue or using other items that reflect the weather.
Use Tools
The whole point of the sensory bin is to play with what’s inside, right? Make sure you have plenty of rolls on hand such as spoons, jars, funnels or measuring cups.
5: Make a Rain Gauge
Don’t ignore the rain on a rainy day! This easy activity gets your kids interested in what’s going on with the weather and the science behind it. Making a rain gauge together is a great way to learn about the weather while stuck inside. To get started, you’ll need:
- Glass jar
- Pebbles or Stones
- Ruler
- Waterproof Marker
After you’ve gathered the supplies, it’s time to make your rain gauge. Have the kids put it together so they’re invested in the process. All you need to do is put the stones in the bottom of the jar and cover them with water.
Place the jar in an open area while it’s raining. After it rains, measure the level of rainwater with the marker. Keep the jar for all rainy days and create a chart so you can have an ongoing experience that your kids will have fun keeping track of!
6: Painting With Watercolors on the Sidewalk
This is another one that takes you out into the rain, but trust us, it’ll be worth it! If your kids like puddle jumping and spending time in the drizzle, it’s time to get the creative juices flowing and make sidewalk art.
Grab some sidewalk chalk and paint brushes. Draw on the sidewalk as you normally would, but then paint over it with the paint brush. It’s going to look like watercolor paint! If it’s not raining too hard, you can use a bucket of water over the chalk to get a better effect.
This is a good opportunity for your kids to explore their creativity in a unique way. Let them take their time doing different strokes and seeing what they can come up with!
