71 Fun Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers

Keeping little ones entertained indoors on rainy days without relying on screens can be tough, especially when going outside isn’t an option.

This guide is packed with simple, engaging rainy day activities for toddlers that require minimal setup.

From hands-on crafts to energetic games, each suggestion is designed to keep toddlers busy and parents sane.

So if you’re looking for ways to keep your toddler active, curious, and happy while stuck indoors, you’re in the right place.

These rainy day activities for toddlers will keep your child engaged and give you a break, too.

Why Indoor Play Matters on Rainy Days

Rainy days can feel like a bummer, but indoor play can be a goldmine for toddler fun and development. Here’s why it matters:

Boosts creativity and imagination: When stuck inside, toddlers can turn ordinary things like cardboard boxes or blankets into forts, cars, or magical castles. Rainy days are the perfect excuse to let their imaginations run wild.

Helps toddlers burn off energy safely: Toddlers don’t slow down for weather. Indoor games like scavenger hunts, mini dance parties, and obstacle courses keep them active.

Encourages bonding with caregivers: Staying in gives you extra opportunities to play togetherwhether it’s crafting silly paper hats or reading a favorite story for the hundredth time.

Offers learning disguised as play: Rainy-day activities, such as puzzles, sorting games, or pretend cooking, incorporate a lot of learning. Colors, shapes, and language skills all add up while they’re just having fun.

Creative & Crafty Activities for Toddlers

These simple, colorful crafts are perfect for curious little hands and big imaginations.

1. Finger Painting

Finger painting enables toddlers to explore colors and textures in a fun, hands-on manner. It encourages sensory development and creativity, allowing them to experiment with mixing colors and shapes.

What you’ll need: Washable finger paints, paper, wet wipes
How to do it: Tape paper to the table, squirt some paint, and let them swirl and splatter freely.

2. Sticker Art

Using stickers helps toddlers develop fine motor skills as they peel and place small items precisely. It also fosters decision-making and creativity, as they decide how and where to arrange the stickers.

What you’ll need: A Variety of stickers, construction paper
How to do it: Let them peel and stick to their heart’s content, no rules here!

3. Toilet Roll Creatures

Recycling toilet paper rolls into creatures sparks imagination and teaches toddlers about the importance of repurposing. Decorating the rolls with markers and googly eyes allows them to practice their hand-eye coordination.

What you’ll need: Toilet paper rolls, markers, glue, googly eyes
How to do it: Decorate the roll using craft items to create little characters.

4. Handprint Cards

Making handprint cards is both a craft and a keepsake. Toddlers love seeing their hands turned into flowers, animals, or hearts.

It strengthens their tactile senses and fine motor skills and provides parents with adorable personalized mementos for special occasions.

What you’ll need: Paint, cardstock, wipes
How to do it: Dip hands in paint, press onto paper, and write a cute message.

5. Dot Marker Drawing

Dot markers offer a fun way to create colorful art without the mess of brushes.

Toddlers can practice pattern recognition and improve hand control while dotting within shapes or creating simple pictures.

What you’ll need: Dot markers, coloring sheets
How to do it: Give them a theme like “animals” or “circles” to dot away.

6. Paper Plate Faces

Crafting paper plate faces lets toddlers experiment with emotions and storytelling. Help them draw happy, sad, or silly faces, and glue on yarn for hair or paper cutouts for noses and mouths.

What you’ll need: Paper plates, crayons, yarn, glue
How to do it: Draw faces and glue on yarn for hair and craft bits for features.

Move & Groove Rainy Day Ideas

Toddlers are bundles of energy. These indoor activities keep them moving in a fun and safe way.

7. Pillow Obstacle Course

Set up soft pillows, cushions, and tunnels to make a safe indoor obstacle course.

Toddlers can crawl, jump, or balance, which helps improve their gross motor skills and coordination. Add timers or simple challenges to keep it exciting and encourage problem-solving.

What you’ll need: Pillows, cushions, small tunnels
How to do it: Create a path with soft obstacles to crawl over or through.

8. Dance Party

Put on your toddler’s favorite tunes and have a dance party! Encourage free movement or play games like freeze dance, where everyone stops when the music pauses.

What you’ll need: A playlist of toddler-friendly songs
How to do it: Encourage free movement or play the Freeze Dance.

9. Balloon Catch

Inflate a few balloons and toss them in the air for your toddler to catch or hit. You can increase the challenge by seeing how many hits they can do before the balloon drops.

What you’ll need: Balloons
How to do it: Toss a balloon and see how long you can keep it in the air.

10. Animal Charades

This imaginative game gets toddlers moving and thinking. Players take turns acting out animals, like hopping like a bunny or roaring like a lion, while others guess.

It’s great for learning animal names and sounds and encourages physical activity.

What you’ll need: Imagination or picture cards
How to do it: Pick an animal and act it out, growl like a bear, or hop like a frog.

11. Marching Band Parade

Use pots, pans, spoons, and toy drums to create a makeshift band. March around the house playing instruments together. This noisy fun enhances rhythm awareness, teamwork, and creative expression.

What you’ll need: Pots, pans, spoons, toy drums
How to do it: March through the house in a line while playing pretend instruments.

12. Sock Skating

Clear a smooth floor space and let toddlers “skate” in their socks. It’s a safe way to enjoy movement indoors while improving balance and leg strength.

What you’ll need: Socks and a cleared-out space
How to do it: Let them “skate” around on the floor like ice.

Sensory Fun Activities for Toddlers

Perfect for engaging curious minds with textures, squishiness, and color.

13. Playdough Time

Playdough allows toddlers to mold and shape, boosting hand strength and creativity. Offer cookie cutters or safe utensils to cut and decorate creations.

You can add scents or colors to make the experience even more engaging.

What you’ll need: Playdough, cookie cutters, safe utensils
How to do it: Let them squish and shape to their heart’s content.

14. Water Bin Play

Fill a shallow plastic bin with water and add cups, spoons, or floating toys.

This sensory play helps develop fine motor skills and introduces concepts such as volume and cause-and-effect relationships. Always supervise water play closely.

What you’ll need: Plastic bin, cups, toys, towels
How to do it: Fill a bin with a little water and let them pour and splash.

15. Rainbow Rice Bin

Color rice with food coloring and dry it to create a rainbow sensory bin. Toddlers can scoop, pour, and search for hidden treasures.

It’s excellent for tactile exploration and color recognition.

What you’ll need: Dyed rice, spoons, containers
How to do it: Scoop, pour, and hide little objects inside the bin.

16. Bubble Wrap Stomp

Tape bubble wrap on the floor and let toddlers jump or stomp to pop bubbles. It’s exciting and develops gross motor skills while providing satisfying sensory feedback.

What you’ll need: Bubble wrap
How to do it: Tape it to the floor and let them jump and pop.

17. Pom-Pom Sorting

Provide colorful pom-poms and containers for sorting by color or size.

This quiet, focused activity helps develop fine motor skills and introduces concepts of sorting and categorization.

What you’ll need: Pom-poms, muffin tin, tongs
How to do it: Sort by color or size using tongs or fingers.

18. Gel Bag Squish

Fill a sealed Ziplock bag with hair gel and glitter to create a squishy sensory bag.

Tape it to a table for safe play. Toddlers can press, move, and manipulate the gel without mess, soothing sensory seekers.

What you’ll need: Ziplock bag, hair gel, glitter, tape
How to do it: Fill the bag, seal it, and tape it to a table for squishing.

Quiet Time Activities for Toddlers

When it’s time to wind down, these activities help little ones relax without screen time.

19. Puzzle Time

Age-appropriate puzzles help develop spatial awareness, patience, and problem-solving skills.

Work with your toddler or let them explore independently, praising their effort and successes to build confidence.

What you’ll need: Age-appropriate puzzles
How to do it: Work together or let them do it independently.

20. Story Corner

Select engaging picture books and use different voices or props to bring stories to life. This will build language skills and foster a love of reading.

What you’ll need: Books, pillows, a blanket
How to do it: Create a cozy reading space and enjoy together.

21. Flashlight Hide and Seek

Hide small toys in a dimly lit room and use a flashlight to find them. This quiet, exciting game helps with focus, attention, and visual tracking.

What you’ll need: Flashlight, toys
How to do it: Hide toys and help your toddler find them using the flashlight.

22. Lacing Beads

Large beads and strings improve hand-eye coordination and concentration.

Encourage your toddler to create necklaces or simple patterns, which will enhance their fine motor skills and creativity.

What you’ll need: Large beads and string
How to do it: Thread beads onto the string and make pretend necklaces.

23. Sticker Sorting

Play sorting games with stickers of different colors and shapes. This activity promotes cognitive skills like categorization and attention to detail.

What you’ll need: Stickers and paper
How to do it: Ask them to sort by color, shape, or theme.

24. Coloring Books

Coloring supports creativity and fine motor development. Join in for shared time or let toddlers explore independently with a variety of crayons and pictures.

What you’ll need: Crayons, coloring books
How to do it: Let them freely color or work alongside them.

Imagination Boosters for Toddlers

These playful pretend games fuel your toddler’s creativity and storytelling skills.

25. Teddy Bear Picnic

Set up a picnic with favorite stuffed animals and toddler-friendly snacks. Assign characters and roles to encourage imaginative play, boosting social skills and creativity.

What you’ll need: Teddy bears, blanket, snacks
How to do it: Set up a pretend picnic with stuffed animals and toddler-friendly treats.

26. Indoor Camping

Build an indoor fort with blankets and pillows. Use flashlights to tell stories or sing songs, creating a fun “camping” experience that fosters imagination and comfort.

What you’ll need: Blankets, pillows, flashlights
How to do it: Build a fort, turn off the lights, and “camp” indoors with stories and songs.

