The weather here has been absolutely hideous recently, we’ve done out best to still get out and about but there have been days when it’s just not been possible, with this in mind Leapfrog asked me to share some of our favourite indoor activity ideas.
Play some active games
We love Hide and Seek, musical bumps, musical statues. Sometimes we even take the sofa apart and make an assault course or a den.
Get busy crafting
My kids all love junk modelling, we recently made this funky cardboard box car.
I also really love this 3 Little Pigs craft from Red Ted Art. You could get the kids to put on a little show after making the set.
Or make little gifts for friends like these bracelet making kits.
Fun Educational Activities
School holidays are a fun break away from the structure of school, but you can make learning enjoyable at home too.
We love these Sight Word Skittles from Rainy Day Mum. You could make the words harder for older children or even use letters and numbers for smaller children.
Or, how about making some dinosaur footprints, again you could use words, letters, numbers or even sums on these. We’ve also used them as part of a treasure hunt and hidden sweets at the end.
Set up a Numeracy box and have some fun measuring and counting.
Get in the kitchen
We recently read The Faraway Tree and tried to make some Google Buns.
These Flapjacks are a big favourite too.
You could even have an indoor picnic, maybe invite friends round or just teddies.
Role Play
My girls love role play games, we can’t wait to try DIY Plaster Casts on our dolls from The Imagination Tree.
Another favourite is making a shoe shop or a school.
Sensory and Messy Fun
Messy play isn’t for everyone, but if you can get hold of a big tray or a tuff spot you can keep it mostly contained.
We’re very excited about trying this homemade play dough for sensitive skin from The Imagination Tree. Anna also has literally hundreds of wonderful play ideas using it. You could bring the outdoors in with this Garden Centre pretend play.
If play dough isn’t your thing, how about making some slimy spaghetti?
Or set up a mini chemistry lab with oil, coloured water and pipettes.
Get the pens and paint out
You could do some printing using DUPLO.
Try some splat painting.
Or draw around yourselves and add clothes or even use the opportunity to learn about your insides.
Other Ideas
Try one of our 10 fun ways to play with DUPLO.
There are lots of fun and education indoor play ideas on Science Sparks too.
What are your favourite indoor games?
Oooh GREAT ideas! Esp for all this bad bad weather we are having! thanks for including our 3 Little Pigs!
The longer the rain goes on, the more ideas I need! Some fab ones here, thank you x
AHh I love the look of the slimy spaghetti! Thanks for these, we need them thanks to our constant horrendous weather xx
This is a brilliant set of ideas. The weather has been truly awful hasn’t it?
There are some fantastic ideas here thank you! We love having indoor picnics on really rainy days or just snuggling under blankets and reading a book. Baking is also high on our indoor activity list. we will have to try some of your amazing ideas x
I wouldn’t have thought to use Duplo for paint stamping, it gives a great effect
Wow, the kids need never be bored again. I just need to get motivated now to set some of these up. Thanks Emma. Mich x
Lots and lots of brilliant ideas to keep little ones busy when the weather’s lousy! I will be forwarding this to my little sis, as she has two little boys and they have been suffering because they can’t get out in the weather you are all “enjoying” in the UK… Love the playdough idea as well, in such pretty colours! 🙂 Hope the sun comes out soon! Emma xxx
Great ideas – and that homemade playdoh looks so lovely !