It may be wet and gloomy outside, but it doesn’t have to be inside! Keeping kids in the house all day can lead to us mamas feeling claustrophobic and well, crazy. There’s only so many movies your kids can watch and hey, it’s nice to get them up and moving and using their imaginations. Take a look at some creative rainy day activities we’ve found that use items you mostly already have lying around the house (because you can’t always predict a rainy day!) and that will keep your kids busy and keep you sane!
Source: Etsy
1. Sewing Cards
Toddler or big kid, boy or girl, these sewing cards are fun for everyone! Simple thread or yarn can be threaded through the reinforced holes to help fine motor skills and just be plain fun! You can find them on Etsy or create your own shapes from sturdy cardboard.
Source: InnerChildFun.com
2. Mess Free Marbled Painting
No mess? Whatever it is, sign me up! Basically, mess free marbled painting is painting in a bag! All you need is a heavy duty ziploc, packing tape, paint and baby oil. Pour baby oil and paint (water soluble, washable, and liquid watercolors will do) in equal parts into ziploc. Carefully squeeze out air (not the paint!) and then seal and tape for extra security. Voila! Your kids can paint with no mess!
Head over to InnerChildFun.com for TONS of crafts, resources and tutorials for your kids!
Source: KeepingItSimpleCrafts.com
3. Balloon Ping Pong
You probably have all the necessary items for this game in your junk drawer somewhere! All you need are some paper plates, glue, large popsicle-style sticks and a balloon! Glue the sticks to your paper plates, blow up the balloon (or a few to make it interesting) and send the kids to the other room!
KeepingItSimpleCrafts.com is a blog by a mother of 4 kids. Check her out to get more ideas on making life simple in the areas of crafts, recipes and activities for your family.
Source: SweetTMakesThree.com
4. Baking Soda & Food Coloring Art
This is a great activity for toddlers. Take a casserole dish with the bottom covered in a light layer of baking soda, and several small dishes filled with 3 tablespoons each of white vinegar. Add 10 drops of food coloring to each vinegar dish and stir to dissolve evenly. Then, teach your toddler to use an eye dropper and make droplets of the colored vinegar onto the baking soda. Once they’ve used their entire canvas, you can easily throw away and start again!
The entire tutorial can be found at SweetTMakesThree.com, as well as other awesome activities.
Source: TeachMama.com
5. Foam Dough
This idea sounds so fun that I want to try it! Take a can of shaving cream and box of cornstarch and mix an equal amount of both on a large plate or bowl. You can even add food coloring if you want to make it sassy. Use your hands to mix everything together and watch out for the inevitable mess (but way fun!). Kids can make anything they want, and you can throw it away with no regrets when they’re done!
If you think this was cool, head over to TeachMama.com and request a FREE fridge printable on 50 Indoor Activities for your kids!
Source: ThePleasantestThing.com
6. Straw Rockets
All you need for this activity are straws, paper, glue or tape, scissors and some crayons or markers. Cut down pieces of paper and decorate to your desire. Then lightly fold around the end of a straw and tape the paper together (not to the straw). Then just blow! Your kids can see how far each can blow their rockets or come up with their own games.
Check out the more detailed tutorial at ThePleasantestThing.com!
Source: SewingMamaRaeanna.com
7. Paper Plane Target Practice
Keep your kids entertained with those paper planes you slaved over for a little longer by making a target. Simply take a few pieces of poster board taped together and cut out different sized holes. Then set them to work on improving their aim!
SewingMamaRaeanna.com is a great mama site that also has tons of tutorials on sewing!
Source: NutureStore.co.uk
8. Rain Art
Put that ornery rain to good use by making rain art! All you need is heavy duty art paper that won’t immediately disintegrate when wet, watercolor paint, brushes and the rain. Create a pattern on your paper using your brush and paint. Then take your artwork out in the rain (this probably works best in a light to moderate rain as opposed to a torrential downpour!) and use something sturdy like rocks to hold down the edges of the paper while the rain does its magic.
The NutureStore.co.uk is a great site for more activities and crafts, all categorized for your child’s age!
9. Scavenger Hunt
You can get super creative and send your kids in all kinds of directions with a scavenger hunt. Send them on the hunt for specific colored items, types of books and photos you’ve hidden, just to name a few. You can make it as easy or difficult as you want- depending on how long you want them to stay busy!
Source: DanaMadeIt.com
10. Paper Plate Fish
Get out those dozens of paper plates you have or head to the store to buy some cute colored ones. Either way, this is an easy and entertaining craft! Cut a small triangle from the plate and tape to the back to use as a tale. Then get your kids decorating! Have them draw or flue foam pieces to decorate their fish and you’ll have them in a school of others before you know it!
DanaMadeIt.com is a site that not only provides tons of tutorials on sewing and crafts but seeks to show you that you can make anything you want! Head on over for some encouragement and some new ideas.