Rainy Day Activities: Sanity Saving Indoor Activities That Actually Work
It’s 9 AM, and you’re heading into the second week of the summer holidays... and you're already wondering how on earth you're going to survive until lunch, let alone the end of August. Once again, the rain is hammering against the windows like an angry toddler demanding attention while you're trying to have your morning bowel movement. The summer is looking like a washout, and you're standing there staring straight down the barrel of another 12 hours of house arrest. Then, in a moment of unexpected optimism... or foolishness, you decide to check the weather app. As you could have guessed, it shows absolute proof that there are more than fifty shades of grey, all scheduled for the next three days. Showers are guaranteed, downpours are expected, and thunder is going to be unavoidable.
Welcome to the special kind of hell that is British Summer Time.
You know what's in store. The whining. The fighting. The "I'm bored" chorus that starts halfway through breakfast. Turning to the tablet babysitter is looking more and more tempting, but you're already feeling guilty for how you failed in the first week.
No, you're determined to get through this. It's time to get creative and find a few new ways to keep their whiny traps shut just long enough to get you through to a socially acceptable time to start drinking.
Don't worry, we've got you covered with the ultimate failsafe collection of rainy day activities that will save your sanity and rescue your summer holiday... for a few moments at least.
The Rainy Day Trap: Why Being Indoors Feels Like Prison
I used to love rainy days. The darker the better. I loved the moody nature of the sky, and there was nothing better than sitting with a reading light on, book in hand, listening to the rain come down.
Then I had kids, and that small joy was stripped away from me.
Rainy days hit different when you're a parent because suddenly, you're stuck with your kids and nowhere else to turn. Outside, the kids can embrace their inner savage, run wild and burn off that endless energy that outlasts even the strongest of caffeine hits. Inside, that same energy festers, until the kids are bouncing around the house amped up on sugar and e-numbers, because fuck it, Haribo seemed like a valid breakfast idea earlier.
When it rains during the school holidays, it just hits differently. On these days, it's not just about the weather. It's about the loss of freedom and the crippling realisation that you are stuck. A fact that gets compounded by the nu
mber of days you've already lost to the weather. It's not just us adults who feel it either. The kids feel it too. It's not even their fault. They go from having space to explore to being stuck in the same four walls they are used to. The same walls they are stuck in during term time, and that SUCKS!
So now, you're faced with miserable children who have more energy than ever, and you're tasked with the pressure of at least offering them things to do. They've already played with every toy twice, left the Play-Doh out to get hard, and ruined the nibs on every colouring pen in the house.
This isn't what you signed up for. But there is a way out.
Take a few deep breaths. We've got you covered, and we will make it through this together. The following collection of rainy day activities is the perfect thing to keep up your sleeve for the days you really need them.
Easy Indoor Activities for Kids That Keep Them Occupied for More Than Five Minutes
Now, you're probably reading that heading thinking, "Great, I need to head to a craft shop and spend seven weeks' worth of food on specialised East Indian silk and thrice-digested firefly slime for these internet-branded 'simple' activities." Far from it. We leave that nonsense to the Pinterest-perfect crowd and their bubbles of delusion.
These indoor activities for kids are simple, easy to set up, and most importantly, won't cost you a thing! That's right. You've already got everything you need in your homes, right now. The great thing about these rainy day activities is that they are flexible and adaptable. Rather than instructions, I'm offering you suggestions and a framework for simple fun that you can tailor based on your tolerance levels, space, and general enthusiasm.
Turn Your Living Room into a DIY Treasure Hunt Adventure
Grab some random objects from around the home. You could even run with a theme if you fancy. Hide them, and have the kids hunt them down. You can make it age-appropriate by giving them a list so they know exactly what they are looking for.
Kids love checklists and play.
The real gem about this game is that it buys you at least twenty minutes of peace while they search, and another ten minutes away from them while they argue about who found what first and, of course, who won in this game of teambuilding and cooperation.
How to Build a Fort That Kids Design (and Actually Use)
Who doesn't love a good blanket fort? Let the kids grab every sheet, blanket, and cushion you own and let them at it. The only rule in this game is that they have to do it all themselves. They need to work together to build a fort that works. I have found that leaving them to their own devices not only extends their playtime, because they have to rebuild after every failed attempt, but also gets them talking and working together.
Just remember to make sure they build the fort in a bedroom or some such area. This way, you can sit back with your coffee while they construct their masterpiece. Yes, the house will look like a bombsite, but you get some all-important peace, and tidying up, well, that's a problem for future you.
Create a Chaos-Proof Indoor Obstacle Course for Active Play
If you're feeling really frivolous and the kids haven't been too irritating for a few days, you can set up an obstacle course for them to enjoy. The set-up time is minimal; use pillows to jump on, tape lines on the floor to balance along, and furniture to crawl under. Give them a stopwatch and see who is fastest. Make them do it backwards or blindfolded, with a partner offering instruction on where to go. The physical activity burns energy, while the blind runs keep their minds busy.
