Having fun on rainy days

British weather can be unpredictable at the best of times, with some days going from sunny and scorching to pouring down with rain within minutes. Over the summer holidays, there are bound to be days when it pours and keeping your children busy and happy on these days might feel like a mammoth task, especially if they are all different ages! 

For those days when you can’t get the paddling pool out, or pop on your shorts for an afternoon at the park or a day at the beach, here are a few ideas to keep everyone having some fun.  

A simple starting point for rainy day play could be just to replicate some of your favourite outdoor play inside, where you can.

If your children enjoy water play, bring your paddling pool toys into the bath, or fill up the washing up bowl and pop it on top of a towel on the floor or dining table. Water play is a great base for experimenting with different cups, containers, and sinking and floating items for older children. Toddlers may like filling and emptying cups, bowls and pots and babies will love the sensory experience of splashing using their hands and feet.  

Den building is another great outdoor activity that can be brought inside.

All you need are some blankets and boxes to get started, but you could have a rummage around with your children and experiment with other materials. You could get cosy inside your den and listen to the rain pour outside, sit in the den and sing some favourite songs together or have a story session with some of your favourites. If you are sharing stories or songs, adding actions, props and puppets is a great way to engage toddlers and babies, and supports visual development too.  

You could also use the items that you use for den building as a starting point for some indoor role-play. Cardboard boxes can be anything that your children want them to be, including a racecar, rocket ship, a counter for a shop, or a doctor's desk. The possibilities are endless. You could even include your baby in this – they could come along for a drink in the “café” or come with you for a check-up at the “doctors”.  

Another fun activity is cooking and baking.

Older children will love to get involved in cutting and chopping food, and toddlers may want to get stuck in with mixing. If your baby is weaning, you could have a go at some simple weaning recipes for them to test out your creations. There are plenty of recipe ideas on the My First Five Years app to try out if you are stuck for inspiration! You could even use your culinary creations to have an indoor picnic – just pop your picnic blanket on the floor and you are ready to go.  

If you fancy braving the weather, there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had outside.

Getting ready to go outdoors in different weather is a great learning experience for younger children – maybe ask them what they think they might need to wear to keep protected in wet weather. Rain is also a fun sensory experience. Feeling the droplets of rain against your skin is a great sensation to talk about, as well as splashing in puddles – just don’t forget your wellies! You could also have a go at making an outdoor shelter to sit in and watch the day go by.