15 Things to Do During the Rainy Days

This guide is your rainy day rescue kit. We’ve put together 15 fantastic activities during rainy days designed to spark joy, laughter, and creativity for everyone in the family, no matter their age.

Dust off those board games hiding in the closet! A rainy day is the perfect excuse to gather around the table for some friendly competition. Whether it’s a classic like Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders, a strategy game like Settlers of Catan, or even cooperative games where you work together against the game itself, there’s something for every family dynamic. You can create a mini-tournament bracket if you have time for multiple games. Let the winner choose the next movie or skip a chore! For younger kids, focus on simpler games that involve colors, shapes, or numbers.

There’s a unique satisfaction in clicking puzzle pieces together to reveal a bigger picture. Jigsaw puzzles come in all sizes and complexities, from simple chunky puzzles for toddlers to intricate 1000-piece landscapes for older kids and adults. Choose one appropriate for your family’s abilities, spread the pieces out, and start sorting! This activity is great for developing patience, focus, problem-solving skills, shape recognition, and fine motor control.

Transform your living room into a cozy home cinema. Don’t just watch any movie; create a theme! It could be a Disney princess marathon, a superhero saga, films by a specific director, or even movies based on books you've read. The possibilities are endless. This indoor activity is a relaxing way to spend time together during the rainy season, sparking imagination and conversation.

The kitchen is often the heart of the home, and a rainy day is ideal for filling it with delicious smells. Choose recipes that are kid-friendly and allow for participation at different skill levels. Simple cookies, cupcakes, pizza from scratch, or even local favorites like pandesal or turon can be fun projects. This is one of the most rewarding things to do during rainy days. It teaches valuable life skills like measuring, following instructions, and practicing kitchen safety. It’s also a sensory experience and results in a tasty reward everyone can share.

Is there anything more magical to a child (or a nostalgic adult!) than an indoor fort? Drape blankets and bedsheets over chairs, sofas, and tables to create tunnels, rooms, and secret hideaways. The more pillows and cushions inside, the better! Fort building encourages imagination, teamwork, and basic engineering skills (Like how do we stop that blanket from collapsing?). It creates a special, cozy space for other family activities.

It’s time to unleash your family’s inner artists! Set up a crafting station with various supplies and let your imaginations run wild. Painting, drawing, making collages from old magazines, sculpting with playdough or clay, or even creating DIY slime are all fantastic options. Arts and crafts foster creativity, fine motor skills, self-expression, and concentration. Plus, you get unique keepsakes! It’s one of the most productive indoor activities during the rainy season.  

Turn your home into an adventure zone! Create a series of clues leading from one spot to the next, ending with a "treasure"—this could be a small toy, a favorite snack, or even a coupon for a special privilege, such as choosing dinner or skipping a chore! It gets everyone moving, encourages problem-solving and reading (or picture recognition for the little ones), and builds excitement and anticipation—a top activity during rainy days for energetic kids.

Reading together is simple yet profoundly beneficial. Choose a chapter book to read over several rainy days or pick a stack of picture books. Take turns reading aloud, use funny character voices, and pause to look at illustrations or discuss what might happen next. This activity boosts literacy skills, expands vocabulary, sparks imagination, and fosters a love of reading. It’s also a wonderfully calming and bonding activity for the whole family.

Let your living room become a stage! Work together to write a simple script (or adapt a favorite story), assign roles, create costumes from old clothes or craft supplies, and put on a performance for yourselves or record it to watch later. Alternatively, host a family talent show where everyone shares a skill—whether it’s singing, dancing, telling a joke, performing a magic trick, or juggling soft items! This encourages creativity, collaboration, public speaking confidence (even in a safe space), and is just plain fun! It allows everyone to shine.

You don’t need a fancy laboratory for some fascinating science exploration. Simple experiments using common household items can be incredibly engaging. Think baking soda and vinegar volcanoes, creating density towers with different liquids, making homemade slime, or exploring surface tension with milk, food coloring, and dish soap. This rainy day activity makes learning hands-on and exciting, introduces basic scientific principles, encourages curiosity, and develops critical thinking skills. Always remember, safety first!

Building toy bricks does wonder for creativity. Don’t just aimlessly build —set challenges! Who can build the tallest tower? Can you build a bridge that spans two books? Can you create your dream house or a futuristic vehicle? Building blocks develop spatial reasoning, fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, patience, and imagination. It’s one of the classic things to do during rainy days. 

Who says picnics are only for sunny days? Spread a blanket on the living room floor, pack a basket with sandwiches, fruits, snacks, and drinks, and enjoy a delightful indoor picnic. It breaks the routine, feels special and adventurous, and makes lunchtime more fun. It’s simple but effective.

Turn up the music and let loose! Use karaoke apps, YouTube karaoke channels, or just sing along to your favorite songs. Clear some space, put on a high-energy playlist, and have a family dance party. Singing and dancing together as a family is incredibly freeing and creates joyful moments. It’s a fantastic energy burner, mood booster, and stress reliever.

The internet offers a world of learning opportunities. Spend some time learning a new, simple skill together. Watch tutorials on origami, try out kid-friendly coding websites, learn a few magic tricks, take a virtual tour of a famous museum somewhere in the world, or even learn basic phrases in a new language. This activity encourages lifelong learning, effectively utilizes technology, and allows families to acquire a new skill or knowledge together, fostering teamwork.

A rainy day is an excellent time for reflection and memory-making. Gather photos, drawings, ticket stubs, small souvenirs, and notes. Arrange them in a scrapbook, adding captions and stories. Or, create a time capsule: put items that represent your family right now into a box, seal it, and label it with a date to be opened in the future (e.g., 5 or 10 years from now). If you want to make it even more special, have each family member write a letter to their future self to include in the time capsule.

Rainy days are more than just a time to stay indoors—they’re a chance to create joyful, meaningful moments with your family. Every game played, story shared, or meal cooked together strengthens your bond and builds a foundation of happy memories that will last a lifetime. These pockets of quality time are genuinely priceless.

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These 15 activities during the rainy days are just starting points. Feel free to mix, match, or even invent your own traditions. After all, the real magic of rainy days isn’t about what you do—it’s about being present, engaging with each other, and finding joy in the simple act of spending time together.