If you’re looking to kick boredom to the curb on a rainy day or just an average day, we’ve got 8 awesome activities to keep everyone entertained from sunrise to sunset. And with low- to no-cost, easy clean-up and plenty of creativity, it’s an epic win, one awesome step at a time. Scroll on for the scoop.
Primary Color Drops
Dye some vinegar in vivid colors, sprinkle some baking soda in a casserole dish, add a medicine dropper and TA-DA, kids have a beautiful template for learning the color palette. Get your 3 primary colors: red, yellow and blue, and start experimenting. Red and blue make purple, yellow and blue make green, red and yellow make orange…you see where we’re going here, right?
Rainbow Bottle Bowling
A rainy day activity that’s eco-friendly and easy on the pocketbook? Yup, this super cool DIY bowling set helps to keep plastic out of landfills and will thrill little ones to no end. Start collecting your bottles now! Add a little paint, a glue gun and you’ll be throwing strikes in no time.
Denim Drives
Have a few pairs of jeans from the good ol’ days from which you haven’t yet parted? Well grab some scissors and with a quick snip, snip, snip, create an entire layout for cars, planes and trains, by simply cutting strips about six inches wide, paint on dividers and add velcro to the back for sticking if wanted. Best part about this cool project? These handy dandy little roads can roll right up for super easy storage and travel.
Under Construction Sensory Box
Create a construction site right in the living room! Grab a storage bin, fill with rocks and look around for any hard hat type machinery from the bottom of the toy box, under the bed, our outside. Sit back and watch your children work to their hearts content in a very quaint quarry.
Go Fish!
Learn about magnetic pull and the alphabet in one cool game, perfect for when the weather isn’t cooperating. Create a fishing pole out of a stick, string and magnet or, if the little one is already a fishing enthusiast, add a magnet to their pint-sized pole. Dump a set of Alphabet letters and various sea creatures, rocks and shells into a tub filled with blue-colored water and Voila! A whole ocean of adventure and education.
Tin Can Chat
Kids playing with a phone that doesn’t have the latest and greatest apps? You betcha. Bring back the classic tin can phone for a super fantastic science lesson and fun game to boot! Grab a hammer, a nail and some string and BAM, the little ones have a private phone all to themselves.
Kiddie Car Wash
If the tot needs some downtime, try setting up a mini car wash. Simply grab a baking pan, some blue dish soap, some mini vehicles needing “cleaning,” an old toothbrush and watch your kiddo go to town on those mini wheels and chrome while working on hand-eye coordination.
Magazine Mosaics
Wondering what to do with all those old issues of Marie Claire, Real Simple and Parenting? Try having the kiddos create a fantastic design out of the pages. Grab some paper plates, use equal parts glue and water to paste and be prepared to be wowed!
What is your favorite DIY game or source of entertainment? We want to know!
–Gabrielle Cullen
Picture #1: Denim Drives courtesy of Jen Brown; Picture #2: Color Drops Courtesy of Jessica Traffas; Picture #3: Rainbow Bottle Bowling Courtesy of Jillian Dubien; Picture #4: Construction Box Courtesy of MaryLea Harris; Picture #5: Go Fish Courtesy of Rachel Shore; Picture #6: Tin Can Chat Courtesy of Joel Henriques; Picture #7: Kiddie Car Wash Courtesy of Jenni Fischer; Picture #8: Magazine Mosaics Courtesy of Hester Jane
Need some fresh ideas?
Related reads
