How To Entertain The Kids When You’re Stuck At Home
If you’re anything like me, you are running out of ideas to keep the kids entertained while at home on a rainy day. After a long winter, sometimes our brains just can’t take the pressure of thinking of anything new, am I right?
So here’s a list of all the things my family has been doing while suck at home on rainy or winter days (or things my friends have done, because I needed ideas for younger kids, too!). There are ideas for all ages here, so I hope this helps keep your kids entertained during the rainy season!
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, but only for products that I use and love (I seriously only included things I’m obsessed with!). If you buy through them, I’ll earn some cash for coffee (or tea). But don’t worry, I’ll use that energy to create more helpful content for you!
Play Some Family Board Games
Okay, I have an obsession with buying board games. I will buy almost anything that Gamewright creates, plus whatever else looks fun. Luckily I have one child that loves them as much as I do so I always have someone to play with.
Board Games for Older Kids
I have a 10 and 12 year old and these are the games we love the most. I could seriously play any of these over and over and never get sick of them. They are the best of the best!
Sleeping Queens
Battle Sheep
Shifting Stones
Abandon All Artichokes
Sushi Go!
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Rack-O
Tiki Topple
Suspend
Monopoly Deal
Board Games for Younger Kids
These are either games that we used to play when I was little, when my kids were younger, or games that my friends have told me are awesome for their little ones. I had to throw Pretty Pretty Princess in there because that used to be my favorite to play with my big brother, who would wear all the jewelry and we would all laugh so hard.
The Ladybug Game
Cootie
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
Pretty Pretty Princess
Games The Kids Can Play Alone
These are games that can be played with just one player. Because some days you just need them to be entertained without you and this gives them something to do that isn’t electronics. Score!
Flipside
Katamino
Bop It
Rush Hour
Fun Things to Play Outside
Maybe you have a covered area and you just really want the kids to get the heck outside! I feel like I’m constantly trying to think of ways to keep the kids out in the fresh air longer, these days they come back in after 10 minutes and it’s really frustrating. One thing that helped was the scooters we got them for Christmas. They love those things!! The Sumo Bumper Balls are for the trampoline only, that way it’s a bit safer. So far no one has been hurt! Lol.
Foldable Scooter
Sumo Balls
The Floor is Lava (can be played indoor or outdoor)
Cones, Beanbags, and Ring Toss
Big Bubble Wands
Ladder Toss
Arts and Crafts for Kids
My kids both love crafts, but especially my daughter. As soon as the rain started, I went on Amazon and bought tons of craft supplies so she would hopefully stay entertained and not beg me to go on electronics every 5 seconds. That happens anyway, but at least I have something to tell her to do instead.
Rainbow Scratch Paper Art
Spin Art
Rainbow Loom
Air Dry Clay
Stained Glass Dinosaurs
Teach Them to Cook
No matter what age they are, your kid can probably help you out in the kitchen, even if it’s only to help put the chopped veggies on the sheet pan before you roast it. But if you teach them how to cook, eventually they will be doing it all while you sit back with a glass of wine. That’s the dream! I bought a cookbook for my son this year because he decided he really wanted to learn to cook meals. I was so excited!! So far he’s made two recipes, plus chili mac (which he totally did wrong but it came out great anyway) and he has a new habit of cooking over medium eggs every morning. We’re getting there!
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
My First Cookbook
MasterChef Junior Cookbook
The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs
Super Simple Cooking for Kids
Activity Books to Keep the Kids Entertained
I love activity books because you can do them anywhere! Here are a few that we have purchased and love.
My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook: 50 Awesome Drawing Activities for Young Inventors
Best Hidden Pictures Puzzles EVER
Astronomy Activity Book for Kids
Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!: 125+ Brain Puzzles for Kids
Jumbo Book of Amazing Mazes
Keep the Kids Entertained with Echo Dots
We got the kids Echo Dots for Christmas so they could play their horrible music in their own rooms, rather than ask mine to play Caillou 20 times a day. It didn’t work, they still keep playing that song in the living room even though I’ve tried to block it. If you ask in a different way, it still works!
Anyway, back to the point! You can ask Alexa to read audiobooks, read interactive choose your own adventure books, play calming music at bedtime with a sleep timer, tell you jokes, so many things! We also love using ours as an intercom so I can tell them when it’s time to eat or s the kids can chat while they play Among Us.
For my daughter, we got the Kids one. And for my son, we just got him a regular one. Both are amazing and the kid one comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+. You can set parental controls for either one.
Amazon Echo Dot Kids
Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon Echo Pop
And just to sum it up…
How can I keep my kids entertained at home?
- Play board games together
- Show them board games they can play alone
- Give them fun activities to do in the backyard
- Set them up with a craft
- Teach them to cook
- Give them an activity book
- Let Alexa entertain them
Hopefully these ideas have been helpful! Tell me in the comments what you do to entertain your kids while stuck at home! And if you need something for yourself to do, maybe check out 11 New Hobbies to Try at Home in 2025: A Guide to Fun and Creativity| ApartmentGuide (a
Redfin subsidiary).
Your next adventure starts with a family session
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Love this list!! Playing board games is always our go to thing. We recently got the workBooks too. I love the iDea of cooking together. Rhat is a memora Activity
These are great suggestions. Cooking together is not only fun, but it teaches an important life skill! Also, your photos are stunning!
My kids have recently loved identifying animals for citizen science projects. Wr love our board games too though.
This is a great list! Our favorites are crafting, playing outside, and cooking together! I can’t wait until my girls get a little older and we can play some of the games!
This is a great list of things to do. Trust me mamas we know our kids get bored very easily and having constant things to do is a must!
I can relate to the struggle. My Daughter has been inside for long stretches due to the visit and we’ve Been creative in eNtertaining And keeping her productive.
So mAny great ideas! I recently got an echo dot and i love it. Theres a lot of fun games on there too.