Rainy days with stir-crazy kids can make us all climb the walls. Even children who love TV and movies can only watch so many shows until they’re ready to do something, anything else. And despite the fact that your house is practically bursting with toys, toys and more toys, it can get a little been-there, done-that after just a few days stuck inside.
So, the next time you’re trapped at home with nothing to do, try one of these amazingly fun and creative indoor games for kids!
1. Ice tower excavation
Freeze rainbow-coloured trinkets in a long container filled with water. Then, give your kids squeezy bottles, salt and eye droppers that they can use with warm water to dig out the treasures.
Get the how-to at Fun At Home With Kids
Photo: Fun At Home With Kids
2. Button snake
Take a ribbon and sew a button onto one side. Then, give your kids colourful pieces of felt to string along the ribbon, creating a snake.
Get the how-to at Happy Hooligans.
Photo: Happy Hooligans
3. DIY playhouse
Indoor playhouses can be incredibly expensive, with some costing several hundred dollars. With cardboard boxes, decorative paper and some imagination, you and your kids can create cool indoor playhouses on the cheap!
Get the how-to at A Beautiful Mess.
Photo: A Beautiful Mess
4. Claw-grabbing pegs
Strengthen your tot’s fine motor skills, encouraging him to grab as many small pom-poms as he can with a peg.
Get the how-to at Hands On As We Grow.
Photo: Hands On As We Grow
5. Shaving cream paint
Using shaving cream and food colouring, create foamy, fluffy paints for him to use in the bath.
Get the how-to at Meet the Dubiens.
Photo: Meet the Dubiens
6. Newspaper forts
If you still get the newspaper delivered to your house, consider saving them to use on a rainy day. By rolling up the paper, your kid can create the frame for a cool fort.
Get the how-to at Modern Parents Messy Kids.
Photo: Modern Parents Messy Kids
7. Play in a box
Turn a shoe box into a portable dinosaur play station with free printables and some imagination. There are loads of ideas for making all kinds of boxes: doll’s house, farm, craft box and more. When the rain puts an end to outdoor play, grab a play box and you’re sorted.
Get the tutorial and printables on Mumtastic.
Image: Patchwork Cactus
8. Stained glass art
Using cellophane shapes and soapy water, your kids can temporarily paste colours to the window, creating stained-glass designs.
Get the how-to at What Do We Do All Day.
Photo: What Do We Do All Day
9. Exploding car wash
Throw bicarb soda into a tray, and have your kids use it as a snowy track or construction site for their cars. Then, when they’re finished, dump in some vinegar and watch the whole thing bubble over.
Get the how-to at What Do We Do All Day.
Photo: What Do We Do All Day
10. Homemade play dough
With flour, water, cream of tartar and food colouring, you can easily make your own dough.
Get the how-to at Musings from a Stay at Home Mum.
Photo: Musings from a Stay at Home Mum
11. Paper collages
Cut out scraps of paper in various shapes and use them to create colourful collages.
Get the how-to at Artsy Craftsy Mum.
Photo: Artsy Craftsy Mum
12. Measuring the house
Work on your children’s maths skills with these printable worksheets that encourage kids to measure everyday items and rooms in their house.
Get the how-to at Let’s Explore.
Photo: Let’s Explore
13. Matching pairs hide and seek game
Fill a tub with rice and then hide matching pairs of everyday items inside, instructing your preschooler to find each set.
Get the how-to at The Imagination Tree.
Photo: The Imagination Tree
14. Masking tape speedway
For this indoor game, have your kid create his own racetrack — over and under furniture, down stairs — using masking tape. He can make a speedway that spans the whole house if he feels like it.
Get the how-to at Kids Activities Blog.
Photo: Kids Activities Blog
15. Rainbow cake baking
Wet days are perfect for baking, but you can draw out the activity even further by making it a rainbow swirl cake.
Get the how-to at In Katrina’s Kitchen.
Photo: In Katrina’s Kitchen