May flowers may be brought on by April showers, but those same rains can also make for some arduous days with young children π.
The presence of rain need not equate to dreary days. Here are some amusing things to do with your kids on gloomy days.
Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers
Puddle jumping is fun on rainy days, but you’ll eventually need to go inside. Don’t freak out if you have a kid and a few hours to fill indoors. Simply whip out my preferred list of family-friendly activities π for rainy days.
Go Swimming
On rainy days, most parents want to stay dry. Why not take the opposite course of action and πββοΈ swim in the bathtub?
Put your toddler in a swimsuit, make it clear that no one’s hair will be cleaned, and permit some paddling in the tub.
Air balloons
For a rainy day, keep some balloons on hand. Blow up a balloon πand work with your child to hold it in the air as long as you can when your toddler begins to climb the walls to help them burn off some energy.
Make life simple for yourself and choose a Zuru Bundle O Balloon β¨οΈπ that is self-sealing and includes a little air pump if you wish to prepare in advance.
Build a fort
Toddlers enjoy forts in any weather. Build a fort with a blanket or the couch cushions removed. Crawl inside and read a text or eat something private.
Any sheet or mattress will do, but a huge blanket that is 10 feet by 10 feet produces incredible forts in a flash!
Refuse to recycle
To build a cardboard box as well as a bubble-wrap masterpiece, rummage through the recycling bin and take anything useful out.
Handy handprints
The hands and feet of toddlers grow so big in such a short time. Make some hand- and footprints π£ on your wet day at home. Plus, you can keep these for the next time your grandparents come to visit. Make the handprints into dinosaurs, birds, or trees to add extra interest.
Make tracks
Your child can create some tracks by driving their Hot Wheels via the “snow” by adding some wheat or rice to the pantry.
Shaving Cream Shenanigans
Get out the shaving cream for a cheap pastime that will keep your child occupied for a while. Shaving cream can be used to paint a sheet of parchment paper or the shower wall.
Several drops of food coloring might be added if you want to be bold.
Colander craters
On a rainy day, practice fine motor abilities while passing the time. A colander and anything else that’s on hand that will fit through the holes should be taken.
Children enjoy seeing spaghetti slip through. If your child is ready for a challenge, pipe cleaners are fantastic for winding in and out.
Beautiful Lava
Kids are constantly amazed by homemade volcanoes. Grab a cup π΅, add some baking soda, a few drops of dish soap, and some vinegar, and observe the magic happen!
Add some red β¦οΈ dye, if you possess some food coloring on hand, to your volcano to make it even more lifelike.
Pots and pans
This one isn’t for the weak of the heart, but toddlers always find a special kind of excitement in pounding π« on pots and pans. Start a marching band with some wooden forks and play it around the living room.
Launch a Raspberry attack
Sit calmly, then startle your infant by giving them back-to-back raspberries on their face, feet, and belly. There will be lots of laughs!
Have a dance party
You and your partner are capable of dancing and singing your hearts out while you grab some hair brushes and start the πΆ music.
To get your child ready for naptime, try this activity right before it starts.
Box building
Most likely, you might have a cardboard container lying around. A shoebox, an Amazon box, a refrigerator π¦ box, or anything else can be transformed into something amazing.
Create an immediate garage for your toddler’s toy vehicle collection by cutting off βοΈ a few flaps.
Resist painting
A resist painting is easy to do, but it requires some labor. With the exception of black, assist your child in scribbling on any sheet of paperπ with all the crayons in the box.
After that, totally cover your multicolored scribbles with the black β«οΈ π crayon.Β
Give your Toddler a bath
Your toddler’s dolls and action figures might not have ever been bathed. Put some dish soap and warm π§ water in a big Tupperware container or in the sink. Then, assist your young child in bathing their action figures or dolls π.
Your toddler may be entertained by this for a fairly long period, and when it’s over, their toys will shine!
