There’s Plenty To Do When It’s Raining! Here Are 32 Of My Favorite Ideas.

Inside Your Home

1. Build A Fort
This needs no explanation.
Blankets. Chairs. Imagination. Go.

2. Host A Cooking Class
Seriously, just let the kitchen go…let the kids experiment or teach them
how to scramble eggs, make a cupcake, go for baked Alaska, if they’re ready for a challenge.

3. Card Games & Board Games
Uno, Skip-Bo, Spoons, Monopoly, Pictionary….you name it. Have fun, make snacks, laugh, argue cry….well, crying only comes out in our home, when the game Sorry comes out. So, I say…stay away from Sorry for the little ones.

4. Host a Film Festival
Disney Movie Marathon…Harry Potter…all movies made by Tim Burton, etc…make a big bowl of popcorn, move the coffee table and veg out.

5. Charades
Oh my…this has been some of the best laughter in our home. Make a list of great charades for kids to act out and have fun!

6. Chores
Make it fun! Who says this can’t be part of an inside day. Put on some loud jams the whole house can hear and go. My advice for the kiddos, is to make them a specific list of tasks…kids love to cross things off a list and maybe earn some ice cream after. My children have a hard time sometimes if I say ‘go clean your room.’ But, if I make a list of: Put books on shelf nicely, Clothes all in drawers, Make Your bed, Shoes in box…etc, this helps them (and you) immensely. Same for any room in the house. Make a list for you and them both!

7. Color/Draw/Paint
My kids love for me to find printable coloring sheets online of their favorite characters. Arting, crafting…all of it. I’m a fan of messes!

8. Have A Tea Party
Oh, my girls (and even my boy) like to set up and have tea parties…with the real stuff, if you’ve got it. This is also a very good time to teach kind table manners 🙂 Be sure to teach your kids table manners, their future spouse and  in-laws will thank you.

9. Hide & Seek/Sardines
Kids LOVE hide and seek, and sometimes I think, we as adults forget how much we like it too. Sardines is where one person hides and the others, when they find that person, hide with them quietly. The last person to find them…is it.

10. Treasure Hunt
The possibilities are endless! You’ll need some time to prepare some cards and hide them, but mysteries like this are so much fun. Here’s one mom’s guide.

11. Make Playdough
Easy recipe here…

12. Get buckets, collect the rain and water things later.
You know, because that’s wise 🙂

13. Make A Band or Music Video
My brothers and I used to sing over and over to the Footloose album as kids. We made mic stands and everything! With technology now, making a music video together is easy !

14. Shaving cream art
What’s this you ask? Click HERE...

15. Play in the rain
Who says we have to stay inside all day! Put on the boots, grab a rain jacket and umbrella and jump, jump, jump!

**Bonus….fun inside science play! 

Having Fun In Burbank

16. Call A Friend
What would we do without our neighbors..and coffee. Call that friend and schedule some girl time-stat. Let the kids have a movie party while the two (or three or four) of you catch up and occasionally parent.

17. Library Events
Our Burbank Library System rocks. You can find this month’s Burbank Public Library events HERE…
Or just go and sit and read and play at whatever local library is yours!

18. Pottery Painting
There are a couple of options for this in our city…but I recommend World of Color on Magnolia Blvd.

19. Indoor Playlands
Depending on the age of your children, this is a very good option. La La Land  and Rockin’ Kids offer some good fun for the littles.

20. Martial Arts Museum
Have you been? Here’s the link to this museum, you might not know about.

21. Racers Edge
This is an activity for the older kiddos, but my husband and I have done on a date night, and it’s a blast! If your kids are older and you need something to do…try this place.

22. Bowling
Pickwick is awesome. Bowling is awesome. (They also have ice skating) Have fun!

23. The Mall
Just walking around is sometimes good enough for me. However, there are things to do inside the mall…the train, the little rides, the playland for the wee ones on the 1st floor.
You can get coffee..lunch..ice cream…underwear.

24. Movie Theater
Snacks. Movies. Dry. Fun.
Here in Burbank, we have 3 movie theaters, plenty of shows and showtimes to choose from.

25. Nature Center
They are open until 5 daily.

26. Barnes & Noble
Our B&N has a great children’s area to sit and read. They also have story time hours!

27. Ikea
I think Ikea is a gem. Very affordable meals (if not free) and a play area for the kids (and you, if you consider the marketplace fun, like I do.)

Travel outside our Bubble

28. Museums
The California Science Center, The Autry, The Natural History Museum, The Getty.. So. Many. Choices! And on January 31st, these museums have FREE admission.

29. Free Running
We’ve participated in this…oh my goodness..fun!!! Try Tempest Freerunning Academy on a rainy day. Just try. The kids will sleep well. Link HERE...

30. Sky Zone.
Jumping on trampolines makes me pee my pants. But, not my kids! They love it. There are a couple locations to go… I even found a place with a toddler trampoline.
click HERE for their website.

31. Roller Skating
Moonlight Rollerway and Northridge Skateland are both great places to get your skate on…inside, out of the rain

32. Universal City Walk
Yes, I know this is basically outside..but they have restaurants, shops, bowling and a movie theatre. It’s just a fun place.

What would you add to this list? Tell me below in the comments 🙂