Rainy Day Kids Activities You Can Do Inside Your Apartment

Cold, rainy days can be cozy — but being cooped up for too long can get real old real fast. 

Seattle’s wintery weather can certainly be a downer at times, and with the darkness, rain, grey skies and chilly temperatures, there’s definitely more incentive to be inside than out. Especially if you’ve got kids at home, too!

If the weather’s keeping you and your family cooped up indoors and you’re starting to go a little crazy, it’s a good time to pull out a list of rainy day activities that can keep you all entertained. Luckily, we’re seasoned pros at living through winters in our luxury Seattle apartments and have a tried-and-true set of ideas that can get you through the rainiest of PNW winters.

Whether you’ve got toddlers, preschoolers, elementary schoolers or middle schoolers, there are plenty of activities that you can do with them that are suited for all ages. Here’s a good list to get you started, but the rest is up to you! 

12 indoor activities to do with kids on rainy days

Indoor obstacle course

Turn your living space into a fun obstacle course using household items — it’s a great way to burn energy while encouraging creativity and problem-solving.

• Toddlers: Use pillows, cushions and stuffed animals for a soft and safe course. Include crawling under tables or through cardboard tunnels for added levels of problem-solving!
• Preschoolers: Add simple tasks like hopping over a line of stuffed animals, walking on a masking tape path or throwing bean bags into a basket for an added challenge.
• Elementary-aged kids: Add more physical challenges like jumping over a “lava floor” (a classic), balancing on a tape line or throwing balls into a bucket.
• Middle-school kids: Incorporate timed challenges or let them design the course themselves for a competitive edge.

Creative art projects

Get artsy with drawing, painting or crafting using supplies you already have at home! Lead your kids through a guided project, or just let them explore and create at their own pace. This activity promotes imagination and hands-on learning that will also eat up plenty of time. 

• Toddlers: Finger painting or using washable crayons on large sheets of paper.
• Preschoolers: Use stickers, potato stamps or sponge painting to create fun designs. They can also make collages with pre-cut magazine paper or cardstock shapes. 
• Elementary-aged kids: Guided drawing or making crafts like paper snowflakes, DIY slime or bead bracelets help build fine-motor skills.
• Middle-school kids: Advanced projects like model-building, painting on canvas or learning origami can be a new experience and encourage new forms of creativity!

Movie and popcorn day

Transform your apartment into a cozy home theater. Dim the lights, grab some blankets and enjoy a movie together.

• Toddlers: Show short animated movies or sensory-friendly shows with soft blankets.
• Preschoolers: Choose animated movies or sing-along films and give them a special “movie ticket” to hand over at the door.
• Elementary-aged kids: Choose age-appropriate adventure or fantasy films and make themed snacks.
• Middle-school kids: Introduce classic movies, host a mini-marathon or have them create movie tickets for a “home theater” experience.

Baking or cooking together

Engage kids in the kitchen by baking treats or preparing simple recipes for shared meals. It’s a fun way to teach math, science and teamwork with the promise of a tasty treat at the end!

• Toddlers: Guide kids through stirring batter or decorating cookies with sprinkles. Keep tasks simple (for their sake and yours!).
• Preschoolers: Let them help mix ingredients, shape cookie dough or spread toppings on mini pizzas.
• Elementary-aged kids: Measuring ingredients, rolling dough and stirring ingredients can help engage those fine motor skills and teach them hands-on cooking techniques. 
• Middle-school kids: Challenge them with a simple recipe to follow, like baking cupcakes or making pasta (under your guided supervision).

DIY fort building

Build a cozy hideout using blankets, cushions and furniture. Forts make the perfect spot for reading, playing or just relaxing — how to build them is totally up to the kids’ creativity!

• Toddlers: Simple pillow forts with adult help. Add fairy lights or a blanket for a cozy vibe.
• Preschoolers: Let them help choose the “materials” and include a fun element like a tunnel made using chairs or a large cardboard box.
• Elementary-aged kids: Let them build elaborate forts with chairs, sheets and books for support.
• Middle-school kids: Combine the fort with activities like reading, storytelling or playing board games inside.