Mess Management: Rainy Day Activities That Won't Destroy Your House
It's important to remember that even when you've got enough motivation for keeping kids busy indoors, you're not running a craft camp. The last thing you need right now is a bunch of activities that will leave you with the level of cleanup that is usually reserved for crime scene specialists.
The following collection of screen-free activities for wet weather days won't leave you scraping glue out of your new rug at midnight.
Mess-Free Water Play Ideas That Don’t Soak the Floors
Kids love playing with water, yet hate going out in the rain... go figure. The good news is you can let them have fun with water and not get the house so wet that you start to pre-fill the household insurance claim for water damage.
So why not fill up the bathtub, grab some cups, measuring spoons, and a few drops of food colouring? Your miniature Machiavellis can then pour, measure, and mix to their hearts' content while the mess stays contained, meaning an easy cleanup for you later.
Turn Sock Sorting into a Rainy Day Game for Young Kids
OK, you're running on empty, the house looks like something Roald Dahl would write about, and all you want is the kids to shut the hell up and stay out of your hair long enough to finish the morning pee you've put off until mid-afternoon. Grab all of those odd socks you've been collecting and meant to pair up for the last six months.
Dump them on the floor and challenge the kids to match as many pairs as possible. The winner gets a Freddo next time you go to the shop - a prize that, if you play your cards right, they will forget about anyway.
Older kids can sort by colour or size. Little ones just need to find two that look similar. The kids are entertained and BOOM, you get to have a cuppa or wipe your arse in peace while housework still gets done. Magic!
Build a Cardboard Box City — No Crafting Skills Needed
If you're anything like us, you're on a first-name basis with your local delivery drivers. Shout out here to Trevor, hands down the best delivery driver ever. When your 'Buy Now' regrets arrive, don't throw away the boxes. Save them up and let your kids get their imagination fired up.
The kids can colour on the boxes, cut windows and doors, and create buildings, entire neighbourhoods, hell, after six weeks even an entire cardboard city. Then, when they're done, it all goes in the recycling. No storage or long-term commitment required.
Age-Mixed Solutions: Rainy Day Activities That Work When You Have Multiple Ages
If you thought parenting was tricky, just wait until the age gaps come into play. As I write this, we're trapped inside by heavy rain with six kids aged from 18 to 1. This is where parenting gets really interesting. Like playing Tetris with people's interests and feelings in the hope of keeping everybody happy, but accepting you're somehow going to piss them all off.
Your three-year-old can't do what your twelve-year-old wants to do, and your fifteen-year-old hates you all and wants to do nothing but wallow in the stench of their own angst. Unless you say goodbye to your spouse and any hope of maintaining a relationship for the next six weeks, you can't run separate entertainment programs all day, every day. Your rainy day survival depends on being able to find activities that work for everyone, or at least keep them in the same room without an unacceptable level of bloodshed.
Easy Cooking Projects That Keep Kids of All Ages Engaged
There is a job for everybody in the kitchen. Even the littlest family member can be an excellent sous chef. So why not get together and make a pizza? Who doesn't love pizza? The big ones can roll dough, the little ones get to sprinkle the cheese, and you get dinner made with minimal effort.
You could also do the same with muffins, cookies, or any other entry-level baking tasks. Measuring, mixing, and decorating are easy tasks that keep all ages busy. Will your kitchen be a mess? Probably, but just this once, it will be worth it. Trust us, these are the memories that last.
Collaborative Storytelling Games for Mixed-Age Siblings
I am a storyteller at heart, so this one carries a lot of impact. It's a simple rainy day activity that never fails to surprise. Simply start telling a story and have each child add a sentence or two in turn. Record it on your phone or write it down. The unbridled creativity of the little ones will add a level of silliness that could inspire Terry Gilliam, while the older ones can help develop the plot lines.
You never know which way things will turn, but it's never a disappointment. Plus, you have evidence of this rainy day survival activity for when they're adults, claiming you never did anything fun. I can also highly recommend Rory's Story Cubes for this activity. It's not a sponsorship, but I'd not say no. I'm just a fan and love the different ways you can work them into play.
Family Dance Parties That Burn Energy and Bridge Age Gaps
Who doesn't love putting on a good tune and dancing the day away without a care in the world? Once you add kids into the mix, you just amplify the fantastic power of dance and music. Young kids think you're a god with moves better than Jagger. Older kids groan because they don't understand references such as 'moves like Jagger', but embarrassing them with your skills still makes you a rock god! Next time it's raining and you need to keep the kids busy indoors, just crank up the music and let them go wild.
Little ones have a natural rhythm and can move to any beat, while older kids will complain and try to create their own clumsy choreography. You can either participate or judge harshly from the sidelines. A dance party is a win/win affair that burns energy, creates controllable chaos, and costs nothing.
Emergency Boredom Busters: Last-Resort Indoor Activities for Kids
Let's face it. Some days just go to shit from the second you wake up. You drop your contact lens in the toilet, stub your toe on the piece of furniture your wife forgot to tell you she moved, and stamp on three pieces of LEGO that had been strategically placed to help your toddler's cuddly toy find its way from the shoe cupboard to the bread bin. These are the sort of days when you know you need to pull out the big guns to get a break. These nuclear options should not be used lightly.
