Rainy, dreary days keep you indoors, but there are plenty of options for entertaining the kids. A list of rainy day games that you can plan indoors keeps you prepared when the rain clouds roll in, allowing you to avoid complaints of boredom. Games that don't require special equipment work best because you can start playing right away.
Obstacle Course
An obstacle course around the house keeps the kids active when they can't run around in the backyard. Pillows, couch cushions, beanbag chairs and stuffed animals work well as obstacles, providing a soft landing if the kids bump into them. Ideas include climbing over beanbag chairs, weaving back and forth between stuffed animals or jumping over pillows like hurdles. Babyzone suggests jumping on the bed at the beginning of the obstacle course and walking like different animals during the race.
Rice Search
A shallow tub or bowl with a few inches of rice in it creates the base for a less active game for rainy days. Hide several small objects in the rice, such as paper clips, beads, plastic animals and buttons. Set a timer and let the kids take turns finding as many objects in the rice as possible. Counting the objects before you put them in is useful for verifying how many items were found. This game is only for school-age children or older, as younger children could place the objects in their mouths.
Magazine Scavenger Hunt
This version of the scavenger hunt uses magazines for the search instead of the real world. Create a list of 10 to 20 items that kids might find in a magazine. Ideas include a car, food, a child and a particular animal. Consider the type of magazines you have available and the typical pictures that appear in them when making your list. The kids flip through the magazines and cut out pictures for each item on the list. The first person or team to find all of the items wins the scavenger hunt.
Masking Tape Challenge
Masking tape appeals to many children, but it isn't something they normally get to play with. Use masking tape as part of a rainy day game as a special treat. "Parents" magazine recommends using the tape to make a hopscotch board on the floor. Another option is to have a masking tape sculpture contest. Each participant creates a sculpture using only masking tape. The best design is the winner.
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