8 Screen-Free Rainy Day Activities to Keep Kids Busy and Engaged Indoors

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When the weather won’t cooperate and the kids are bouncing off the walls, what’s a frustrated mom to do? We all know the importance of our kids getting outdoors and being active. There’s no dispute there. But, sometimes that’s tricky…particularly on days when it’s raining. What do you do then? How about trying some of these screen-free rainy day activities?

To be honest, these ideas can be used any time the kiddos can’t go outside to play. If you live in the South where summers are long and hot, here are some indoor things your kids can do until the temperatures outside are bearable again! If you live in the North where winters are long and cold, these ideas are for you! Got a kid who’s not feeling well and needs something quiet to do indoors? Give these ideas a try.

If you have a go-to list of activities on hand to keep your kids busy and engaged when they can’t get outside to play, rainy days (and other days you need to spend indoors) will be happier for everyone! Of course, it’s good for kids to be bored sometimes so that they can learn to entertain themselves. However, when that isn’t working and everyone needs a reset, here are some ideas for you to have on hand. 

Free Rainy Day Activities to Keep Kids Busy and Engaged Indoors

1. Listen to an audiobook or podcast.

Technology is a beautiful thing, amirite? Podcasts and audiobooks can be accessed for free with a few quick taps on any smart device. They can be found through your local library via the Libby app, on Audible’s free streaming story service, or on your go-to podcatcher.

The best thing about podcasts and audiobooks? There’s something for everyone — every age and every interest. (If you have kids who are interested in science, technology, and math, try some of these STEAM podcasts for curious kids!)

Also, audio goes well paired with a quiet activity that keeps little hands busy…puzzles, coloring books, blocks, and Legos all work well for this purpose. Or, how about some Shrinky Dinks and perler beads? (Do you remember those?!) 

2. Break out a new puzzle or board game.

This is an activity the whole family can enjoy together. 

Pick up a few jigsaw puzzles and keep them on hand for days when you’re stuck indoors. These also pair well with audio, as suggested above (particularly an exciting chapter book).

Or bring out a favorite board game and play it together. There are even some fabulous nature games you can play if you want to add some nature study to your board games.

So light the fireplace (if it’s cold outside), whip up some yummy snacks, and gather the family ‘round the kitchen table. Spend the afternoon listening to the sound of the rain tap, tap, tapping on the roof while putting together your new jigsaw puzzle or playing your game. (Or, of course, listen to your audiobook together!) 

3. Build a fort and snuggle up with a good book.

Kids love to build forts. And why not? It gives them a special space they can design all on their own. Let them use kitchen chairs, couch cushions, extra blankets and sheets…whatever you can spare for the day. Then, let them prepare a few fun snacks and pick out a good book to take into their own cozy corner. This’ll keep ‘em entertained for hours. You might even want to consider adding some reading days to your homeschool no matter the weather! But rainy days inside a fort are especially fantastic days for reading. 

And, when the fun is done, it’s a great opportunity to teach them to clean up after themselves! I’ve found they usually handle the clean-up part better if I talk with them ahead of time about my expectations and let them know they’re going to be responsible for putting things away at the end of playtime or the end of the day–whichever comes first. 

5. Bake some sweet treats.

When it’s dreary outside, there’s nothing better than cookies fresh out of the oven. Baking with kids is one of the best rainy day activities. And the one-on-one time in the kitchen with your kids can’t be beat. Bonus — it incorporates hands-on math and science. And it teaches kids important life skills too! 

Sometimes you can sneak in a math lesson as part of your baking activity, or you can do a fun math lesson such as this Counting Candies on Cookies Math Cards activity (in which you make M&M cookies and teach your children to graph the M&Ms by color) or this How to Make Math Fun and Tasty lesson that has to do with making cupcakes decorated like apple trees and includes lots of educational ideas to go with the recipe!

6. Set up an indoor obstacle course.

My kids are super-obsessed with The Floor Is Lava on Netflix. So much so that we got my 7-year-old the board game for Christmas. They love to break it out and turn our living room into an impromptu obstacle course. This is something you can do at home with your kids too.

And if you don’t have the board game, that’s okay. Just rearrange the furniture and tell your kids not to touch the lava — aka floor. This will help burn off all that extra energy and they’ll sleep so much better. Promise!

If you don’t watch the show or have the board game, it doesn’t matter! Use what you have and set up whatever kind of indoor obstacle course you want!

7. Try some new yoga poses.

When you’re stuck indoors, it’s important to get kids moving. Yoga is an awesome way to do that. Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube is a fun channel to check out.

But, since we’re talking about screen-free activities, here is a handy list of yoga poses your kids can try, sans video. Or you can buy a deck of yoga cards for added variety. 

This may be a habit you choose to keep up on a regular basis once you see the benefits. 

8. Go jump in some puddles.

Yep, this list is mainly indoor rainy day activities…because who wants to clean up a house full of mud? But, don’t discount letting your kids play in the rain. Jumping in puddles is so much fun for kids of any age (moms too!). 

Yes, you’ll need to mop and you’ll probably have an extra load of laundry or two, but it’ll be worth the experience. You’ll see.

9. Learn something together.

We parents want our children to know that learning doesn’t stop when we graduate from high school or college. Learning is a life-long endeavor!

Try some of these ideas and activities on those days when you’re stuck inside. I think you’ll enjoy learning together (and you’ll almost always win when you play Trivial Pursuit! Haha! ).

• States and Capitals Printable Flashcards and Worksheets
• Go on a Virtual Field Trip!
• Do a science experiment! Most kids love doing science experiments, so this can be a way to have fun and learn something with your kids. If it’s summer and you’re looking for something cool to do, try this Instant Ice Science Experiment.
• Make a dream catcher and learn about their meanings.
• Help your older kids and teens learn some important life skills.
• Many children are fascinated by sharks! Even if it’s not Shark Week, you can enjoy this Shark Printable Pack any time!

Got younger kids as well as teens? Try some of these rainy day activities and other ideas! (And be sure to let your older kids help your younger ones if possible! There’s no better way to remember something than to teach it to someone else.)

• Try this simple Earth’s Spheres in a Bag science activity.
• This Salt & Ice Experiment is great for a hot day!
• A fun tangram challenge might be just what your kids need to stay engaged and pass some time indoors.
• These 5 senses sorting mats are great for young children who are learning about their senses!

10. Or try some of these ideas!

Our sister site, Hip Homeschool Moms, features an article with 10 Things to Do with Kids When It’s Too Hot to Go Outside. The ideas in that article will also make great rainy day activities, so be sure to take a look and choose a few of the suggestions!

Bonus Ideas:

• If you have young children who need something fun to do indoors or who need something to do while you homeschool your older children, try busy bags! These are perfect for rainy days or any time you need to keep little ones busy.
• This article about How to Easily Banish Winter Wiggles was, admittedly, written as a suggestion for what to do when your children are stuck indoors during winter, but the ideas in the article will work perfectly for a rainy day too!

The Wrap-Up

It’s hard when the weather won’t cooperate and all we want to do is turn our kids loose outside. But, hopefully, this list of rainy day activities gives you a few ideas for keeping them busy and engaged the next time you’re stuck indoors.

Do you have rainy day activities to add to our list? 

Comment below and tell us what your favorite screen-free rainy day activities are. And be sure to share this post on social media!

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Featured Photo by Ksenia Chernaya

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