15 Fun Indoor Activities for Toddlers on a Rainy Day

15 Fun Indoor Activities for Toddlers on a Rainy Day

We're here to save those rainy day blues with our list of 15 fun indoor activities for toddlers!

We've got you covered with games, crafts, and simple science experiments that'll keep your little ones entertained all day long.

So, let's make the most of staying in and turn it into a day filled with laughter, learning, and lots of love.

Ready to dive in? Let's get started!

Crafting a Cardboard Castle

We're going to have a blast crafting a cardboard castle, perfect for a rainy day activity with our toddlers. This project promotes cardboard creativity, sparking the imagination of our little ones, while also improving their motor skills.

We'll gather up some old boxes, scissors, and glue. Then, we'll start cutting and shaping our castle. Remember, safety first, so we'll handle the sharp objects. However, our toddlers can help us decide where the castle's windows, doors, and towers should go.

Next, it's time for castle decoration. We'll let our kids draw, paint, or stick stickers to make the castle colorful and unique. This activity not only keeps our toddlers busy, but also nurtures their creativity and artistic abilities.

We'll transform a boring, rainy day into an adventure in our very own cardboard castle kingdom.

Setting up a Toy Car Race Track

Let's transform the living room into a miniature race track for their toy cars. With a few simple track design ideas, we can create a curvy, zig-zag or circular track. We can use masking tape for the track lines, and cardboard for ramps and bridges. Don't forget to set up pit stops and starting and finishing lines.

Now, for the vehicle choice debate, we've to let our kiddos choose their racing champions. Could it be the shiny red sports car, the cool monster truck or the speedy race car? Let's talk about the unique features of each car, promoting fun and learning. This way, we're not just playing; we're teaching them about decision-making, problem-solving and basic physics too.

Engaging in a Dance Party

After the toy car race, it's time to crank up the music and start our family dance party. We'll become skilled dancers with a bit of 'Dance Moves Learning'. We'll hop, skip, and twirl to the beat, laughing and having a ball. It's all about rhythm and fun.

Next, let's dive into 'Rhythm Exploration'. We'll clap our hands and stomp our feet in time with the music. We can use instruments, like drums or shakers, to help us keep the beat. We'll be listening carefully to the rhythm and trying to match it. With practice, we'll get better and better.

Baking Simple Toddler-Friendly Recipes

Switching gears from our dance party, we'll now move into the kitchen to whip up some simple toddler-friendly recipes.

First, let's focus on our recipe selection. We're aiming for recipes that are simple, fun, and healthy. Think colourful fruits, easy-to-mix ingredients, and cute shapes!

Safety measures are super important. We'll make sure all sharp tools and hot surfaces are kept out of reach. Your little one can help with safe tasks like washing veggies, mixing ingredients, or decorating the finished product.

It's a fantastic way to get them excited about food and learn about nutrition. Plus, it's a great bonding activity for us.

Building a Living Room Fort

We're going to transform our living room into an awesome fort, perfect for adventures and storytelling. Fort decoration ideas include hanging fairy lights for a magical glow, or using colorful blankets as walls. We can make it even more fun by adding flags or homemade signs.

Choosing the right pillows is important too. Pillow selection tips include finding ones that are big, soft and squishy. We need them to be sturdy enough for our walls, but comfy enough for lounging. Let's use different shapes and sizes to make our fort interesting.

Exploring With a Scavenger Hunt

Inside our newly constructed fort, we'll stage an exciting scavenger hunt to further fuel our adventurous spirit. We've hidden objects around and it's your job to seek them out! Along the way, we've got hunt themed snacks to keep our little adventurers energized. Don't forget, scavenger hunt safety is important too. We'll always stick together, keeping an eye on each other.

We've got a list of objects to find - a red sock, a yellow book, and a green spoon. For each object found, we'll celebrate with a little treat - maybe a fruit kabob or a popcorn trail mix. Ready or not, let's start hunting! Remember, it's not about who finishes first, it's about having fun and exploring together.

Now, let's get this adventure started!

Learning Through Educational Apps

After our scavenger hunt, we'll dive into some educational apps that'll keep us learning and engaged. We've got to be smart about our App Selection Criteria to make sure we're learning the best stuff. We'll look for apps that are fun, safe, and packed with knowledge nuggets! We'll also make sure they're right for our age group.

But it's not all about the apps, we've got to be good at Screen Time Management too. We can't stay glued to our screens all day, can we? So, we'll set some screen time rules. Maybe we can use our apps for a little while after lunch, or before bedtime.

We're going to have so much fun learning and playing inside, even on a rainy day!

Painting a Rainy Day Masterpiece

Next on our agenda, we'll be creating a masterpiece inspired by the raindrops on the window. We'll start our art project with a careful art supplies selection. We'll need paper, paints, brushes, and maybe some glitter for a special sparkle! Don't worry, it's not as tricky as it sounds.

While we paint, we'll chat about the colors we're using, the shapes we see in the raindrops, and how the rain makes us feel. We're not just making pretty pictures - we're learning too!

Once our masterpieces are dry, we'll think about masterpiece display ideas. Maybe we'll hang them in the window for the whole neighborhood to see, or perhaps we'll create an at-home art gallery. Let's get creative while we wait for the sun to shine again!

Organizing a Stuffed Animal Tea Party

Now, let's dive into our next fun indoor activity: Organizing a Stuffed Animal Tea Party. It's not just about fun, we also learn Tea Party etiquette.

We'll invite all our cuddly friends and serve pretend tea and cookies. Remember, we must say 'please' and 'thank you', and use our 'indoor voices'.

This imaginative play benefits us too! It helps us understand social rules and manners. Plus, it sparks our creativity, builds our language skills, and helps us learn to empathize with others.

