Activities for Rainy Weather
15 indoor ideas that you probably already have most of the ingredients for at home.
The sky is gray, rain is pounding against the windows, and after just ten minutes, the kids are already bored inside. Do you know that feeling? That's exactly why we've put together a collection of ideas that can really help, usually without needing to buy anything extra.
The beauty of rainy days is that they force you to slow down, and sometimes that's when the most wonderful moments together happen. Whether it's wild play to burn off energy, quiet modeling, or a joint crafting project, you'll find something suitable for every mood here.
For each idea, you'll find the right instructions—just click and get started. Most of the ingredients and materials are already in your kitchen, bathroom, or craft box. For a few ideas, it's worth taking a look at the materials list before you dive in.
Games with no materials at all
These games require no preparation; they just work with nothing but yourselves. Perfect for when you have some spontaneous time or when the kids are getting a bit restless.
Simon Says
Simon gives commands, but only if he says "Simon says" first; otherwise, no one is allowed to react. This game trains precise listening and quick responses, and it’s sure to bring some laughs when someone reacts too quickly. It requires no materials and can be played anywhere.
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I Pack My Suitcase
A classic for memory: Everyone thinks of a new item to pack in the suitcase and has to recite all the previous ones in the correct order. The longer the list gets, the trickier and more fun it becomes. Perfect for a table full of kids who need to sit still for a moment.
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Hide and Seek Sardines. A Fun Hiding Game
Hide and seek with a twist: One child hides while the others search one by one. Whoever finds the hider quietly joins them. Gradually, the hiding spot gets smaller and the giggles get louder, until only one person is left searching. It's a game that works just as well indoors as it does outdoors.
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Create Stories
One person starts with a sentence, and the next one adds to it, creating a story that gets crazier by the minute. It's a wonderful game for the dinner table or a car ride, and it naturally encourages imagination and language skills. All you really need is a love for storytelling.
View instructions →Kneading, Squishing, Magic
Making your own dough or sand is twice the fun: first when you mix it, and then during hours of kneading and shaping afterward.
Play Dough Cup Recipe
With flour, salt, and a bit of citric acid, you can create your own play dough in just a few steps, in any colors you like. For one step that requires hot water, you'll need an adult's help, but after that, the kids can knead and shape freely.
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Making Kinetic Sand
With just two ingredients from your kitchen cupboard, you can create a sand that can be shaped like at the beach, but stays dry and doesn't make a mess everywhere. You can choose the color yourself and even make several batches for different play ideas.
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Make Your Own Cloud Dough: A Magical Dough Adventure!
Soft as a little cloud you can touch, and made with just two ingredients, it's quick to whip up at home. The mixing itself is a little experiment that will amaze the kids as they see how two simple items turn into this fluffy mass.
View instructions →Crafting with what you have at home
You won't need to buy anything extra for these ideas; just some toilet paper rolls, a sheet of paper, or a few paper cups will do just fine.
Making Toilet Paper Caterpillars
A painted toilet paper roll turns into a caterpillar that seems to grow when you pour water on it. It's a little magic trick using simple materials that never fails to amaze kids and invites them to try it out.
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Paper Plane "Falcon": Soar Through the Skies
Just a piece of paper and a few folds, and you're ready to launch the fastest airplane in your home. Named after the agile falcon, it's designed to fly far and accurately, making it a great excuse for a little competition to see whose plane can fly the farthest.
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Build a Cup Phone
Two cups, a long string, and you can chat across the room or even through the staircase, all without electricity or a screen. Along the way, you'll playfully discover how sound travels along the taut string.
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Braiding Friendship Bracelets
With colorful yarn, you can create beautiful bracelets that make great little gifts for your best friends, all it takes is a bit of patience. It's a calming activity that sparks good conversations while your hands are busy.
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Create a Shadow Theater
With an old shoebox, some parchment paper, and a flashlight, you can create a small stage for your own stories. Once the characters are ready, the performance can begin for the whole family. It's crafting and theater all in one.
View instructions →Quiet Moments & Little Kitchen Helpers
Sometimes a rainy day just needs something a bit calmer. These ideas are easy to implement and still lots of fun.
Making Bath Bombs
With baking soda, citric acid, and coconut oil, you can create little balls that fizz wonderfully in the bathtub. It's best if an adult warms the oil first, and then the kids can shape them and choose the colors themselves. In the end, you'll have a bath that feels like a spa getaway.
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Salt Painting
With glue-drawn lines, sprinkled salt, and a few drops of watercolor, the color flows into the salt as if by magic. It's a calm, meditative art project where each picture turns out a little different and completely unique.
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Making Pizza Dough
Flour, yeast, and water are mixed together to make a dough that everyone can top with their favorite ingredients. Kneading the dough is already a lot of fun, and at the end, you get a delicious dinner as a reward for a rainy day.
View instructions →Noch mehr Inspiration?
Die Grubenfuchs-App!
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And for all the ideas you couldn't get to on a rainy day: In our categories, you'll find plenty more, sorted by age, location, and the time you have available. Or check out the free Grubenfuchs app, where you'll discover even more inspiration for those gray days.