Eat it
Popcorn
Kids will have as much fun making old-fashioned stovetop popcorn as they will eating it! Dress up your kernels with a dash of cinnamon or chili and garlic powder. Colorful enamel mugs double as handy scoopers (West Elm, $6).
Play it
Hopscotch
Bring puddle-jumping indoors with this twist on the classic game. Snip puddle shapes from felt or foam, then affix numbers 1 to 10. Stick them to the floor with double-sided tape in rows of one or two as shown. Toss a fabric-covered beanbag on one of the numbers, and leap right in!
PLUS: RAINY DAY CRAFTS FOR KIDS
Play it
Obstacle course
Plastic cups turn any floor into a playground. Arrange them throughout the room, then challenge kids to do a lap while scuttling like a crab or slithering like a snake.
PLUS: 7 EASY AND MESS-FREE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Play it
Matching game
Beat drizzly-day brain drain! Put your kids’ noggins to the test with a DIY memory craft. Coat an even number of 2- and 3-inch wood rounds with acrylic paint; let dry. Then, stamp critters or fun shapes onto white paper; cut out. Glue to the painted side of the round. Have your child turn all of the rounds face down, mix ’em up, and try to fnd the sets. (Stamps, $7, Papersource.com)
PLUS: WHY ALL KIDS SHOULD BUILD BLANKET FORTS
Build it
Blanket fort
The trick to a cozy (but not cavernous) hideout? Lightweight sheets. Drape ‘em across tables, chairs, and couches, or hang up a sturdy clothesline. Tip: Clothespins are key for holding different sheets together to create an A-frame shape. Outfit the fortress with plenty of pillows and accessories. (Campfire light, $59, Landofnod.com; Lantern, $6, Ikea.com; Log head rest, $22, Kikkerland.com)
PLUS: 5 WAYS TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED DURING A POWER OUTAGE
Boredom Busters from Mom Bloggers
STACK ATTACK
“We build ‘cup castles’ out of leftover plastic cups we keep in a poster tube.” —Stephanie Morgan, Modern Parents, Messy Kids
PUZZLE PLAY
“A felt board with abstract shapes she can mix and match keeps my 2-year-old occupied for at least 30 minutes!” —Justina Blakeney, The Jungalo
SUPER SALE
“Kids love to ‘sell’ stuff, so I ask for a red book or blue truck, and send them on a hunt for stuff I can ‘buy.’” —Amanda Kingloff, Project Kid
INSTA-ART
“Cover a wall with chalkboard paint. Kids love scribbling away on a rainy day!” —Naomi Davis, Love Taza
PLUS: RAINY DAY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Stormy-Weather S’more
Step 1
Gather cookies of your choice. Grahams are a classic, but try gingersnaps or molasses for a spicy twist.
Step 2
Slice fresh fruit, like strawberries or bananas.
Step 3
Upgrade chocolate toppings. (Try Nutella, or honey-flled Toblerone!)
Step 4
Nuke jumbo marshmallows in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds.
Step 5
Sandwich the ’mallows, fruit, and chocolate between cookies. While gooey, roll in almonds or colorful sprinkles.
Photo Credit: Alexandra Grablewski; Illustrations by Brown Bird Design
