5 Kid-Friendly Activities For Rainy Indoor Days

Do any of you live in Seattle?? If Seattle is as rainy as I’ve heard, how do you do it? I really struggle on rainy days…I think I may have that Seasonal Affective Disorder. And I think all the kids have it, too, because on rainy, cold, icky days, we all seem to *lose it* more quickly!

I live in (mostly) sunny North Carolina, but over the past year we’ve sure had our share of rainy weather, and I recently heard our “winter weather preview” which included lots of…you guessed it…rainy days. I’m thinking we all better wrap our minds around some healthy indoor activities!

Today I’m sharing a few suggestions to try for indoor fun with kids. (Oh, and you’re welcome for not including “make a fort with blankets” on this list. Do anyone else’s children have an awful time getting their blankets to stay up??? And for the love, how many RANDOM TOYS can we fit underneath two afghans!? Too many is the answer.

Anyway.

5 Kid-Friendly Activities for Indoor Fun

• Exercise videos on YouTube. There are quite a few good ones, but our all-time favorite is this Star Wars Yoga video. It is HILARIOUS to watch my kids replicate the positions as the crazy lady with a British accent reenacts a Star Wars adventure. The kids love it. (You’re welcome for introducing you to this video.)
• Indoor sports. True confession: Each winter we lug our outdoor basketball court into the house. Yes, inTO the house. When desperate, we also play volleyball, soccer, and football in the house. Hint: don’t do this in rooms with mirrors on the walls. Ask me how I know.
• Homemade ball pit. I throw a few of these into the bathtub. Fun for days, I tell you.
• Make them go outside anyway. Unless it is a torrential downpour, it’s good to keep in mind that kids will not be harmed if they play in the rain. (Or cold, for that matter.) That’s what kid-sized rainboots and umbrellas are for! What we do is find the least-rainy part of the day, and head out with our gear. It’s actually fun to hunt for worms, make puddles, etc. I always try to send my kids out for even a little smidgen of the day, even for just a bit. Really lifts the spirits!
• A new creative toy. As I said in my recent round-up of Christmas gifts for creative kids, toys that require imagination and invention are THE BEST.

Recently I was given the chance to try Bunchems, which are colorful little balls that stick to each other and build like no other. (Clean up is a breeze because they stick to each other!) Kids connect, twist & create all sorts of real or imaginary creatures.

You sort of scrunch them together to connect, and then you can build onto them. My kids hadn’t ever played with anything like this before!

I liked all the “accessories” that come with the Bunchems kit – colorful eyes, feet, a beak, a horn, a king’s crown, etc. The package includes a little booklet with some ideas – not so much instructions, but some ideas to get the creativity flowing.

 

Sam liked the picture of a little bird in the book and made a replica. Kind of cute, don’t you think?

I’m a firm believer in giving kids all kinds of mediums with which to build and create. Oh, and sometimes, you have to MAKE them sit down with these types of toys. You can read all about my “Mandatory Play Time” in this post.

I think Bunchems would be a handy little addition to your Desperation Cabinet…you know, the place you hid the special toys that are sure to change the mood 🙂

What’s your go-to toy or activity for Indoor Days?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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