Activities

Rainy day activities

Enjoy these creative, reader-approved activities to keep your kids busy on rainy days.

By Today's Parent staff

Rainy day activities

Rainy day activities

Rain, rain, go away!

If you’re feeling the symptoms of cabin fever setting in, try these reader-approved rainy day activities to keep your kids busy.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: maximkabb/iStockphoto

Pitch a tent

“My four-year-old loves to set up a tent in the basement and pretend that we’re camping. I make snacks and treats and, of course, hot chocolate with marshmallows. We sit inside the tent, read books and play games. It really turns a rainy day into an adventure.”
Iwona Frost, Oakville, Ont.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Marilyn Nieves/iStockphoto

Pull out the stored gifts

“We break out those overlooked craft and science kits that the kids got for Christmas.”
Jennifer Cox-McCaughey, Barrie, Ont.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Chris Fertnig/iStockphoto

Create a large canvas

“We cover the table with brown paper so the kids have a huge canvas to colour, play games and use playdough. If they make a mess, we just crumple the paper up and throw it away.”
Chantelle Rantucci, Leduc, Alta.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: gabyjalbert/iStockphoto

Mix it up

“We aim for a mix of energy-burning games like hide-and-seek and balloon pong, and quiet activities like baking or drawing. There’s usually a lot of dress-up and active imagination play, too.”
Jenn Richardson, Peterborough, Ont. 

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Jacqueline Hunkele/iStockphoto

Go fishing

“I bought a magnetic fishing set from the dollar store; we fill up the bathtub and fish!”
Andrea Linthorne Mugford, Makinsons, Nfld.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Olga Demchishina/iStockphoto

Splash!

“We pull out the umbrellas, raincoats and rubber boots, and go splash in the puddles. If there is thunder and lightning, we’ll watch the show and try to catch the strikes on my camera.”
Karla Montgrand, Turnor Lake, Sask.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Courtney Weittenhiller/iStockphoto

Have a free-for-all!

“It’s a free-for-all! We descend upon the playroom and every single toy makes it out of the bins. We make forts and tunnels, and pull out the crayons and painting supplies.”
Jen Ozga, Ottawa

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Gennadiy Poznyakov/iStockphoto

Find a play centre

“Ikea and Ontario Early Years Centres are big saviours.”
Amber Whatley Rohal, Burlington, Ont.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Gennadiy Poznyakov/iStockphoto

Have a toy car wash

“We take my sons’ toy cars and put them through the “car wash.” We fill a big plastic bin with soapy water and use a sponge to clean them. It keeps the kids entertained for a long time, and their toys get a wash.”
Candice Botelho, Toronto, Ont.

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: NI QIN/iStockphoto

Shoot hoops

“We’ve put a little basketball net in the basement so our toddler can shoot hoops indoors.”
Rachel Bentley, Cambridge, Ont.

Rainy day activities

Go with the flow

“The same thing we do every other day. We live in Vancouver; if we stayed in when it rained, we’d never get out!”
Lisa Rhonin, Vancouver

Rainy day activitiesPhoto: Maya Kruchancova/iStockphoto

More sanity savers!

Rainy day activities

This article was originally published on Sep 29, 2014
FILED UNDER:
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement