Fun Rainy Day Activities For Families On A Budget

For most adults, rainy days are best spent indoors nursing a cup of hot cocoa while bingeing the latest Netflix series. But if you’re a parent, you know that this also means having to think of activities that will keep your little ones entertained. While parking the kids in front of the TV is an option, research shows that too much screen time can have negative effects on a child’s development, and it can impact their attention, language skills and memory. Having a Harry Potter marathon party may be fun, but there are other things that you can do to keep the kids occupied without hurting your budget. Consider these fun rainy day activities the next time it’s pouring outside.

Fostering creative thinking in children can help their overall development as it improves their problem-solving skills, enables them to express themselves, and it boosts their self-confidence. So the next time everyone’s stuck at home because of the rain, consider encouraging your child to unleash their creativity and make something out of materials that you have at home. For instance, they can play house and build a blanket fort, and your little one can choose to make a tent, a teepee, or a canopy-style fort. They can also make a robot out of boxes, or they can paint or draw if they feel like it. For tech-savvy kids, perhaps they’d rather film a vlog to post on YouTube or compose a song using a music composer app. Whatever it is, show your support for their endeavors, and try not to mind the mess that comes with the creative process.

Singing along to your favorite song is such a fun thing to do on a rainy day. Bring out the karaoke machine and let your kids do their thing. To make it even more fun, string fairy lights throughout the living room, and give them some glow sticks to make them feel like they’re at a concert. If you don’t have a karaoke mic or machine, YouTube is your friend. There are lots of karaoke versions of popular tunes on the site, so your little ones can sing along to kid-friendly pop songs like BTS’ “Permission To Dance” and “Dynamite” or Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”

Sometimes, staying inside is not an option, and you and your kids just need to get out for a change of scenery. If this is the case, consider going to a museum. Check online to know the days wherein admission is free. Some museums, such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Museum allow you to pay what you wish, so check out the institutions within your area to see if they offer the same thing so you can save on admission costs. Don’t forget to bring a thermos filled with hot cocoa so you can enjoy a warm drink before heading home.

Entertaining children on a rainy day can be a challenge, but with a little creativity, everyone can have fun while staying indoors. Consider these budget-friendly ideas the next time it rains, and have fun with the kids!