Rainy days can feel like a curve-ball on holidays, especially with kids bouncing off the walls. But with a little imagination (and maybe a few cushions), a grey sky becomes the perfect backdrop for indoor adventures.

Here are 6 creative ways to turn a rainy day into a memorable one – no sunshine required!

Living Room Theatre

Create a stage and let the kids put on a play or puppet show in your transformed living room! They can write the script, assign roles, make costumes if they have dress up clothes, and perform for everyone. Think like Little Women!

What you’ll need:

• Dress up clothes
• Blankets for a stage curtain
• Stuffed animals make a good audience!
• Papers & crayons for tickets or programmes

Build a Fort

There’s just something magical about a rainy-day fort. Grab pillows, blankets, couch cushions, and let kids create a cozy castle, reading nook, or secret hideout.

Fun additions:

• Fairy lights or a flashlight
• Books or puzzles inside
• Snacks served on a tray

Bake something simple

Most kids love getting messy in the kitchen, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to bake some tasty treats! Whether it’s muffins, cookies or savoury snacks, kids can get stuck in measuring, mixing and decorating!

To keep it easy, choose recipes with only a few ingredients, and use silicone trays for less mess!

Indoor Obstacle Course

Burn off any built-up energy by setting up an obstacle course using furniture, cushions, and toys! Crawl under tables, hop over pillows, balance on taped lines! Set out “lava” zones or make some tunnels between chairs!

Art labGrab everything out of the art supplies cupboard, and let kids go wild with drawing, painting, stamping, or collage.

Puzzles & Games Time Marathon

Create a tournament of some of your favourite board games! Grab puzzles and see who can complete them fastest or create your own bingo cards with your own bingo topics! Some household favourite games include memory games or charades.

Remember, not every activity needs to be picture-perfect. The goal is connection, not perfection. Let the kids take the lead, be silly, and lean into the cosy chaos that comes with a day indoors.

If you don’t have a garden yourself that you can make use of, then there are plenty of places that run gardening activities during National Children’s Gardening Week for the whole family to enjoy:

Dobbies Garden Centre – Children’s Planting and Afternoon Tea experiences ( run in 27 stores across the UK) a 90-minute event that gives children the chance to explore their creativity and imagination, and a cream tea!

One Garden Brighton – Children can engage in planting sessions, explore the garden through interactive tasks, and enjoy their free, specially designed activity book!

Let’s Go Outside!

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