Keeping Restless Kids Happy On A Rainy Day

Rainy days can be tough when kids are stuck inside without much to do. Cabin fever often sets in, leading to bored, restless, and cranky children. As a parent, it’s important to have a toolbox of ideas ready to keep kids engaged and avoid the doldrums of a rainy day. With some planning and imagination, you can turn a gloomy day into an enjoyable time making happy memories.

Get Comfy And Break Out The Arts And Crafts

What better time to get creative than a rainy afternoon? Gather any art supplies you have around the house and set up a craft zone in the living room, playroom or kitchen table. Provide a variety of materials like construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, crayons, stickers and more. Let kids create their own works of art by coloring, painting, sculpting with play dough, making cards for loved ones, or putting together craft kits. Get hands-on and make it a family art session. Display the masterpieces proudly afterwards.

Build An Indoor Fort

Let kids feel like adventurous explorers by constructing a fort in the house. Use furniture, blankets, pillows and sheets to fashion a cozy indoor fort. Get creative with different rooms and arrangements. Decorate the inside with flashlights, books, snacks and toys. Kids will have such fun preparing, designing and playing in their homemade forts on a rainy day. Add to the excitement by crafting homemade medals, maps or spy glasses.

Hold An Indoor Campout

Set up a camp scene right in your living room. Pitch a tent and fill it with sleeping bags, pillows, lanterns and stuffed animals. Build a pretend campfire out of red/orange paper or gather sticks from outside to make a teepee pile indoors. Tell stories, sing songs and roast imaginary s’mores or snacks by the indoor campfire. Kids will love the novelty of camping inside. Take the adventure further by playing outdoor sounds or going on an indoor nature hike.

Engage In Imaginative Play

Seek children’s input and let their creativity shine by making up imaginary games and adventures. Provide costumes and props then develop stories and scenarios together. Become pirates on a ship, superheroes saving the day or go on an animal safari. Act out different scenes, switch roles and follow where imaginations lead. This engagement in pretend play stimulates minds and provides endless entertainment.

Visit An Indoor Play Center

Google indoor play centers to find a local one. For example, if you search for indoor activities in Rapid City, you’ll find the Jump N Slide Adventure Park for families. With giant play structures, zip lines, ball pits, and arcade games, indoor play centers are every kid’s paradise. Children love climbing through multilevel structures, zooming down slides, and jumping into pits of plastic balls. It’s a high-energy way for them to run, jump, and expel energy on a rainy day.

Break Out Classic Board And Card Games

Entertain kids with traditional board and card games they can play together or with the whole family. Dig out old favorites like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Trouble, Uno, Go Fish, War, Monopoly and more. Teach new games or learn ones from your own childhood. Include games that involve physical elements like Twister or include the hilarity of acting with Charades or Headbanz. 

With a little creativity and effort, parents can transform an otherwise dreary rainy day into a fun opportunity.