Rainy day activities that don't involve screens

Jun 12

It's been raining for three days straight, and my 20-month-old has officially lost his mind. We've read every book twice, he's climbed on every piece of furniture at least seventeen times, and I'm pretty sure he's plotting to dismantle the couch cushions again just for something to do.

Sound familiar?

When you're stuck inside with a toddler who has the attention span of a goldfish and the energy of a caffeinated squirrel, it's tempting to just hand over the tablet and call it a day. And honestly, sometimes that's exactly what you need to do – no judgment here. But for those times when you want to avoid screens or your little one is already over their daily TV time, here are some sanity-saving activities that actually work for the under-2 crowd.

The classics that never get old

Cardboard box city: I'm not kidding when I say the best toy I ever bought my son was free. That Amazon delivery box? Pure gold. Cut some holes for windows and doors, and suddenly you have a house, a car, a spaceship, or whatever his imagination decides it is that day. My little guy spent an entire morning crawling in and out of a cardboard box, and I got to drink a full cup of tea while it was still hot. Bonus tip, give them stickers or markers in there and let them decorate their box.

Tupperware orchestra: Raid your kitchen cabinets and let your toddler go wild with wooden spoons and plastic containers. Yes, it's loud. Yes, you'll find tupperware lids under the couch for weeks. But it keeps them busy for at least 15 minutes, and honestly, watching them figure out that different containers make different sounds is pretty fun.

Couch cushion fort: Strip all the cushions off your couch, bring in the kitchen chairs, pull those blankets off the bed, and let your toddler build an epic fort. It's like an indoor playground that costs nothing and burns energy. Pro tip: this works even better if you get down on the floor and play too!

Water play (without the bath)

Kitchen sink splash zone: Fill your kitchen sink with a few inches of warm water and let your toddler stand on a sturdy chair or learning tower to play. Give them some cups, spoons, and maybe a few bath toys. Put towels everywhere and accept that your kitchen will look like a water park exploded, but your little one will be entertained for ages.

Sensory bin magic: Fill a large plastic container with dry rice, pasta, or beans (depending on what stage your kid is in – if they're still putting everything in their mouth, maybe skip this one). Hide some small toys in there and let them dig around. It's like a treasure hunt that costs almost nothing.

Sponge painting: Cut up some old sponges, put a little water and food coloring in small containers, and let them "paint" in the bathtub or on a plastic tablecloth. It's mess-free painting that's perfect for little hands that aren't quite ready for real brushes.

Movement and music

Dance party for two: Put on some music and just dance. My son thinks I'm hilarious when I'm dancing badly to Disney songs, and it burns energy for both of us. Plus, there's something about moving your body that shifts everyone's mood when you've been cooped up too long.

Balloon volleyball: Blow up a balloon and just hit it back and forth. Toddlers love trying to catch balloons, and it's actually great for their hand-eye coordination. Just watch for popped balloons since they're a choking hazard.

Pillow mountain: Pile all your throw pillows and bed pillows in the middle of the living room and let your toddler climb Mount Pillow. They can jump on them, burrow under them, or just throw them around. It's like having an indoor bouncy castle.

Quiet time activities (because mama needs a break)

Sticker paradise: Get a pack of big stickers and a piece of poster board. Toddlers love peeling and sticking, and if you get the removable kind, they can peel them off and stick them again. This bought me some peace last week while my little guy created what I can only describe as abstract art.

Busy books: Make your own quiet activity book with ziplock bags, tape, and random household items. One bag with buttons to sort, another with fabric scraps to feel, another with pictures to point at. It's like a homemade busy board that you can customize for your kid's interests.

Coloring with chunky crayons: Even young toddlers can scribble with big crayons. Tape a large piece of paper to the floor and let them go wild. They're probably not making recognizable pictures yet, but the process of making marks is fascinating to them.

Kitchen helpers

Snack prep assistant: Let your toddler "help" you prepare snacks. They can put berries in a bowl, help wash vegetables, or just stand on their learning tower and watch you work. It takes three times longer than doing it yourself, but they feel so important, and it often buys you time to prep dinner too.

Bake together: My toddler’s favourite thing is to help me bake his favourite snacks. Berry muffins or banana bread is a great option. It teaches him how to crack eggs, measure flour, mix with a spatula and most importantly, not to put things in your mouth until they’re cooked. Pro-tip, wash your toddler’s hands before you start because they will end up in the batter.

Final thoughts

Here's the truth about rainy day activities with toddlers: most of them will hold your kid's attention for about 15 minutes if you're lucky. The key is having a mental list of options so you can rotate through them throughout the day.

Also, don't feel like you need to be the entertainment director all day long. Sometimes the best rainy day activity is just letting your toddler explore on their own while you sit nearby (not on your phone!). They need to learn how to be bored sometimes – it's actually good for their developing brains.

And on those days when nothing works and everyone is cranky? Yeah, sure that's what screens are for. There's no parenting award for suffering through a miserable day when Bluey could solve everyone's problems in 20 minutes.

The goal isn't to create Pinterest-worthy activities or tire your toddler out completely (although that would be nice). The goal is just to get through the day with your sanity mostly intact and have a few moments of fun along the way.

Some of my favorite memories with my little guy have happened on those long, rainy afternoons when we had nowhere to go and nothing to do but figure out how to entertain ourselves. Sure, it felt endless in the moment, but looking back, those slow days at home were actually pretty special.

Now if only I could figure out how to make the rain stop...

Thank you