Rainy day activities for the whole family

With many children at home during lockdown, time outside has helped to keep them entertained, from long walks in local parks, to games in the garden.

But what are you to do when the weather takes an unexpected turn (even in the Summer!), forcing you to take cover inside? We’re here to help, with our list of faithful indoor activities sure to keep you and your children smiling all day long.

Make a batch of slime

Slime isn’t all that bad. Believe us! Slime has certain qualities that make it a great tool for play. Its smooth and stretchy texture helps encourage a calm and focused-playtime, acting as a form of sensory play.

While most of the slime you can buy from stores isn’t to be consumed, this tactile, gooey substance comes in a variety of forms, and, with the right home supervision and ingredients, it can be made into something edible. So, put the cupcake cases and oven gloves back in the cupboard, and get your hands on the ingredients below to make this quick and easy safe-to-eat slime.

For ‘marshmallow-slime’ – you’ll need the following: mini marshmallows to imitate the ‘slimy’ texture, cornflour, icing sugar (for sweetness, of course!), veg oil, vanilla extract and lastly, cake sprinkles for decoration. 

For ‘jelly-slime’ – you’ll need the following: cornflower, 2 sachets of sugar-free jelly (you’ll find lots of flavours available), and warm water.

You can find full instructions and a few other edible slime ideas, here.

Cosy-up

Blanket forts are simple to build and provide countless hours of fun for children, giving them a soothing and cosy space to retreat to when the weather turns wet.

Gather up some plush throws, bed sheets and pillows, and round up the dining room chairs into a free corner of the playroom or lounge. Make two rows of chairs and arrange them so the backs are close together, but with a big enough gap to fit one or two little ones inside (and a parent!).

Now, rest a bed sheet on the floor, pile up the cushions and bring with you a selection of your little one’s favourite books and crayons, scrap paper and snuggly toys. Finally, lay the blankets on top of the chair backs and crawl inside. Top tip: don’t forget to pack a torch so you can read bedtime stories when it gets dark.

Put on a performance

Admit it, we’ve all got a drawer at home stuffed to the brim with old and odd socks. Why not put them to good use and give them a new lease of life by transforming them into sock puppets?

Give your sock puppets some character by gathering up those random arts and crafts supplies you have lying around the house, including things like ribbon, pompoms and stick-on eyes, felt and buttons. Alternatively, you can buy a box of craft pieces online.

Why not let your imagination run wild and try your hand at making a selection of zoo animals or sea creatures or re-create your much-loved pets at home.

Once you’ve made your new fabric pals, why not put on a show for the family and encourage your little ones to get involved too. If you have any spare cardboard, you could even keep little crafty hands busy by letting them create their very own pantomime stage for their puppets to perform in.

Though simple to create, not only do homemade sock puppets give your children a unique ‘toy’ to play with, but they can help to build cherished memories for both you and the whole family.

If you have a go at any of our rainy day activities, why not share your creations with us over on our social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.