Have a picnic
Although it may not seem like the best day for a picnic on a π§ rainy day, your kids will love the idea of setting out a blanket on the living room floor.
Hide and seek
A toddler’s favourite is hide and seek. Make a big production out of not being capable of finding them when it’s their chance to hide to increase amusement. Ensure that your hider can hear you.
Time to do the laundry
Your toddler should be placed inside the laundry basket π§Ί while wearing clothes. With your kid, pretend to stroll to the washing machine in order to do the laundry while you grab a large quantity of garments.
Toddler-on- the go
Your toddler doesn’t necessarily have less energy when it’s raining than when it’s sunny. While you block them, have them run down the corridor and return.
Then, ask them to go more quickly. To make sure you get a lovely, long π§ rainy day respite, try this activity right before naptime.
Crayon sorting
By placing each crayon in its proper cup, challenge your small friend to a race of color sorting. While organizing your crayon πcollection, this is an excellent chance to teach colors and matching.
Freeze Dancing
If you halt the sound and force the youngsters to freeze, an impromptu dance party might become even more absurd.
Encourage π your child to attempt standing on one leg or to stop mid-hop for even more silliness.
Scavenger Hunt
Together, hide among your toddler’s plush animals and search the entire house. Provide hints on the way.
To add a bit more interest, make it a hunt for bears or a search for a tiger that vanished from the zoo π.Β
Shadow tracing
Ask your children to trace the shadow of a dinosaur-like figure you’ve set up on a blank piece of paper. Setting up next to a window will make it simple to perform π if there’s any sunshine available.
Placing a torch immediately behind the toy will cast a shadow on a very gloomy and wet day.
Stupendous socks
You can play a surprising amount of toddler-friendly games with a pair of balled-up socks. They are secure to use for indoor catch games.
Alternatively, use these to play basketball π using a laundry basket or plastic container as a hoop.
How high can you go?
Gather all of your building blocks, Magna-Tiles, and other stackable objects. Begin constructing a tower.
Afterward, get a chair for your child to stand on and continue walking. Build a tower that is as high as you can, aiming to reach the ceiling.
Rainy Day activities for preschoolers
Many of us have had to spend our days inside due to the recent dark and wet weather. Rainy weather π§ may render it challenging to engage young children, who require numerous opportunities throughout the day to exercise their bodies and let out their wiggles.
You’ll find some simple indoor entertaining learning exercises π€Όββ π―ββοΈ for preschoolers in this article.
Write a book
Request a narrative from your little child. Ask your narrator to depict their work after you have written no more than a couple of phrases on each page.
Once you’re finished, bind the book by stapling the pages together and display it with pride on your bookshelves.
Reading marathon
Does your child regularly want one more book? The ideal time to accept all the books is on a rainy day spent indoors.
Gather all of your favorite books π and spend as much time as necessary curled up on the couch reading them.
Make your own playdough
On a rainy day, playing with playdough can be a tonne of fun and educational. Playdough π§Ώ is a flexible activity that encourages imagination and creativity while giving kids a chance to exercise and develop the little muscles necessary for writing.Β
Key fact
As you measure the components together and contrast the textures of the ingredients, making handmade βοΈ playdough with kids is a great opportunity to impart science and math principles.
Get out the cardboard boxes and create
Open-ended activities that inspire kids to use their imagination and creativity are ideal for rainy days. Encourage kidsπ¦ to use their imaginations by locating a few cardboard 𧩠containers that they are not using anymore.
Boxes can be transformed into a variety of objects, including houses, trains, ramps for model vehicles, robots, tunnels, and even airplanes! The box designs will be fun for kids to color and decorate.
Practice yoga
Yoga is a fantastic indoor exercise π option when it’s raining outside. Children who practice yoga can also learn about the advantages of stretching and self-care.
Books and videos with simple, kid-friendly yoga positions and fundamental yoga poses are fantastic places to start if you’re interested in bringing yogaπ§ββοΈ into your classroom.
