Fun Rainy Day Activities for Kids & Indoor Games

Need some fun rainy day activities for kids? I am always looking for new things to do on a rainy day at home.

Fun indoor games for families that will keep the kids off electronics and enjoying each other. If this is your goal too then check out my list of entertaining things to do on a rainy day with kids and get inspired.

Make it a fun indoor game day by having a go-to list already created of things to do. I’ve included fun family game night ideas too. This way there is no stress coming up with kids’ indoor activities on the spot.

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Fun Rainy Day Activities for Kids & Indoor Games

Indoor Games with Balloons

Balloon Hockey

What you need: two laundry baskets and hockey sticks, kid’s golf clubs or even the cardboard from inside of a large tube of wrapping paper.

The last one might be the safest. Then a bag of balloons from the Dollar Store. Split the family into teams and see which team can get the most goals  

Balloon Tennis

What you need: Paper plates, balloons, masking tape, then either plastic spoons or wooden paint stirrer (you can get these free at a Menards or Home Depot).

This game is a great way to use up the last of the paper plates from a kid’s birthday party or holiday event. I used up the end of our Halloween plates the last time we played. 

Tape your spoon or wooden stirrer to the back of your paper plate. Then use it like a tennis racket and the balloon as your ball. Hit the balloon back and forth and see which team can keep the balloon in the air the longest.

You could also have the kids individually try to use their paddle to keep the balloon in the air. 

Tip: These are great games to use at a sports-themed birthday party, too. Find more fun birthday party game ideas.

Family Game Night Ideas

Dust off all those games in the closet, then order in some pizza and play a couple of board games together. 

If your looking for a fun board game try Candyland for younger kids and Monopoly or Sorry for older kids.

My kids absolutely love playing Monopoly and you can find versions with their favorite characters like Toy Story or Fortnite.

We also enjoy playing Jenga together.  It’s a great group game with the added suspense of when will the blocks will all fall down.

For trivia, lovers try the guessing game Headbanz. There are several varieties to make it harder or easier depending on your child’s age. 

If you’re stuck at home host a Zoom Family Game Night with Friends and Family. Get some game ideas on our 15 fun Games to Play on Zoom with Kids.

Paper Airplane Challenge 

All you need is some paper from your computer printer, then have the kids fold their airplanes and decorate them. This could take a while just in itself.

Then start racing them and see whose plane goes the furthest or which could do tricks. You can add-on paper clips as weights to see if that makes a difference in speed or distance. (bonus science lesson) 

Do you need some help coming up with different types of paper airplanes to make? Get this book with tons of easy to make plane varieties. I found our kids were more excited about playing when they had a new type of plane each round. 

Obstacle Course 

Use pillows, small cones, hula hoops or anything you already have in your house and set up an obstacle course to run through. The kids can help make up the course, run through it and then keep changing it to make it better.

After that, they can play Hot Lava. Throw a couple of pillows or tape some paper to the floor that is spaced out. They cannot touch the floor (which is hot lava) only the paper/pillows and try to make it across the room. 

Minute to Win It games 

Minute to Win It is games and activities that need to be completed in one minute. They are quick and fun games to play that keep the kids interested and excited.

Get even more ideas from 20 Easy Minute To Win It Games for Kids.

Cup Stacking –

What you need: 42 solo cups, that’s it.  

Two kids each get 21 cups and have one minute to stack them, make a pyramid and re stack them in a minute’s time. Whoever does it the fastest wins.

When the game is done let them make their own designs for fun with the cups. Add some army men, little dinosaurs, or princesses figures and let the kids add them to the castle/pyramid structures for pretend play.   

Coin Stacking –

What you need: 50 pennies (amount for 2 players) 

Kids each get a stack of 25 pennies and must stack them up in a minute’s time. Fastest one wins. This is harder than you think.

Suck it Up –

What you Need: 50 M&Ms or Skittles, 2 Straws and 4 paper plates (amount for 2 players) 

Each child gets a straw, 25 M&Ms and 2 paper plates. The kids have one minute to move all the M&Ms from one plate to the other by sucking it at the end of the straw.

Whoever finishes first, wins. Bonus: kids get to eat the candy which makes this a favorite. 

Where to Use these Indoor Games

These games would be great as birthday party activities for a bigger group. I also love using Minute to Win it Games at school parties, they are always a hit! Or check out our list of easy Elementary School Party Games for Room Parents for more ideas and inspiration.

More Fun At Home Game Ideas

If you want more indoor games and outdoor activities that won’t cost you a thing use our list of 60 Free Things to Do with Kids. These would be great for trying out a no-spend weekend with the kids.

Head out on a family scavenger hunt through your neighborhood or a local nature trail for a free day out too.

Want a fun Stem activity? Try these fun Shadow Art & Sidewalk Chalk Drawing Ideas and learn How to Make a Volcano at Home.

Stuck At Home

If you’re stuck at home because of school closures mix up the fun activities with some at-home learning.

I know it can be overwhelming to do but here is an easy to follow guide of the Best School Apps & Educational Websites for Kids. It’s broken up by age and subject to find what you need.

Trying to work from home with kids? Use the I’m Bored Jar to keep them busy. Filled with 36 Things to Do When Your Kids are Bored.

Keeping the kids on a daily schedule can help too. Here is a free printable daily schedule for kids to help make your day at home less chaotic.

Are you ready now for an upcoming rainy day or school closure? The great part about these fun indoor games is you can adjust them to be easier or harder based on your child’s age.

Don’t feel you need to do these indoor activities all the time, it’s all about balancing the screen time and family time.

Start out using these as fun things to do on rainy days with the kids and then add a weekly game night to your schedule. Once you start this you, will be surprised how much they love playing family games and don’t mind ditching their electronics.

Well, maybe not ditching the electronics forever, but at least for some nights. But hey, that’s a win too. Make sure to put your phone away, too!

I hope you enjoyed these fun rainy day activities for kids and found cool things to do on a rainy day at home. If you have another great indoor game your family likes to play please share it with us the comments. I love hearing from my readers.

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