So, let's set up our table, arrange our stuffed guests, and let our imaginations run wild! Even on a rainy day, we can have a sunny tea party indoors.

Ready to pour some pretend tea and have a good chat with our plush pals?

Growing the Love for Reading With Story Time

We're shifting gears to another enriching pastime: Growing the Love for Reading With Story Time. Picture book selections are a great place to start. Books with bright, exciting illustrations captivate little minds and help develop an early love for reading.

We'll make the story come alive with different voices for each character and ask fun questions to keep our kiddos engaged. This isn't just fun, it's also a wonderful way for vocabulary expansion. New words from the story can become our word of the day, and we'll use it in sentences to help remember.

Playing Dress-Up With Old Clothes

Digging through old clothes for a spontaneous dress-up session can spark a world of make-believe and creativity. It's not just about having fun, it's also about encouraging costume creativity. We can turn a simple scarf into a superhero's cape or an old hat into a queen's crown. Role-playing helps us understand different perspectives and situations, it's one of the role play benefits.

We're not only dressing up, we're also creating stories. Maybe we're brave knights saving the kingdom, or perhaps we're astronauts exploring the cosmos. These play sessions help us learn about the world and ourselves.

Making Music With Homemade Instruments

In the same vein as dress-up, we've found that crafting homemade instruments can also take our creativity to new heights. This fun indoor activity is a great way of recycling household items. We can use old cans, plastic bottles, or even dry pasta to create our tunes!

We'll not only have a blast making these instruments, but we'll get to jam out together once they're finished. Fostering creativity through music can really keep us entertained on a rainy day. It's exciting to see what kind of sounds we can make. Plus, it's a great way to learn about different types of instruments and sounds.

Experimenting With Simple Science Experiments

Shifting gears, let's explore the fascinating world of simple science experiments next. One of our favorites is the Volcano Experiment Fun. It's easy, safe, and oh-so-amazing to watch! We just mix baking soda and vinegar, and poof! We've got our very own mini erupting volcano.

Next up, we'll dive into the world of colors with our Color Mixing Discoveries. We start with the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. We then mix them in different combinations to see the magic unfold. Red and yellow make orange, blue and yellow make green, and red and blue make purple. Isn't it astounding?

Simple science experiments aren't just fun, they're also a great way to learn. So let's roll up our sleeves and start exploring!

Hosting a Puppet Show

We're turning our attention now to the creative and imaginative world of puppet shows, an engaging way to tell stories and spark imagination. Puppet shows are a fantastic indoor activity that opens up a world of creativity and fun for toddlers.

Let's delve into some puppet creation ideas. We could use old socks or paper bags and decorate them with markers, yarn, or googly eyes. Even your toddler's tiny hands can turn into butterflies or little bunnies with some paint and imagination!

Next, we'll dive into show themes exploration. We could recreate their favorite fairytale, or maybe act out a day at the zoo. The possibilities are endless!

Enjoying Sensory Play With Homemade Playdough

Transitioning from puppet shows, let's now delve into the tactile and engaging world of sensory play with homemade playdough. With fun and easy playdough recipes, we can create a variety of vibrant doughs right at home.

It's not just about the fun, though! Sensory play has so many benefits too. It helps us to develop our fine motor skills, explore our creativity, and understand the world around us. The squishy, malleable texture of playdough is perfect for little hands to explore, shape, and mold.

Plus, by adding different scents and textures, we can enhance the sensory benefits even further. So next rainy day, let's swap our puppets for playdough and create, learn, and play together!


What Are Some Safety Precautions to Consider During These Indoor Activities?


We're always mindful of safety. We ensure to prevent choking hazards by keeping small objects away. We're also keen on childproofing spaces, removing sharp objects, and covering electrical outlets for our little ones' safety.

How Can I Make These Activities More Interactive and Fun for My Toddler?

We'd recommend adding role-playing games and sensory play ideas to your indoor activities. They'll not only make playtime more interactive, but also stimulate your toddler's imagination and sensory development in a fun, engaging way.

Are There Any Recommended Apps for Toddlers That Combine Fun and Learning?


We're fans of ABCmouse and Endless Alphabet. These apps are suitable for toddlers, offering a balance of fun and learning with busy quiet books It's important, though, to limit screen time and mix in plenty of physical play.

Can These Activities Be Modified for Children With Special Needs?

Absolutely! We're big believers in 'Adapting Toys for Accessibility.' Most activities can be tweaked for inclusive play. It's about finding what suits each child's unique abilities and interests. All kids deserve fun, right?

How Can I Incorporate These Activities Into My Toddler's Daily Routine?

We can easily incorporate these activities into your toddler's daily routine. We'll blend them into their playtime, meals, and even quiet times. Routine benefits are huge, and activity scheduling can make your day smoother.


So there you've it, folks! Just because it's pouring outside doesn't mean we can't have fun indoors.

From crafting castles to cooking, dancing, and even doing science experiments, we've got loads of rainy day activities to keep our little ones busy.

So, let's turn off the TV, put away the gadgets, and dive into some good old-fashioned playtime.

Remember, the best part about playing isn't the toys, but the joy we share together.

Find more activities for toddlers

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Busy Quiet Book | Little CLoudy

Little Cloudy offers handmade quiet books, soft books hand stitched from felt, each with their own theme ranging from a dolls house to jungle. Each quiet book is interactive, the characters in the book can be removed becoming fabric toys for children and parents to play with and create their own story's and adventures. They are named quiet books as this book and toy fusion will allow for quiet play time keeping young children and toddlers entertained while providing a fun and educational experience, without any hard or potentially dangerous parts, meaning the books and characters can serve as cuddly toys during naptime and action figures during playtime.

Quiet books