When the weather keeps everyone indoors, a few good ideas can turn a grey day into a great one. These eight need little preparation and work for a wide range of ages.
We’ve counted down from eight to the one we think gets the whole family most involved.
8. Get crafty
Paper plates, cardboard tubes, paint and glue can become masks, animals, rockets or castles. Keep a box of recycled materials ready for rainy days.
Lay down newspaper first, and let them be as creative as they like.
7. Create a home cinema
Close the curtains, make popcorn, print some tickets and let the children choose the film. Turning it into an event makes it feel special.
Add a cosy blanket corner and an interval for snacks.
6. Put on a show
Write a short play, a puppet show or a talent show and perform it to the rest of the family. Sock puppets and a cardboard box make a perfect theatre.
It’s a great outlet for children with lots of energy and imagination.
5. Try a kitchen science experiment
Mix bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to make a fizzing volcano, grow crystals, or test which household objects float or sink.
There are plenty of simple, safe experiments online. Supervise anything involving heat or sharp tools.
4. Have a board game tournament
Dig out the board games and card games and run a mini tournament with a scoreboard and a homemade trophy for the winner.
Mixing quick games with longer ones keeps younger children interested.
3. Build a blanket fort
Chairs, sofa cushions, blankets and a few pegs are all it takes. Once it’s built, the fort becomes a reading den, a cinema or a camp for the afternoon.
Add fairy lights or a torch and it’ll be the best part of the day.
2. Hold an indoor treasure hunt
Hide small treats or toys around the house and write rhyming clues that lead from one hiding place to the next. Older children can take a turn at setting the hunt for everyone else.
It keeps everyone moving and thinking, and costs nothing.
1. Bake something together
Baking is the perfect rainy-day activity: there’s weighing, mixing and the best part, eating the results. Biscuits, cupcakes and flapjacks are all good choices for little helpers.
Give everyone a job, from cracking eggs to decorating, and accept that the kitchen will get messy. It’s worth it.
What does your family do when it rains? Share your best indoor ideas in the comments.
