25 Screen-Free Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Rain on a day off can feel like a long day ahead. The good news is little kids don’t need much. A few household things and a little bit of setup can fill a whole afternoon. Here are 25 ideas, sorted by how much energy your kids have to burn.

For the wiggly ones

1. Couch cushion obstacle course. Pillows to hop on, a blanket to crawl under, a hallway to tiptoe down.
2. Freeze dance. Play music, pause it, and everyone freezes. Silly poses get bonus points.
3. Balloon volleyball. Keep the balloon off the floor. It’s slow enough for toddlers and still fun for big kids.
4. Painter’s tape hopscotch. Tape a hopscotch grid on the floor. It peels right off later.
5. Animal walks. Bear crawl, crab walk, frog jump and bunny hop across the room.
6. Indoor bowling. Empty water bottles and a soft ball make a great bowling set.
7. Follow the leader. Take turns being the leader. Kids love being in charge.

For the builders and makers

8. Blanket fort. Chairs, blankets and clothespins. Add a flashlight and a book and it’s a reading nook.
9. Cardboard box anything. A car, a rocket, a house for stuffed animals. Hand over markers and let them design it.
10. Play dough. Store-bought or homemade with flour, salt, water and a little oil.
11. Building blocks challenge. Who can build the tallest tower? The longest bridge?
12. Sticker scenes. A sheet of paper and a pack of stickers keeps little hands busy for longer than you’d think.
13. Coloring pages. Print a few and set out crayons. Bonus if they color one for a grandparent.
14. Paper plate crafts. Masks, animals and suns. Paper plates, glue and anything from the craft bin.

For the quiet times

15. Sensory bin. Dry rice or pasta in a big container with cups and spoons. Put a towel underneath.
16. Puzzles. Chunky wooden puzzles for toddlers, 24 to 48 pieces for preschoolers.
17. Window races. Pick two raindrops on the window and cheer for yours to reach the bottom first.
18. Story time with voices. Read a favorite book and let your kid do the voices.
19. Listen to an audiobook or a read-along. It’s a nice break that still isn’t a cartoon.
20. Matching games. Socks from the laundry count.

For helping around the house

21. Kitchen helper. Kids can wash vegetables, stir muffin batter or tear lettuce.
22. Bath toy car wash. Wash plastic toys in a bin of soapy water. It’s play and cleaning at once.
23. Sock sorting. Make it a matching game.
24. Toy rescue. Put on music and see how many toys you can “rescue” back to their bins before the song ends.
25. Window washing. A spray bottle of water and a cloth is a toddler’s dream job.

A few tips that help

• Rotate, don’t buy. Put some toys away for a few weeks. When they come back out, they feel new.
• Plan one thing for the morning and one for the afternoon. You don’t need a full schedule.
• Let them be bored for a bit. A little boredom is where a lot of good play starts.

Want something ready to print? Our free printable and the Penny printables are made for days just like this.

Questions parents ask

What can toddlers do inside on a rainy day?

Simple active games like an obstacle course, balloon volleyball or freeze dance, plus quiet play like play dough, puzzles and a blanket fort.

How do I keep my toddler busy without screens?

Plan one activity for the morning and one for the afternoon, rotate toys so old ones feel new, and let them be a little bored. That’s where a lot of play starts.

What supplies are good to keep for rainy days?

Painter’s tape, paper plates, washable markers, stickers, play dough and a big cardboard box will cover a lot of rainy afternoons.