65 Fun Indoor Activities for Kids to Do on a Rainy Day

These sixty-five indoor rainy day activities for kids provide hours of independent play ideas.

Just yesterday the sun was shining and the kids were fully occupied –running around the backyard, climbing trees, splashing through sprinklers, and drawing with chalk.

But today the clouds moved in and there’s nothing but solid rain predicted all day long.

So now what?

It’s easy to keep most kids entertained outside with so many things to do, see and explore. But inside can be a different story with cramped quarters and little space to move.

Not to fear…the sixty-five indoor activities for kids listed below are the perfect remedy to a snowy or rainy day. They generally use common materials found in most family homes and kids ages 6+ should be able to do the majority of these activities independently with little or no help from you.

65 Indoor Activities Kids Can Do Independently on Rainy Days

Click on the links below to see suggestions, resources, and ideas for each activity.

1. Create an indoor obstacle course
2. Plan an indoor scavenger hunt
3. Write letters to family or friends
4. Design cards for your friends
5. Make your own play dough
6. Make play dough sculptures
7. Make slime
8. Make a necklace out of beads or pasta
9. Write in a journal
10. Choreograph a dance
11. Plan and perform a play
12. Play a card game
13. Play a board game
14. Have paper airplane races
15. Make shadow puppets
16. Line up dominos and watch them fall
17. Play with shaving cream and food coloring
18. Create a sculpture from recycled materials
19. Play string games (Cats in the Cradle)
20. Build a fort with couch cushions
21. Create a design with popsicle sticks and glue
22. Bake a snack
23. Make ice cream
24. Make popsicles
25. Cook a meal
26. Leave friendly notes or gifts in neighbor’s mailboxes
27. Do a blind taste test of different foods or drinks
28. Solve a crossword puzzle
29. Make an eruption with baking soda and vinegar
30. Create and bury a time capsule
31. Paint rocks
32. Put a puzzle together
33. Play 20 questions
34. Create something from a large box
35. Design your own board game and play it
36. Build with blocks
37. Create an art gallery featuring your artwork
38. Read a book 
39. Read a magazine
40. Create a secret code
41. Play with Legos
42. Make a collage
43. Sew something with fabric
44. Create a giant paper airplane
45. Play dress up
46. Do a random act of kindness to a family member
47. Turn on music and have a dance party
48. Stack cups and knock them down
49. Play family
50. Tell or write a story 
51. Make sock puppets
52. Write a poem
53. Take photos 
54. Record a video
55. Play farm
56. Paint with sponges
57. Build a structure with playing cards
58. Use craft supplies to create animals
59. Draw a picture of a person
60. Cut out paper snowflakes
61. Play school
62. Put on a puppet show
63. Play zoo
64. Make something with pipe cleaners
65. Make bookmarks