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Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers

August 30, 2013 by Bonnie Way

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Like most preschoolers, my daughters are busy people who like lots to do during the day.  Bad weather can be hard because it means that we can’t go outside play (and run off some of their boundless energy).  That means I have to be more creative to come up with other activities to stave off their boredom and subsequent whining.  Here are ten activity ideas to help you keep your preschooler busy and happy when the weather outside isn’t so nice.

rainy day kids activities

10 Fun Ideas for Rainy Days with Your Preschooler

Each of these submissions has been provided with permission from the original bloggers. We encourage you to visit their blogs and follow them on their social media channels.

1. Yarn People

Lauralee uses toilet paper rolls, yarn, glue, and other items from around the house to create yarn people.  She says this craft encouraged their imaginations and creativity while letting them work on fine motor skills.  Read more here.

Yarn People

2. Indoor Scavenger Hunt

When the weather is nasty outside, Cheryl sets up an indoor scavenger hunt for her children.  She suggests various ideas for where to hide clues and includes some great scavenger hunt printables to make it even easier.  Read more here.

indoor-scavenger-hunt

 3.  Under the Table Fort

Jen shares how she built a fort for her toddler under the table on a rainy day.  This encourages creativity (how would your preschooler design a fort?), imagination and quiet play.  Read more here.

under-the-table-fort

4.  Tissue Paper Crafts

If, like Tricia, you save all the tissue paper you received with all those baby gifts (or birthday presents) you’ve gotten, then you’re set for this craft!  Let your children play with the tissue paper or make pictures with it (depending on their ages and abilities).  Read more here.

tissue-paper-craft

5.  Button Wreaths

This simple craft requires only buttons and pipe cleaners.  Children will practice fine motor skills and coordination while learning about patterns.  Read more here.

button wreath

6.  Pouring Activities

Water can provide endless hours of entertainment for preschoolers—and it’s easy to clean up if they make a mess!  Jody provides suggestions for pouring activities for your preschoolers.  Read more here.

pouring activities

7.  Sticky Wall Matching Game

Jen uses hearts to create a Valentine’s Day game for her daughter, but this activity could be done with any shape for any time of year—a fun way to teach your preschooler about colours and shapes!  Read more here.

shapes and colours

8.  Board Games

Of course, when the weather is nasty, you can always pull out a few board games—but what games can preschoolers play?  Julie provides three suggestions for starting your preschoolers on board games.  Read more here.

hungry-hippos

9. Invisible Ink

This craft combines science with art and is sure to amaze your preschooler.  It’s also easy—all you need is lemons, paper and a small lamp.  Read more here.

invisible ink

10.  Foam Sticker Crafts

Most preschoolers love stickers, so Renata lets her preschooler use foam stickers to create gifts for their friends and family.  Watch for foam stickers on sale and keep a stash handy for rainy days!  Read more here.

Paint projects are also a great way to keep preschoolers occupied inside.  For more ideas, check out our Activities for Preschoolers Resource Page (and add your own links there!).

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About Bonnie Way

Bonnie Way is a freelance writer, editor, blogger, mom and wife. She has three daughters, ages five, three, and newborn, who take her to parks and read books with her and help fold laundry. When she's not hanging out with them or working on her computer, she enjoys rock climbing, scrapbooking and reading. Bonnie blogs at The Koala Mom.

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9 Comments

  1. Riyana says

    July 29, 2015 at 7:40 am

    Bonnie, thanks for these superb ideas, actually in my city the weather is changing to rainy days now so your blog is really helpful as my daughter can’t go to school due to heavy rain. I’ll try all these wonderful ideas.

    Reply
  2. angie says

    October 6, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    love your ideas very soon we will need to remember these as more inside days will be had

    Reply
  3. Tricia says

    September 30, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    Thank you so much for including my tissue paper crafts. I enjoyed seeing the other ideas as well. I cannot wait to do the yarn people with my kids!!

    Reply
  4. Coffee with Julie says

    September 22, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    Thank you for including my ideas around games for pre-schoolers. I love this list … I find that my kids are especially enamoured with making a fort. It can keep them busy for hours!

    Reply
  5. vickie couturier says

    September 19, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    good points an tips ,thanks

    Reply
  6. Michelle Q says

    September 6, 2013 at 1:00 am

    I did the button wreaths! See how it turned out here: http://sandandtable.com/button-wreaths-extra-buttons-youre-saving-for-no-good-reason/
    Good ideas!

    Reply
  7. Christine says

    September 1, 2013 at 2:02 am

    Bonnie, thanks for these ideas!!! There is always raining in the place I live in so this might help me spend some quality time with kids!!!

    Reply
  8. heather says

    August 31, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    This is just a great post I love the tips especially the yarn people tooooo cute and fun.

    Reply
    • Bonnie Way says

      September 1, 2013 at 3:30 pm

      I like the yarn people too – especially since kids would have fun making them AND playing with them. We have some spare yarn around here so I think I’ll try this soon. 🙂

      Reply

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