Rainy days can be really tough for moms and dads alike, because they tend to dampen our kids’ moods and limit their options as far as playtime goes. But there are plenty of boredom-busting activities that you can do inside! So the next time it’s rainy, try one of these 5 fun indoor activities.
Create a Calming Sensory Bin
Did you know lavender oil can have a calming effect on children? On rainy days, kids may have a difficult time getting their energy out, particularly if they live in an apartment, so a calming lavender rice bin may be just the thing your child needs to tame their hyperactive selves.
To make a soothing sensory bin, fill a plastic tote or 9×13 baking pan with rice, add a few drops of lavender essential oil, and mix thoroughly. Then add a few toys such as measuring spoons, small cups, or little plastic animals for your child to use to play with the rice. Children of all ages will enjoy feeling the rice run through their fingers, listening to the sound it makes, and smelling the calming lavender oil.
The possibilities are endless too, as to how your child can “play pretend” with the rice. For example, they can pretend they have a restaurant and make fancy dishes with it or pretend it’s snow and run cars through it. Once you’ve created the bin for your child, step back and let them take the lead on how they want to play with it.
Build a Marble Run
Another fun indoor activity you can do when it’s raining outside is a marble run. Building a marble run doesn’t use a lot of supplies (some carboard tubing, heavy duty tape, and a marble will work just fine) and you can make it as simple or elaborate as you want. Check out some of these cool marble runs for inspiration:
Do a Food Guessing Challenge
All you need for this game is some blindfolds and food! Having a food guessing challenge is a great game for a rainy day lunchtime. You can put yourself in the “hot seat” and have your kids feed you different foods (which you have to guess while blindfolded) or you can take turns blindfolding each other and making one another guess foods. Get creative and have fun, perhaps even combining foods that don’t usually go together such as chocolate spread on a piece of bacon or applesauce on toast.
Play “Keepy Uppy”
This game may have been coined “Keepy Uppy” by the TV show Bluey, but every adult no doubt remembers playing this game as a kid. You blow up a balloon and take turns hitting it, working together to try to keep it from touching the ground. Every parent knows one of the worst repercussions of rainy days is the lack of exercise, which can sometimes cause our kids to be hyper or bored. “Keepy Uppy” is a great way to help your kids get their energy out!
Make Homemade Playdough
Making playdough is a “two-for-the-price-of-one” activity because you get to make the play dough together and then your kids can play with it. Homemade playdough is easy, great for all ages, and perfect for a rainy day. If you don’t have the ingredients to make your own playdough, though, just grab some at a dollar store. Your kids won’t care whether it’s homemade or not.