Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
If you live in the UK like me, then you’re probably sick of all the rain. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike a gloomy day. Especially in the autumn and winter when you can be all nice and cosy at home.
In the summer, however, it’s a different story. The nights are lighter, the kids are far more reluctant to go bed (well, mine are anyway) and it feels like you’re forever trying to think of fun activities to keep the family entertained. This is hard to do when it’s raining ALL the time!
There are a few activities that can be enjoyable on wetter days though. With the summer holidays coming up, it’s worth trying out any (or all!) of these ten activities:
Make an indoor den
Who says that dens have to be made outdoors? If you have enough cushions and blankets, you can easily create a den at home. Throw in a few books or a bowl of treats and you’ve got an instant cosy reading nook or somewhere to enjoy a family movie together!
I remember when I was a kid, my friends and I used to cover the entire landing in blankets, attaching them to the banister and every single bedroom door.
Sorry Mum!
They were amazing dens though!
Great memories.
Jump in muddy puddles
In the words of Peppa Pig, you could always spend the day “jumping up and down in muddy puddles” if your kids are desperate to go outdoors despite the downpour.
If you don’t mind the mess, then it’s one of the best family activities for a rainy day! Admittedly, Mummy and Daddy might not be as enthusiastic about jumping in muddy puddles as Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig, but the kids will no doubt enjoy it!
Play some board games
I love a good board game! Much of my childhood was spent playing board games such as Ludo and Frustration with my mum while Dad worked long hours. I also enjoyed quite a few games of dominoes with my grandma too. Happy times!
Board games are a great way for families to spend some quality time together. Ok, so there may be a few arguments over who gets the blue/red/yellow counter (or the dog if you’re playing Monopoly). And your 4-year-old may throw the dice too hard, resulting in you spending at least ten minutes on your knees trying to locate it, but it’s still worth it!
Arts and crafts
I’ll admit that my kids aren’t overly enthusiastic about crafts at home, but they do enjoy doing them in other locations. There are many places, such as local museums and country houses, that often offer free craft events for children during half-term breaks and the summer holidays.
Perfect for those looking for family activities for a rainy day!
Bowling
Bowling alleys offer child-friendly sessions for children as young as four. Sometimes it can be a little bit pricey, but it’s worth checking to see if you have a local bowling alley that’s offering any special family packages. A fun way to escape the rain for a bit!
And if you have children under four, there are safe bowling sets that you can buy from a variety of toy stores and online shops, such as Smyths and Amazon.
Baking
Flour-covered faces, a table full of biscuit dough crumbs and sneaky licks of the mixing bowl – there’s no doubt that baking is one of the best family activities for a rainy day.
If you decide to bake some cookies, be sure to make a HUGE batch. They won’t last long!
Reading
Ok, so this activity won’t last for long (especially if it’s raining for an entire day, which is usually the case in the UK), but it’s a beneficial activity that you can create a few other activities from!
The kids could even write their own stories and read them to each other. The 4-year-old has a few books that contain small activities at the end of the book, so we often do these together. It’s a nice bonding activity and educational too.
And who doesn’t love curling up with a good book on a rainy day?
Soft Play
Sorry, I had to suggest it. Some parents have a love/hate (or maybe just hate) relationship with soft play centres. They’re no doubt great for keeping the kids entertained for an hour or two on a rainy day, but they might not be the best option if you’re looking for something affordable to do.
I’ll admit that soft plays are also much easier when you’re with another adult, especially if you have very small children or children with an awkward age gap. Apparently, you’re supposed to supervise your slightly older child at all times while also making sure the younger one is accompanied at all times. Quite hard to do if you’re on your own!
There’s also the issue of cleanliness and possible disagreements among children. Oh the joy!
On the plus side, if you have older kids then they should be safe to play by themselves for an hour while you catch a break and enjoy a quick tea or coffee in the soft play’s café!
As tempting as it may be to seek shelter inside a soft play centre on a rainy day, it might be worth checking out Bounty’s article, which sums up the positives and negatives of soft play centres perfectly, before you choose this activity!
Movie day
A rainy day is the perfect excuse to enjoy a family movie day! You can even introduce your kids to your own favourite childhood movies or TV shows. I’ve had some great times with my daughter watching Matilda (the 1996 version) and (I’m sounding old now) Trap Door.
Definitely one of the best family activities for a rainy day! Just make sure you add some treats (preferably the huge batch of cookies that you baked on one of the other rainy days, if you haven’t eaten them already).
I-Spy
I-Spy is a game that never grows old, no matter what your age is! My eldest still loves to play it.
It’s when the kids start wanting to play truth or dare that you should start to worry. I’m currently going through this phase now and constantly worrying that I will find the result of one of their dares somewhere in the house. The other day my 7-year-old came downstairs covered in my make-up.
Expensive make-up.
I’m not sure if this was a dare set by the 4-year-old or not. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was.
Protect your make-up and other household items by suggesting a relaxing game of I-Spy instead!
And so…
Let’s hope the rain does go away and decides not to come again another day.
At least not for a few weeks!
