Spring is in full swing, bringing drizzly days and puddle-jumping adventures. While the promise of warmer weather has us dreaming of the great outdoors, the reality of wrangling kids through muddy messes might not be the everyday activity you had in mind.
So, what is a parent to do when faced with an endless barrage of gloomy days? Avoid the rainy-day blues with a few of these (screen free!) boredom-busting activities!
1 - Unleash Their Inner Van Gogh With “Bathtub Painting”
I know, I know. Painting with toddlers can be a nightmare, but hear me out! “Bathtub Painting” is an absolutely genius way to let your kiddos go wild with color while protecting your home from the majority of the mess. Simply tape their canvas of choice – large sheets of craft paper are our favorite – onto the bathtub wall.
Hand those kiddos some paint and let them go wild! Most of the time, my toddlers enjoyed this activity in just a diaper, making cleanup a total breeze. Added bonus: bathtub painting can roll easily into actual bath time. Throw in some bubbles to make this two-for-one entertainment!
Note: Don't have any paint? Download this free activity sheet for them to complete!
2 - Play Alphabet Hide-and-Seek
After you’ve rinsed off all that art and gotten into your coziest pajamas, it’s time for a twist on hide-and-seek! Get those little bodies moving and their brains working in this simple-to-set-up indoor letter hunt!
Simply label brightly colored Post-It notes from A-Z and hide them around your house, then the game is on! Challenge older kids to find all the letters and put them in order, while younger toddlers can “match” the letter to a simple-to-make alphabet chart.
Is the alphabet a bit too complicated for your little ones? Simply modify the game to suit your child’s development. Hidden pictures can be as easy as recognizable shapes, or even just a hunt for brightly colored paper notes. This no mess activity gets kids moving and learning, and is sure to save you a little bit of sanity on an indoor-play day.
3 - Visit the Dinosaur Beach
This one requires a little pre-planning on our part, but if you have children that are beyond the “everything in the mouth” phase, it’s a guaranteed good time! Kinetic sand is one of my all-time favorite sensory materials for kids. It’s not as messy as rice or pasta, it doesn’t stain, and it *mostly* sticks together!
Kinetic Sand, a few plastic trees and a few dinosaurs easily transform into a day at Dinosaur Beach with just a little imagination! Kids can build sandcastles with their velociraptor friends, make t-rex footprints in the sand, and let their triceratops sunbathe under a pretend palm tree. Set up this activity on a big baking tray to contain the mess and make cleanup a breeze!
Note: No kinetic sand on hand? Mix up 2 ½ cups of corn starch or flour with ½ cup of vegetable oil to create a fluffy and moldable “moon sand” for your kiddos to enjoy!)
4 - Play the Floor Is Lava!
Alexa, play “The Floor Is Lava”!
That’s right – this boredom buster requires zero equipment – just an open space and some tunes! Queue up the music and get your kids moving with an easy game of “The Floor Is Lava”. Using the children’s song of the same name by the Kiboomers (or any music of your choice), instruct your littles to dance their sillies out while the music is playing.
When it stops? Quick! They have five seconds to get off the floor before it turns into melty, hot lava. Last one off the floor is OUT! Kids will love moving and grooving with you, and if mom or dad happen to get caught in the lava? Instant hysterics.
This game is a favorite in our house, and I hope that when my girls look back, rainy days and silly dance moves will be one of their fondest memories.
5 - Score! Beat Boredom With Pom Pom Hockey
When your kids have been stuck indoors and have energy to burn, they may start to drive you (and each other) up the wall. Take that pent up energy and turn it into some friendly competition with a raucous game of Pom Pom Hockey! On a slippery floor, mark off two goals with painters tape. With two pool noodles for hockey sticks and a pom pom puck, your kids can show off their athletic prowess for the Rainy Day Hockey League! No pom-poms? No problem. Balled up socks make a great substitute, and taped-together cardboard tubes can fill in for a pool noodle in a pinch.
Just one kiddo to entertain? Make it a race. How many goals can you make in one minute? How fast can you get the puck from one goal to the other? Put up a refrigerator score board and encourage them to beat their own record! No matter how you play it, this is a perfect “tire them out” game that will prepare your busy buddies for quieter activities to come.
Rainy days might bring cabin fever, but they don’t have to come with a chorus of “I’m bored!” or a playroom disaster. With a little creativity, those drizzly days can turn into bright memories your kids will cherish for years to come.
So embrace the cozy moments and try one of these boredom busters! Now, what are you waiting for? Pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee and get ready to Play!
Don't forget to download our free rainy day activity sheet!
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