Rainy days can feel like a challenge when you have a busy toddler at home. With the playground off-limits and outdoor adventures on hold, you might be wondering how to keep your little one entertained while avoiding endless screen time. The good news? There are plenty of fun, engaging, and even educational activities to enjoy indoors!
Here are 15 creative rainy-day activities that will keep your toddler happy, active, and learning—no sunshine required!
1. Indoor Obstacle Course
Turn your living room into a mini adventure zone! Use pillows, chairs, and blankets to create tunnels, stepping stones, and balance beams. Challenge your toddler to crawl, jump, and climb through the course—it’s a great way to burn energy! We usually incorporate a red-light green-light game for some added giggles.
2. Sensory Bins
Fill a large container with rice, dried beans, or pasta and let your toddler dig, scoop, and pour using cups and spoons. Add small toys for a fun treasure hunt. For an extra sensory twist, try water beads or kinetic sand. This activity can get a little messy, Usually we do this on the kitchen floor or someplace that’s easy to clean.
3. DIY Indoor Bowling
Stack plastic cups or use empty water bottles as pins, and roll a soft ball to knock them down. This simple game helps develop coordination and is always a toddler favorite! My daughter was recently gifted this bowling set from her aunt and it’s been a big hit in our house!
4. Storytime Adventures
Make reading interactive by using silly voices, acting out scenes, or even turning the story into a mini puppet show. Let your toddler “read” by describing pictures or making up their own version of the story. If your toddler is anything like mine, they associate story time with naps or bedtime. You can avoid the unnecessary meltdown by reading in a common area or snuggle up in mom & dad’s bed as a special treat.
5. Baking Together
Get messy in the kitchen! Simple recipes like banana muffins or homemade pizzas let your toddler practice mixing, pouring, and even kneading dough. Bonus: It’s a great way to introduce early math concepts like measuring. Again, this is guaranteed to be messy activity, but I think it’s a good opportunity to slow down and just allow it to happen. It’s so worth the memories for you and the fun sensory time for them. Just keep the broom and paper towels handy!
6. Indoor Picnic
Lay out a blanket and enjoy a picnic right in your living room! Let your toddler help set up and choose snacks. Add some stuffed animal “guests” for extra fun. I like to play a youtube video with a nice nature pov, like someone walking down the beach or at a cool location. Plus, no bugs! It’s an all around win!
7. Dance Party
Put on some music and have a dance-off! Play freeze dance or encourage your toddler to copy your moves. This activity is great for getting out extra energy while having fun together. Everytime the “Musical Statues” episode of Bluey comes on, my two and a half year old wants to play along!
8. DIY Playdough Fun
Make your own playdough using flour, salt, water, and food coloring. Toddlers love rolling, squishing, and shaping dough—it’s fantastic for fine motor skills and creativity. Pull out the plastic cookie cutters and help them cut different shapes.
9. Rainy Window Art
Grab some washable markers or window crayons and let your toddler draw on the windows while watching the rain outside. You can also use shaving cream for a fun, messier twist!
10. Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Hide small toys or objects around the house and give clues for your toddler to find them. Try themes like “find something blue” or “find something soft” to build vocabulary and problem-solving skills.
11. Balloon Volleyball
Blow up a balloon and play a gentle game of volleyball. This is a safe way for toddlers to practice coordination without worrying about breaking anything! Ok, you caught me, it’s another Bluey inspired game, lovingly known as “Keepy Uppy,” I swear that show is really for parents though, they always have the best game ideas for littles!
12. Water Play in the Sink
If your toddler loves splashing, fill the sink with a little water and give them cups, spoons, and toys to explore. Add bubbles or food coloring for extra excitement. Literally every time we visit my mother in law, she fills up her sink with warm water and suds and lets our toddler go to town. We usually have to pop her shirt in the dryer before we leave but she loves it, who can say no?
13. Dress-Up and Pretend Play
Let your toddler try on fun hats, scarves, or costumes and encourage imaginative play. They can be a chef, a superhero, or even an astronaut on a mission!
14. Cardboard Box Creations
Turn a simple cardboard box into a spaceship, car, or playhouse with crayons and stickers. Toddlers love climbing in and out while pretending to be on an adventure! Don’t have any large boxes? No problem! Use a small box to make houses for their favorite toys!
15. Movie and Fort Time
This one is my personal favorite! Build a cozy blanket fort and watch a favorite movie or show inside. Add pillows and stuffed animals for extra comfort—it’s the perfect way to wind down after an active day. I really like this toddler tent because it comes with cute star shaped lights and can be used for an array of activities, and it comes in four different colors.
Final Thoughts
Rainy days don’t have to mean cooped-up boredom! With a little creativity, you can turn a gloomy day into an opportunity for fun, learning, and bonding with your toddler. Whether you’re crafting, dancing, or baking, these activities will make staying inside an adventure.
What’s your toddler’s favorite rainy-day activity? Share in the comments below!
