In Need of Some Indoor Adventure? 7 Kid-Friendly Ideas for Bad Weather Days

Cold temperatures, shorter days, and gloomy clouds. Here in Texas it’s also wind, ice storms, and freezing rain. No one seems to want to go play outside (adults included!) but no one has any ideas for indoor activities, either.

And here it comes: The dreaded “I’m bored” declaration from the kids. 

Thankfully, there are plenty of indoor adventures you can have with your kids during these “bad weather days” that will keep them occupied and entertained. Stumped for ideas? Try some of the following.

1. Have an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

If you want to keep your kids mentally stimulated and active around the house, set up a scavenger hunt. You can get as creative and detailed as you’d like, and try to make things a little tricky for your older kids so they actually have to put some effort into it!

You’ll have fun setting up clues, and you’ll love watching your little ones try to figure them out. Depending on the difficulty of the hunt, it’s something that could keep them busy for hours.

2. Let Them Join You in the Kitchen

Cold days can lead to connection and fun in a warm kitchen.

Getting your kids interested in cooking can help them to learn the importance of proper nutrition. It can also help if your child is a picky eater. Plus, cooking and baking are culinary science! Your kids will be thinking and learning without even realizing it. Moreover, you’ll have a tasty treat to enjoy together at the end of it all.

3. Make Use of Leftover Boxes

The holidays come with the culmination of much excitement, but winter is really just starting when they end. After the holiday rush and unwrapping, chances are you’ll have plenty of boxes left over. While recycling them is the way to go, there’s no reason your kids can’t have fun with them first! 

Encourage your kids to use their imaginations to build forts, rocket ships, and everything in between. They can stack boxes together, tape them, color them, etc. You might be surprised by how vivid their imaginations are with such simple objects.

4. Got Snow? Bring it Inside!

It might be too cold to be outside for long periods of time, but you can still bring some snow or ice inside and have a lot of fun with it! 

One great option is to try snow painting. 

Bring some clean, fresh snow inside and spread it out on a sheet tray. Set up a few cups with different watercolors and brushes, and let your kids “paint” the snow. They’ll love seeing all of the colors mix and meld together on the snowy canvas, and it’s always exciting for little ones whenever there’s an opportunity to bring the outside in.

5. Have an Indoor Snowball Fight

Having an indoor snowball fight doesn’t mean you need to use actual snow. Instead, use some white wool, or even bunched-up socks to imitate “snowballs”, and man your battle stations! This is a great way for kids to burn off some energy and stay active without having to freeze!

6. Set Up an Obstacle Course

Another great way to keep your kids active and entertained is to build an indoor obstacle course. You can use things like pillows, blankets, or other household objects to put a challenging course together in minutes. 

Give the kids a set of rules for the course and let them run it several times. You can “time” them or create more challenges as they go along. They’ll have fun competing against each other and seeing how fast they can get through it.

7. Have a Movie Night

Settling in for a family movie night might not seem like much of an adventure. But, you can take it the extra mile by making popcorn, letting the kids pick out their favorite candy, and even setting up a blanket fort or tent in the living room where they can sleep when the movie is done. 

It’s one of the simplest ways to make a movie night feel extra special, and it doesn’t take a lot of planning or preparation. 

Hopefully, by keeping these ideas in mind, you can keep your kids entertained all season long. No matter what the weather outside looks like, a little creativity will go a long way! If you need more ideas or support for your child, please reach out for a consultation soon.