Play Follow the leader
It’s simple to play follow-the-leader wherever and anytime! There is no need for setup or materials. Just stand before the kids and see how they mimic your gestures. Bouncing around, touching the tips of their feet, and reaching up high will entice them to stretch their body.Β
Key fact
Children can use this activity to develop their major muscle πͺ strength and work on critical cognitive abilities, including imitating, taking turns, and following directions.Β
Have a parade
A fun indoor marching parade is a great way to get kids moving together on a wet day!
Encourage kids to dress up for the parade if you have dress-up π attire available in your school. You can use real toy equipment or everyday items that can be transformed into pretend instruments as instruments.
Get creative with a themed art project
Try a rainy-day art activity that kids can collaborate on if you’re searching for a unique π₯ approach to keep tiny ones occupied.
Move like an animal
Invite kids to move around like an animal to get them active! By integrating numerous animal and animal π actions, you can make this into a game. For instance, instruct them to gallop like a pony, swim like a penguin, and more.
Try indoor Hopscotch
We typically reserve the game of hopscotch for outside, but it may be just as much fun indoors!
Hopscotch is not only a fantastic exercise game, but it also allows kids a chance to practice π counting along with number identification by numbering the squares.
Rainy Day Activities for Kindergartens
Children may spend a long time being bored on rainy days, while adults may become stressed.
Keeping kids active is the secret to keeping them happy! You may find a variety of items useful, including indoor games, painting supplies, science activities, and kid-friendly experiments.
On rainy days, engaging children in enjoyable activities is a terrific way to travel the time. This short selection of activities is ideal for elementary school students.
Directed drawing
In an educational setting full of restless children on a wet day, directed sketching is always a good way to spend time.
Give kids a piece of π paper and instruct them to follow it as they make a cute drawing on their own. After that, they are able to paint or color it.
Play dress up
When you dress up as your preferred superhero, queen, or other figure or occupation, your imagination can run wild.
Students enjoy π dressing up and using accessories that help them feel immersed in the character they are playing.
Independent I Spy Sheets
An excellent method to practise word blending and vocabulary matching is with this ‘I Spy’ printable.
As they locate the objects and compare them to the printed word, they can color them. This enjoyable indoor activity can be printed π₯ out with just a piece of paper.
Balloon Hockey
Rainy days are not reasons for having enjoyable game days, either! All you have to do is bring sporting events indoors and give them a little twist!
This is a safe and entertaining method to play hockey π inside the home. To keep it secure and suitable for indoor use, use balloonsπ!
Balloon Tennis
Tennis is another outdoor activity that can be played indoors. wooden forks and paper plates can be used by students to manufacture improvised tennis πΎ racquets.
Game days may continue to take place indoors by substituting a balloonπ for a ball.
Hide and Seek
Play a game of hiding and seeking, or look for concealed items to pass the time. Allow students to participate π in a traditional kid’s game or hide something, then give your pupils hints to locate it.
As they search for the hidden things, you may direct them by indicating whether they’re “hot” or “cold” as they go.
Make your movie Theater
It’s a lot of fun to create your own home theatre or family movie night! Choose a favoriteπ movie, make some fresh popcorn, and cuddle up for a romantic evening. On a pajama day, your school might use this as well.
LEGO building contest
Inspiring friendly rivalry in the classroom or the family home is always a breeze with a fun building competition.
Before beginning to build and complete the model π layout, have students discuss and choose a design.
Play Dough Marble Maze
On a rainy day, making a marble run is a good way to pass the time. To discover how quickly they can navigate the confusion, let students design π their own marble maze.
Timed laps to see whoever can get through the course the quickest will boost the ante.
Make Slime
Set aside some time for sensory experiences and let kids make their own π slime. The few components needed to prepare this are quite simple.
Allow pupils to customize their design by adding color or even sparkle. This is something that students may utilize whenever they want and carry β¨οΈ with them.
