14 Rainy Day Activities for Kids

It’s raining, it’s pouring… Yup. The British summer has arrived but it seems to have forgotten to bring its dry and sunny days with it. For most people this is annoying, but for families it can mean really long, tedious days stuck indoors, however it doesn’t have to. Here are 14 different rainy day activities for kids...

Things to Do with Kids at Home:

1. Den Building

Kids love dens and the older they get, the more complex or outrageous they’ll want them to be.  Give them free access to blankets, sheets, cardboard boxes, pegs, sticky tape, chairs and tables and let them build a fort or den.

Note: Don’t expect to be allowed inside without the secret password. Or a bribe.

2. Indoor Picnic

If your family usually sits at the table to eat, earn cool points by breaking house rules and having an indoor picnic. Get the kids involved in making nibbles and have dinner on the floor. (Or in the den, if your bribe worked.)

3. Hide and Seek

This is a classic, much-loved game for kids of all ages. Little ones will want to hide themselves but the older they get, the more challenging you’ll need to make it so try hiding a favourite toy around the house or turn it into a treasure hunt with clues to chocolate coins.

Rummage through your recycling bin, grab some paint, paper and glue supplies and let the kids get creative. You can find hundreds of crafty ideas online at Activity Village.

5. Baking

Keep little hands busy by putting them to work in the kitchen! Little pizzas, cakes and cookies are all popular and easy to make.

Things to Do with Kids Outdoors:

6. Puddle Jumping

Tempting as it is to hide from the rain, there’s a lot of fun to be had by simply pulling on wellies and raincoats and getting wet in it. Have a competition to see who can find the biggest puddle.

7. Mud Pies

Kids are practically muck magnets so indulge them in some messy play and send them outside to make mud pies in old buckets, plant pots or muffin tins.  

According to the RSPB, local ponds and rock pools or even the water-butt in your own garden will house a fascinating variety of mini-beasts and all you need to find them is some eagle-eyed nippers armed with fishing nets.

9. Worm Hunt

We’re going on a worm hunt, we’re going to find a big one… Rain brings worms and other critters out so get the kids to see how many insects they can find. Search the lawn, turn over logs and lift pots to see what’s living in your garden.

10. Body Doodles

Ordinarily you might discourage the kids from drawing on themselves but with Crayola Washable Markers, you can let them go wild colouring on their hands, face, legs or tummies and heading outside to watch the rain wash it all away.

Things to Do with Kids for a Day Out:

11. Play Rooms

Softplay centres are a well-known way for kids to have fun indoors but if you have children aged 10 or over, take them to a challenging Escape or Breakout room instead.    

12. Cinema

A trip to the cinema is treat for the whole family and there are some fantastic films lined up for the summer including The BFG, The Secret Life of Pets and Ice Age: Collision Course.

There are all sorts of museums across the UK dedicated to everything from dinosaurs to planes to toys. Most of them offer free entry and run hands-on activity sessions for kids throughout the holidays. Contact your local museum to see what’s on offer.

14. Library

There’s something particularly comforting about cosying up with a good book on a rainy day, so take your kids to the local library and let them choose some books that you can all sit and read together. We also have a great selection instore!

There’s so many ways to make rainy days’ fun but come rain or shine, you can always find a selection of indoor and outdoor toys and games for kids of all ages, instore at B&M.