Stuck indoors on a rainy day? Cabin fever can set in fast, and sometimes the kids just need to burn off some steam. The good news is you don’t need a big garden or fancy equipment to get them moving – just a bit of space, a few household items, and some imagination.
Here are 10 energy-burning, fun rainy day activities guaranteed to have the kids bouncing (literally) instead of bouncing off the walls.
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#1. Animal Impersonations
Write down some animal names on slips of paper, fold them up, and pop them in a bowl. Everyone takes a turn picking a slip, then acts out the sounds and movements of that animal until someone guesses which one it is.
Can you ribbit like a frog, oink like a pig, neigh like a horse, or roar like a lion? Get ready for some noisy fun!
#2. Simon Says
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Pick a leader to call out Simon Says activities – 10 star jumps, hopping for a minute, 10 squats, touching your toes 10 times, and so on.
- The leader must say “Simon says” before the activity.
- If they don’t, anyone who does the action anyway is out of the game.
- The last player left in the game wins and becomes the next leader.
#3. Sort the Laundry!
This fun “game” also gets the kids helping with the household chores. Put each child’s clothes into piles on the kitchen table. They can only carry one item at a time, running back and forth to put it away in their bedroom. Whoever finishes first gets to pick the next game.
#4. Pillow Fight
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Get the pillows or cushions out for a good old-fashioned pillow fight. It’s amazing how much energy this uses up – everyone ends up exhausted and laughing.
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#5. Indoor Hop-Scotch
Grab some masking tape and mark out a hop-scotch grid on the floor.
- Use a beanbag or a rolled-up pair of socks as a marker to throw.
- Each child throws onto the grid, starting with square one.
- They hop to 10 and back again, avoiding the square with the marker on it, and pick it up on the way back.
- The winner is the first one to complete all 10 squares.
#6. Have a Dance
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Build a playlist together with everyone’s favourite songs – let each person pick a handful of tracks to add. Put it on shuffle and turn the living room into a mini disco.
Move the furniture back, get dancing, and run a best-dancer (and worst-dancer!) competition. Have a go at the Can Can and some limbo dancing too.
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#7. Jump Elastics
This classic schoolyard game works just as well indoors, and can even be played solo using the legs of two chairs to hold the elastic apart.
You’ll need a long length of elastic and the simple rhyme: Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, inside, outside, step on the rails!
- For each country, jump over one line of elastic.
- Inside: jump until both feet land inside the elastics.
- Outside: place your feet either side of the elastics.
- On the rails: place one foot on each piece of elastic.
Keep raising the elastic until no one can jump any higher!
#8. Indoor Obstacle Course
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Build an indoor obstacle course with plenty of climbing, crawling, hopping, jumping, and tumbling onto cushions or mattresses. Time each child around the course and see who can beat their own best time.
For a variation, play Hot Lava – no one is allowed to touch the floor, and everyone has to find a way from one side of the room to the other.
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#9. Balloon Volleyball
Lay a sweeping brush across two chairs to make a “net,” then play volleyball with a balloon or a soft beach ball – just make sure it doesn’t touch the ground!
For a fun variation, try balloon ping-pong using wooden spoons to bat the balloon back and forth over the net.
#10. A to Z Name Exercise Game
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Have a giggle with our ‘What’s Your Name?’ Kids Exercise Challenge! Kids spell out their name, find the matching exercise for each letter, and have a go at the whole set.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are good rainy day activities for burning off kids’ energy indoors?
Active games that don’t need much space work best – things like Simon Says, pillow fights, indoor obstacle courses, and dancing all get kids moving without needing to go outside.
How can I tire out an energetic child without going outdoors?
Games with movement built in, like an indoor obstacle course, jump elastics, or a dance-off, are great for using up energy safely inside the house.
Do these activities need special equipment?
No – most of these games use things you already have at home, like pillows, masking tape, balloons, or elastic bands.
What age are these rainy day activities suitable for?
Most of these games work well for a wide age range and can be adapted to be easier or trickier depending on the children playing.
Looking for More Rainy Day Ideas?
If this list got the kids moving, why not save it for the next wet afternoon, or browse more of our rainy day activity ideas for fresh inspiration whenever cabin fever strikes.
You might also like:
- 6 Fun Active Games for Kids that are Perfect for a Rainy Day
- 25 of the Best Indoor Games for Kids aged 8-12 Years
- 25 of the Most Fun Things to Do with Kids on Rainy Days
- 50 Simple Ideas for Rainy Day Activities for Kids by Age
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