Pretended nail salon
Greater children frequently disregard dramatic play. Some of the older pupils would like to give each traced hand a distinct color of nail polish. These activities will be a lot of joy for your classmates.
Cotton ball painting
Cotton ball painting entails shaping cotton balls into various shapes and objects, such as flowers π or animals, then sticking them to a cardboard surface.
The cotton balls can then be painted by the pupils, truly bringing the painting to life. This is fantastic for enhancing motor π abilities.
Create a map of your country
Encourage children to discuss the town or city where they reside. List locations and discuss β¨οΈ how items are situated in relation to one another.
Display location maps and explain how a map has a key. Assist them in creating their map key and offer them guidance π as they develop their own maps.
Craft stick Harmonicas
A fun way to pass a rainy day is by creating some craft stick harmonicas. Making music in your school is enjoyable with this craft that has been made into an actor! Students are also free to customize the decorations and layout.
Cardboard Rainbow Collage
On rainy days, rainbow projects are ideal. These collages of rainbow colors are ideal for keeping younger children π¦ or even mature learners occupied. To create a stunning rainbow, use a range of hues of each color.
Fireworks Painting craft
This entertaining and yet simple hobby of painting fireworks π is another fantastic recycling project.
Cut the paper napkin rolls in half, paint them, and then reposition them on the paper. Colors can be layered π on top of one another to produce stunning effects.
Paper plate snail craft
Snails made from paper plates will greatly showcase pupils’ inventiveness. To add design to their snail shells, students can make patterns π― or just build a continuous line of their favorite beads.
Students will enjoy this one because it is excellent fine motor practice.
Bluebird paper plate craft
This tiny bird is a terrific craft during one of the many wet days that spring brings! You can make this tiny bluebird π₯ out of paper dishes, tissue paper, foam, and googly eyes. It is very simple and enjoyable, and it looks adorable!
Glowing rainbow
Rainbows can appear on rainy days. On a rainy day, kids should try this simple experiment inside or at school.
A paper towel, a few indicators, and water are needed for this straightforward task. Students will be astounded to see their rainbows develop!
Salt Painting
The enjoyable, multi-step technique of salt painting π will exercise fine motor abilities and creativity.
With this activity, students can create colorful artwork. On wet days, teachers might utilize this to add a bit of art to a topic or lesson.
Singing competition
By organizing a talent show, you may control the pandemonium πΆ in the family or the classroom. Let each person choose which talents they want to highlight.
Each student may feel appreciated and unique by showing their unique skills, whether it be singing a song, doing a magic trick, or π dancing.
Try a new science experiment
Kids’ experiments are a great approach to get youngsters to think, observe, and predict. They can make a list of interesting science experiments to undertake on π§ rainy days or even throughout your indoor break by having a brainstorming session about the subjects they want to find out more about in science. Make a list of the supplies you will require for those experiments next.
Origami frogs
Because the finished product is so much joy to share, origami is entertaining on rainy days. By the time students are done with this task, the students should be pleased with the final product.
Origami is a favorite among parents and teachers because all you need is a piece of paper and a few instructions.
Paper plate ring toss
A quick, easy, and enjoyable paper plate ring throw can be made. Give the pupils some paint to add a little color, and let them like to play this game!
If it’s raining π₯ but the students desire to play during playtime, this is the ideal indoor activity.
Bottletop leaf boats
On a rainy day, try this entertaining outdoor activity. Students can make their individual bottle-top leafy boats π’ to float in puddles after it has rained.
They are able to play with various bottle top sizes and create their own miniature floating boats π’.Β
Monster truck painting
Both boys and girls will adore this special painting opportunity. Monster trucks can be used to quickly and coolly move through the paint to produce a work of art. Students will appreciate the playfulness π of this piece of art!
Conclusion
All these activities are full of fun π and enjoyable methods to spend some time with your kids π. This will also help you get free from your boredom and laziness during rainy π§ day.
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Β Next startupΒ Cledemy.Com)