These are for when you've exhausted everything else and the kids are about to have a meltdown while you slowly slide into another breakdown. The following three ideas could just save your summer holiday, because remember, however bad it feels, you're too pretty for prison!
Bubble Wrap Stomping: The Ultimate No-Prep Energy Burner
I started this article by saying you wouldn't have to buy anything, so I'm sorry about this one. However, if you're anything like us, you've always got some bubble wrap lying around somewhere. Grab it, unroll it, and tape it to the floor. Boom, you're done. Grab that hot cup of coffee and let the kids get down like miniature Michael Flatleys. The popping sound is always satisfying, the jumping burns energy, and the cleanup is simply a matter of rolling it up and throwing it away.
Use Masking Tape to Create Indoor Roads for Cars and Imagination
If you have a toddler, particularly a boy, then you will have a car road playmat. However, you'll also know that they don't play with these things, because kids appreciate nothing and are often selfish bastards who don't understand how badly you want to drive that car around those nylon streets. But if you throw some tape on the floor and call it a road, your kids will be happy for hours.
Why not use different tape colours and make streets, car parks, junctions, and importantly, diversions, because what road system is complete without an unexpected diversion? All that's left is to drive toy cars, walk dolls along sidewalks, or just follow the paths like a maze. When you're done, the tape peels right up, making for a quick and easy clean.
Why Bathroom Picnics Are Weirdly Effective (and Fun)
Did we lose you on this one? Okay, maybe we're reaching, but it got your attention, so give us the benefit of the doubt. On the really tough days, something as simple as an out-of-the-box picnic idea is a game changer. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need. Lay out a blanket in the bathroom, bring snacks, and call it an adventure. It's different enough to feel special and contained enough to stay manageable.
Are you ready for the truth?
You don't need to use the bathroom. You could choose any location in the house and turn it into an adventure. Maybe make it a rainy day challenge to visit every room in the house before the end of summer.
FAQ: All Your Rainy Day Questions Answered
We’ve discussed some great options for keeping the kids entertained on wet weather days this summer, but we’re sure you’ve still got a lot of questions. So we’ve tried to answer a few of them below. If there’s anything else you’d like to hear our thoughts on, feel free to let us know in the comments.
How long do indoor activities keep kids busy?
Most successful indoor activities keep children occupied for 20-30 minutes. Treasure hunts and fort building can extend to 45 minutes when kids work together. The key is having backup activities ready.
What rainy day activities don't make a mess?
Kids are great at making a mess, but not every activity needs to be messy. There are plenty that can actually be used as a way to tidy the house. You’ve just got to get creative with how you set up the game.
Sock sorting games
Dance parties
Story creation
Bathroom picnics (contained spaces)
Masking tape roads (tape peels up easily)
What can I do with kids indoors with no money?
Use household items: empty boxes for cities, tape for roads, socks for sorting games, sheets for forts, and cups for water play. Most effective activities cost nothing.
How do you entertain kids of different ages together?
Focus on activities where everyone has a role: cooking (little ones sprinkle, big ones roll), story creation (everyone adds ideas), and dance parties (natural movement for all ages).
What are good emergency activities when kids are having meltdowns?
There are some days where it is an emergency and you need to break the glass and release these emergency rainy day activities that will work for kids of all ages … even your husband for those days when even he is pissing you off that little bit too much.
Bubble wrap stomping
Immediate dance party
Bathroom picnics
Water play in contained space
The Real Talk: Rainy Days End, Your Sanity Will Survive
This list of rainy day activities sounds great, doesn't it? I do have to break that bubble for just a second, because we don't deal in the perfect tense here. We deal with sobering reality and hard-earned support for our fellow parents. Most of these activities will involve drama, shouting, tears, and tantrums to some extent. Why? Because kids are uncontrollable savages. But we're parents, and we have to at least try, if only to ease our guilt as we try to get to sleep.
But you probably knew that already, right? That's normal. You try these things, but sometimes they fail, and you just plonk them down in front of another episode of Bluey and hope for the best. You're not failing because your kids didn't like what you had planned. You're succeeding because you cared enough to try. You're not a bad parent because you let them watch TV for the last hour before dinner. You're a good parent because you're willing to try something different.
Never forget that you're human, and rainy days are hard for everyone.
The point of this post, and this site, is not to create picture-perfect memories or win parent of the year awards; it is to help you get through to the end of a rainy day with a few laughs, having done enough to tire the kids out so they're in bed at a decent time. If you're really lucky, it will leave you with enough time to watch half an episode of Emmerdale before you crash out with a half-drunk gin and tonic on the windowsill.
Remember this. Every rainy day eventually ends. The sun will come out again, even if it doesn't feel like it at 2 PM when you're refereeing a fight over who gets to use the good scissors. Your kids will remember the fort you helped them build, not the moaning and complaining that accompanied it. Parents are unsung heroes, and you are the hero your kids need and deserve.
You've got this. Even when it doesn't feel like it. Even when the weather forecast shows rain for the rest of the week. Even when you're down to your last coffee pod and considering whether wine counts as a fruit serving.