Indoor treasure hunt

Hide objects or create clues for a fun indoor scavenger hunt! It’s a great mix of adventure and problem-solving that can be as complex as you want it to be. 

• Toddlers: Hide large, easy-to-find toys or objects around a room.
• Preschoolers: Use picture clues or color-coded hints to make finding treasures more engaging.
• Elementary-aged kids: Make a themed treasure hunt with clues leading to hidden items.
• Middle-school kids: Create riddles or puzzles as clues for a more challenging hunt.

Storytelling or puppet show

Spark imagination with storytelling or by putting on a puppet show. You can use puppets, stuffed animals or even household items to tell kids’ stories or recreate family moments.

• Toddlers: Use hand puppets or stuffed animals for short, interactive stories.
• Preschoolers: Let them choose their favorite characters or help make paper puppets to join a simple show.
• Elementary-aged kids: Create paper bag or sock puppets and encourage your kids to put on a show for the family!
• Middle-school kids: Guide your kids through writing scripts and performing more detailed puppet shows or skits.

Science experiments

Let your kids discover the magic of science with simple experiments that can be done with household items.

• Toddlers: Simple sensory experiments, like mixing baking soda and vinegar for fizz, will be entertaining and expose kids to new experiences.
• Preschoolers: Grow a bean sprout in a clear jar or create a sensory bottle with glitter and water. Hands-on activities are more educational than they seem!
• Elementary-aged kids: Experiments like making a baking soda volcano or creating a DIY lava lamp can start to introduce scientific concepts through exciting reactions. 
• Middle-school kids: Conduct more complex experiments, like growing crystals or testing simple chemical reactions to spark a sense of curiosity and hands-on learning. 

Dance party

Turn up the music and let loose with an indoor dance party. It’s perfect for staying active and having fun while burning some energy in the process!

• Toddlers: Play nursery rhymes or upbeat children’s songs. Use scarves or ribbons to dance with for extra sensory experiences.
• Preschoolers: Add props like hats or musical instruments like shakers or tambourines for more fun (as long as your neighbors are okay with it!).
• Elementary-aged kids: Play their favorite songs and create simple dance routines that they can learn and recreate on their own. 
• Middle-school kids: Teach trending dance challenges or encourage them to choreograph their own routine.

Reading and quiet time

Create a cozy reading nook for a relaxing and enriching quiet time activity. This is a great chance to introduce new book series or reading genres!

• Toddlers: Read interactive board books with flaps or textures.
• Preschoolers: Choose books with repetitive phrases or rhyming patterns to encourage participation in the story time.
• Elementary-aged kids: Provide chapter books, comics or choose a theme for their reading time.
• Middle-school kids: If your kids are avid readers, start a mini book club where they read and discuss a book of their choice.

DIY board games or card games

Make your own board games or learn a new card game for hours of interactive fun.

• Toddlers: Play matching or memory games with colorful cards.
• Preschoolers: Create simple games that mimic recognizable games using craft supplies.
• Elementary-aged kids: Create their own board game with a theme they love and supplies you already have!
• Middle-school kids: Design and play custom card games or challenges based on books, movies or comics they’re interested in.

Indoor gardening

Bring a little greenery indoors by planting seeds or tending to small plants. It’s an activity that will take a few days or weeks to bear fruit (literally), but the process can be fun and educational all the same!

• Toddlers: Let them sprinkle seeds into pots or water plants with a small cup.
• Preschoolers: Help them decorate small pots before planting herb or flower seeds in them.
• Elementary-aged kids: Teach them to grow herbs in small containers or sprout beans in a damp paper towel.
• Middle-school kids: Experiment with hydroponics or create a small terrarium.

Rainy days can be the perfect opportunity to bond with your kids, spark their creativity and even sneak in some learning — all without leaving your apartment! 

Whether they’re exploring an indoor treasure hunt, building a DIY fort or dancing their energy out, these indoor activities offer a variety of ways to beat the rainy-day blues. By tailoring each activity to your child’s age, you’ll ensure everyone has a fun and fulfilling day indoors. 

The next time the weather keeps you indoors, grab this list and let the adventures begin!

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Featured photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash