25 Screen-Free Activities for Rainy Days (That Actually Work)
Rainy days don't have to mean screen days. Here are 25 tried-and-tested activities that keep kids engaged without a single device.
By The Slow Childhood
The Rainy Day Survival Guide
We've all been there. It's 8 AM, it's pouring outside, and three little faces are looking at you expectantly. The easy answer is a screen. But we've found that with a little preparation, rainy days can actually become some of our favorite days.
Here are 25 activities that have been tested in our home — no Pinterest-perfect setups required.
Sensory & Messy Play (Ages 2-6)
1. Kitchen Sink Water Play
Fill the kitchen sink with warm water, add cups, funnels, and a few drops of food coloring. Lay a towel on the floor and let them go. This buys you at least 30 minutes.
2. Cloud Dough
Mix 8 cups of flour with 1 cup of oil (baby oil or coconut oil). It's moldable, silky, and endlessly entertaining. Add scoops and small containers.
3. Shaving Cream on a Tray
Squirt shaving cream onto a baking tray. Kids can draw letters, make shapes, or just squish it. Easy cleanup with a squeegee.
4. Oobleck
Equal parts cornstarch and water. Is it a liquid? Is it a solid? Kids never get tired of figuring it out. This is just one of many kitchen science experiments you can do with pantry staples.
5. Tape Rescue
Stick small toys to a tray with painter's tape. Give toddlers the mission of "rescuing" them by peeling the tape off. Great for fine motor skills.
Creative & Art (Ages 3-8)
6. Cardboard Box City
Save your Amazon boxes. Add markers, tape, and scissors (for older kids). A few boxes become a city, a spaceship, or a puppet theater.
7. Watercolor + Salt Painting
Paint with watercolors on thick paper, then sprinkle salt on the wet paint. As it dries, it creates beautiful crystalline textures.
8. Nature Journal Drawing
Bring nature inside — a few leaves, a pinecone, some flowers. Kids sketch what they see. Even toddlers can do leaf rubbings with crayons.
9. Homemade Playdough
Our favorite recipe: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tbsp cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp oil. Cook on the stove until it forms a ball. Add food coloring. We have even more variations in our homemade playdough recipes guide.
10. Collage Making
Old magazines, scissors, glue sticks, and paper. Give a theme ("animals," "our dream house," "things that are blue") or let them go free.
Building & Engineering (Ages 4-10)
11. Blanket Forts
The classic for a reason. Every cushion, every blanket, every chair becomes building material. Add fairy lights if you have them.
12. Marble Runs from Recycling
Paper towel rolls, tape, and a marble. Challenge kids to build a run from the top of the stairs to the bottom.
13. LEGO Challenges
Write challenges on slips of paper: "Build the tallest tower," "Build something that flies," "Build your dream bedroom." Draw one and set a timer.
14. Bridge Building
Give kids toothpicks and mini marshmallows (or playdough). Challenge: build a bridge that can hold a small toy.
15. Domino Runs
Set up elaborate domino chains through the house. This teaches patience, planning, and spatial reasoning — and the payoff is so satisfying.
Movement & Games (Ages 2-10)
16. Indoor Obstacle Course
Pillows to jump over, tunnels to crawl through (chairs with blankets), balance beams (tape on the floor). Time each run. For a full guide with 15 station ideas, see our indoor obstacle course post.
17. Dance Party
Put on music and dance. That's it. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones.
18. Scavenger Hunt
Write (or draw, for non-readers) a list of things to find around the house. "Something soft," "something red," "something that makes noise."
19. Yoga for Kids
Follow along with a kids' yoga video (okay, this one uses a screen briefly) or make up your own poses named after animals.
20. Hide and Seek in the Dark
Close the curtains, grab flashlights, and play hide and seek. The darkness adds a whole new dimension of excitement.
Quiet & Independent (Ages 3-10)
21. Audiobook + LEGO Time
Play an audiobook while kids build freely with LEGO. This is our go-to for afternoon quiet time.
22. Window Drawing
Washable window markers on glass doors or windows. They can trace the rain drops, draw scenes, or write messages.
23. Sorting & Organizing
Give kids a bin of mixed items (buttons, beads, pasta shapes) and containers to sort them into. Montessori-inspired and surprisingly calming.
24. Letter Writing
Help kids write a letter or draw a picture for a grandparent, cousin, or friend. Walk to the mailbox together when the rain stops.
25. Baking Together
Pick a simple recipe — banana bread, cookies, muffins. Measuring ingredients is math. Following steps is reading. Eating the result is the best part.
Our Rainy Day Toolkit
Keep a dedicated bin ready with:
- Watercolors and thick paper
- Playdough and tools
- Painter's tape
- A bag of craft supplies (googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom poms)
- A deck of cards and a few board games
When the rain hits, grab the bin and you're ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best screen-free activities for rainy days?
- The best screen-free rainy day activities include sensory play (cloud dough, oobleck, water play), creative projects (cardboard box building, watercolor painting, collage making), building challenges (blanket forts, marble runs, LEGO challenges), and active play (indoor obstacle courses, dance parties, scavenger hunts).
- How do I keep kids busy without screens?
- Prepare a dedicated activity bin with supplies like watercolors, playdough, painter's tape, craft materials, and card games. Rotate activities every 30-45 minutes. Involve kids in real tasks like baking, cleaning, or organizing. Set up invitations to play — leave interesting materials out and let curiosity take over.
- What indoor activities are good for toddlers on rainy days?
- Kitchen sink water play, cloud dough, tape rescue games, and sorting activities are perfect for toddlers on rainy days. These activities develop fine motor skills while keeping little ones engaged for 20-30 minutes at a time. Keep a dedicated rainy day bin ready with age-appropriate supplies.
- How do I prepare for screen-free rainy days?
- Keep a dedicated rainy day bin stocked with watercolors, thick paper, playdough and tools, painter's tape, craft supplies (googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom poms), a deck of cards, and board games. When rain hits, grab the bin and you're ready with zero prep time.
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