Rainy Day Indoor Play: 10 Activities to Keep the Kids Entertained at Home

Rain, rain, go away…

What happens when our beloved 852 decides to serve up sudden downpours, relentless rainstorms and booming typhoons? If you’re looking for indoor solutions that don’t require singing “rain, rain, go away” for the hundredth time and turning on the telly, we’ve got an idea or two (or, well… ten) to get you started. These fabulous (and for the most part, free!) ideas are sure to keep your kiddos entertained when it’s pouring outside and you’re cooped up indoors.

Flats are small and space is limited and yet that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun to be had in your very own home. You may not have the room to pitch a tent but creating a fort from sheets and blankets can turn the living room into a magical world where suddenly even watching a movie becomes more fun. Play board games, tell spooky stories and even sleep in your tent.

Make use of communal spaces and release some energy by bringing outdoor games in. Hopskotch is a great option as it’s contained to a specific space but also allows children to hop, jump and get active. Use painter’s tape or masking tape is perfect for creating a grid for the fun. Get hoppin’!

Hiding objects can keep children entertained for hours. As they get nearer to them tell them whether they are hot or cold. This game can be done in any room with any object. You can also mix the game up by challenging children to be the fastest to bring you “a blue top” or “a shoe” etc. The best part? You don’t have to leave the comfort of your sofa for this!

Place a range of objects on a tray and look at them for a couple of minutes. Cover them up and then challenge children to remember as many as possible. Change this up by removing one and seeing if they can spot whats mixing. This game can be modified for older and younger children by adding more or less items.

Balloons are perfect to be used indoors as they won’t damage or break any of your precious valuables. How long can you keep one off the ground? Bat it back and forth across a corridor (you can even put a string up in the middle). 

Chocolate tastes all the better when you’ve worked for it. For this game each person has a plate of M&M’s, a bowl and a straw. Set a timer for 30 seconds and get everyone to use the straw to suck the M&M’s into the bowl as quickly as possible. When the time is up, you can have your little ones count (teaching moment!) their M&M’s and eat them as a prize. Everyone’s a winner here!

Fill a bowl with flour and turn it upside down to create a mound. Place a malteser at the top of the mound. Each person takes turns to chop off a side of the flour with a knife. But be careful, don’t let the malteser fall from the top! As you get closer and closer to the malteser, it gets trickier. If the malteser falls, then the loser has to pick the malteser out of the flour… but with their teeth. Make sure to have a camera ready!

This one’s easy mamas, fill the bath with shaving foam and just go wild. Or if you want to keep the play contained, use a take out box and add a few drops of food colouring to the shaving foam and mix!

There’s nothing better than homemade play dough. Children will enjoy making this just as much as they enjoy playing with it. And once it’s made it can lead to hours of fun. Follow the recipe below and keep the made dough in a air tight container to prevent drying out.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of flour
• ¼ cup of salt
• ½ cup of water
• 3 to 5 drops of natural food coloring

Instructions:

1. Mix together the flour and the salt.
2. Mix together ½ cup of warm water with a few drops of food coloring.
3. Slowly pour the water into the flour mixture, stirring as you pour. Stir until combined, then knead with your hands until the flour is completely absorbed. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour until it doesn’t stick at all.

Waterproof coats and wellington boots are all that are needed to have a great time splashing in puddles in the rain. Dance it out, sing it out and enjoy the water. Sometimes it’s fun just to get wet.