1) Bake something - Add a little fun by making your own chef hats (which you can find here)... and if you are looking for something delicious to make, check out our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here.
2) Have a bath with bubbles and/or glow sticks - This is a simple idea... but it is lots of fun.
3) Have a pirate adventure - Who doesn't love dressing up as a pirate? And, if you are looking for some inspiration, you can find some easy and inexpensive ideas for pirate play here and here.
4) Make a "life-size" self portrait - This is a simple activity that is sure to delight your little one. All you need is a roll of paper and some crayons. You can find the full tutorial here.
5) Have an indoor concert or dance party - Isn't singing and dancing a great way to spend an afternoon... and burn off some energy. If you are looking for some great music for kids, you can read about some of our favorites here.
6) Make some homemade finger paint - It is fun, it is messy, and you can find the super-easy recipe here.
7) Have an indoor picnic - Nothing makes lunch more fun than eating it on a blanket in the living room. You could add some extra fun by inviting some "stuffies" and having a Teddy Bear Picnic. (You can find some ideas for hosting a teddy bear picnic here.)
8) Have an "afternoon matinee" - Put on some PJs, pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch, and watch your favorite family movie.
9) Set up your own cafe for lunch - Make your own placemats and menus, and turn your kitchen into your own personal restaurant. You can check out how we did it here.
10) Play games - Get out your favorite board games, or make your own matching game using the easy tutorial you can find here.
11) Play dress up - Use costumes you have, or use your imagination to make your own.
12) Build with marshmallows - All you need are: marshmallows, toothpicks, and a little imagination. The kids use the toothpicks to connect the marshmallows and "build" things. Fun and simple!
13) Have a puppet show - For the puppet theatre, use a spring loaded curtain rod and an old sheet in a doorway. The sheet works well because it already has an opening for a rod - no sewing required. (You could also use a cardboard box for a theatre.) For puppets, print pictures off the internet onto cardstock, color them, cut them out, and attach popsicle sticks to the back.
14) Make a personalized clipboard - Little ones will love having their own personalized clipboards. (They are great for scavenger hunts and road trips too.) You can find the full tutorial here.
15) Build stuff out of boxes - Use your imagination, or use one of the 5 fun ideas you can find here.
16) Make homemade playdough - I use an easy "no cook" recipe that uses Kool Aid. It makes great colors, and the playdough smells yummy! (You can find the recipe here.)
17) Go "Indoor Camping" - We have an indoor tent in our playroom, but a fort made from chairs and blankets is always a lot of fun. Make a fire out of construction paper, and "roast" marshmallows.
18) Go "Fishing" - A fish book, a fish craft, and a fish snack are all you need for a fun-filled, indoor fishing adventure. You can read all about our Dr. Suess inspired "fishing fun" here.
19) Write a Story - Coming up with a fun story is even more fun when you write it in a handmade book. You can find a step-by-step tutorial for a DIY Cereal Box Notebook here.
20) Read a favorite book and make a matching craft - I love reading and crafting with the kids on a rainy day. You can find an example of a fun story/craft combination here.
I hope you found some rainy day inspiration on this list... and if not, maybe you can just put on a rain coat and rainboots, and head outside to splash in some puddles. :-)
What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
