Here in Ireland, we are no stranger to the rain, but how do you keep the kids entertained in the event of a downpour? We are bringing you a whole host of activities to do with your kids when it rains, so that you never have to wonder again!
And if none of these activities appeal, there is the option to go outside and embrace the rain, your kids might love the opportunity to run around with their umbrella!
Activities to do with your kids when it rains
Here are some boredom-busting, cheap, and easy indoor activities you can try out with your kids to turn a dreary rainy day into a fun-filled memorable one.
Pull up your sleeves, make some hot chocolate, and get ready to keep everyone engaged, entertained, and happy.
Impromptu Karaoke
Children react naturally and enthusiastically to music; get everyone to take a turn to sing their favourite songs and watch as a dull wet day transforms into fun, laughter-filled moments.
The best part is nobody has to follow the tune – be sure to choose a song that will get everyone nodding, dancing, jumping, and tapping their feet.
Board games
This is a classic rainy-day activity that never goes out of fashion. It also offers an excellent opportunity to bond with your kids.
Mix things up a bit; instead of the usual Monopoly game, ths is your opportunity to try out some new board games. Check out some of these exciting board games you could play with your kids:
- Younger children – if your kids are not quite at the age for Monopoly (and let’s face it some kids will just never be the right age for it!) then Orchard Toys offer a great selection of games for younger children that will keep them educated and entertained – win-win!
- Do you have older kids say, 5 to 10? Then Junior Colour Brain is a great pick; Adults will also enjoy this one. Answer questions such as “What colour are Strawberry Millions?” with your colour cards to win this unique game!
- If you have older children, or a mixture of ages – then Herd Mentality is another great all-round family board game; Guess what your teammates will answer and don’t be the odd one out!
Role Play
Get your kids to play their favourite characters. All you need are a few dice and a storyteller. You can find versions of Dungeon and Dragons for children online, such as D&D for kids. If you have fans of the full game at home, this is a great introduction.
For a more hands-on approach, you can design costumes and accessories. The activity is perfect for preschoolers and older kids alike, it just requires an imagination! Encourage the little ones to help out with the costumes. Set the preschoolers to sort out materials while the older kids can help sew them together.
You could even take it one step further and create a little theatre to perform from (it all depends on how adventurous you are feeling and how long it’s likely to rain for!!)
Fashion Parade
Nothing beats watching your children struggling to fit into your old clothes. Drag out your boxes of out-of-fashion clothers and give your kids the free rein to dress up in them.
Make it more fun by creating a runway and have them walk down the hallway! And of course, don’t forget to film it!
Make a Photo Collage
We take so many photos these days, but how many of those photos actually end up printed out? Your kids will love making a photo collage, and you can help them choose the photos they want to use too. The truth is, kids love to cut and create pretty much anything, so help fuel their creativity by giving them an opportunity to do just that.
You can also get out your old magazines, store catalogues, glue, and scissors and get everyone cutting and glueing together!
Lego Building contest
Choose a theme – say building a vehicle, human, or single-coloured blocks and unleash your little horde of builders to start constructing. And nobody said the adults couldn’t;t join in, but remember that this is supposed to be about keeping the kids busy!
Indoor Treasure hunt
Now there are a number of ways you can do this – one idea is to draw a treasure map and hide small gifts at strategic points in the house. Then hand out the plan to your kids to go and retrieve them.
Another idea is to do a scavenger-style hunt – hand them a matchbox and ask them to go and find the smallest items in the house that can fit into the matchbox.
If you have older children, they could help create the treasure map for the younger ones.
Build an indoor obstacle course
Need to burn some energy? An obstacle course is a great way to use up some of that energy, and also gets your kids to think creatively.
To give everyone a winning chance, alternate speed-based obstacles with precision-based ones. Set a timer and see how long it takes each kid to complete the task (this also elongates the experience which if you’re stuck int he house all day is a bonus!)
Play hide-and-seek
The thrill of hiding and the shrill, loud shouts and laughter when found, are what makes this game a perfect rainy day activity.
If you don’t have a lot of space, get someone to hide an object instead. You can either leave them to find the object on their own, or for younger kids you could use the words hot and cold to let them know whether they are near the object they are looking for.
Make a blanket fortress
Toys take on a new life when under the ‘high’ walls of blanket forts. If you don’t mind a bit of cleaning, pick a room and have it rearranged to accommodate your ‘fort’ or ‘castle’.
Allow your little ones to decorate, bring in their books and toys, and watch as they take up residence in their new home.
Musical Statues
Are your little angels energetic and in need of even more activities to burn off some energy? You may consider a dancing game.
Musical statues involves playing a song while they dance; pause the song suddenly and have your kids freeze.
If there is more than one child around, ask anyone who moves when the song is paused to sit out until a winner emerges.
And did you know that if you have an Amazon Alexa, she can play this game FOR you?? Yes, you heard that right, you as a parent can sit down and relax and let Alexa do the work!
Out of the Home Activities to do with your kids when it rains
Maybe you’ve exhausted your indoor activities and you’re ready to brave the elements. Here are some activities you can do away from home with the kids when it’s raining.
Go to the Playground
This could be either an indoor playground if the weather is really bad. Or, it could mean your local park. The likelihood is there’ll be no one there and you’ll have the whole park to yourselves, so if you’ve got waterproof clothes and you’re up for the fun, the park seems like a great option!
Bowling
Either create your own bowling lanes, using softballs and empty plastic bottles or head out with your children to an indoor entertainment centre for a fun game of bowling.
It’s an excellent diversion for your kids during rainy days, and it’s a great opportunity to take memorable family photos (and make up some silly names to put up on the board!)
Visit arcade centres
Arcades are great places to visit to lighten up your day and get the kids engaged with exciting activities.
Whether it’s just to chill out, reminisce about days gone by and play your favourite childhood games, or try your hands at the new releases, arcades offer a variety of activities that both you and your kids can genuinely enjoy.
Go to the movies
A family movie day is just the perfect activity to get everyone cuddling up, coffee in hand, and munching away at snacks.
If you’re unable to head out to the cinema, you can turn your family room into a personal theatre instead. Be sure to have a collection of movies the whole family can enjoy and settle in for a cosy family movie afternoon.
Head Out to the Leisure Centres
Want to keep your kids active and entertained? There are plenty of sports activities that your kids can take part in at your local leisure centre, including swimming.
So, there you have it, a rainy day doesn’t have to be boring. Use the ideas here to keep your kids entertained while also encouraging them to be more creative.
Let’s hear from you! What other activities do you suggest for keeping kids amused on rainy days?
And if like us you struggle with unpredictable weather, then take the stress out of planning a party by choosing a kid’s entertainer that can be indoors or out!
PartyWizz helps you book the best kid’s entertainers and party services in UK and Ireland. From magicians and face painters to party packages and photographers, you’ll find those in your area on our easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, christening, communion or a corporate family day, go to PartyWizz to find the perfect service providers hassle-free!