27. Toy Wash Station

Fill a basin with water and mild soap for toddlers to “wash” their toys. This role-play activity teaches responsibility and fine motor skills while being calming and engaging.

What you’ll need: Basin, soap, washcloth, plastic toys
How to do it: Let them “wash” their toys in a small water basin, don’t forget towels.

28. Doctor’s Office

Using a toy medical kit, toddlers can take turns being doctor or patient. This game encourages empathy, communication, and understanding of basic health concepts.

What you’ll need: Toy medical kit, dolls or stuffed animals
How to do it: Play doctor and patient, taking turns checking heartbeats or giving “medicine.”

29. Superhero Dress-Up

Provide capes and costumes to inspire role-playing adventures. Invent missions and challenges that promote problem-solving, confidence, and creativity.

What you’ll need: Capes, hats, costumes
How to do it: Let them dress up and invent missions or challenges around the house.

30. Puppet Show

Bring stories to life with sock puppets. Toddlers can decorate them and perform behind a cardboard theater, sparking their imagination. It’s a fun way to blend creativity and storytelling.

What you’ll need: Socks, markers, a cardboard box
How to do it: Decorate sock puppets and “perform” behind a makeshift puppet theater.

Learning Through Play

Engage toddlers in activities that combine fun with essential skills, such as counting, color recognition, and problem-solving. These games help playfully build their cognitive development.

31. Color Sorting Game

This simple game can be played with bowls or colored paper, promoting visual learning. It’s a hands-on way to teach them about colors.

What you’ll need: Colored paper or bowls, toys, or pom-poms
How to do it: Ask them to match items with the same color container or spot.

32. Shape Hunt

A scavenger hunt helps toddlers learn basic shapes by identifying them in everyday objects, such as plates and windows. This activity encourages observation and shape recognition.

What you’ll need: Paper with drawn shapes
How to do it: Walk around the house and look for matching shapes in objects (e.g., circle = plate).

33. Number Hop

Get moving while practicing numbers! Lay down painter’s tape with numbers and have your toddler jump to each one as you call them out.

What you’ll need: Painter’s tape, numbers on paper
How to do it: Tape numbers on the floor and call out numbers to jump on.

34. Count and Clap

Count together while clapping hands, making the activity both energetic and silly. This simple game enhances counting skills while keeping toddlers engaged.

What you’ll need: Just your hands and voice
How to do it: Count together and clap that many times, easy and silly.

35. Alphabet Basket

Combine letters with toys to teach the alphabet. Ask your toddler to find a toy for each letter in the alphabet. It’s a great way to introduce letters and their corresponding sounds in a hands-on way.

What you’ll need: Basket, labeled cards A–Z, toys
How to do it: Ask your toddler to find one toy for each letter (e.g., B for ball).

36. Stack & Knock Towers

Let toddlers build towers with blocks or cups and then knock them down. This simple activity helps with motor skills and introduces basic engineering principles.

What you’ll need: Blocks or soft cups
How to do it: Let them stack high and then knock them down. It never gets old.

Family Bonding Games

Create lasting memories with activities that bring the family together. From building forts to freeze dance, these games promote connection, teamwork, and shared joy.

37. Build a Fort

Turn rainy days into cozy playtime by building a fort using blankets, cushions, and chairs. Toddlers can work together to create their fort and then enjoy reading or snacking inside.

What you’ll need: Blankets, couch cushions, chairs
How to do it: Work together to build the fort, then read or snack inside.

38. Simple Toddler Yoga

Engage in calming yoga with your toddler. Create animal-themed poses and stretch together on a yoga mat. It’s a peaceful and beneficial way to introduce toddlers to movement and mindfulness.

What you’ll need: Yoga mat or rug
How to do it: Look up toddler yoga videos or create animal-themed poses together.

39. Pretend Baking

Let toddlers mix and stir pretend ingredients, such as flour or oats, in a bowl. They can practice motor skills and have fun pretending to bake.

What you’ll need: Bowls, spoons, flour or oats
How to do it: Mix and stir “pretend” ingredients or let them pour and scoop.

40. Freeze Dance with Family

Turn up the music and dance until the music stops, then freeze in a silly position. This game encourages movement, listening skills, and laughter.

What you’ll need: Music player
How to do it: Dance until the music stops, then freeze in silly positions.

41. Guess the Sound

Sharpen your toddler’s listening skills by making sounds with household items and asking them to guess the source. Use things like a spoon, a toy, or paper to create unique noises.

What you’ll need: Household items (spoon, toy, paper)
How to do it: Make a sound and have them guess what it was.

42. Family Storytime Theater

Bring stories to life by acting them out as a family. Read a favorite book and take turns acting or adding voices to characters.

What you’ll need: Favorite book, props if desired
How to do it: Read a book and take turns acting it out or adding silly voices.

Mini Makers: DIY Fun Activities

Let toddlers get hands-on with simple crafts that let them create while learning. These activities encourage creativity and improve fine motor skills through fun, DIY projects.

43. Paper Towel Roll Tunnel

Create a DIY ramp for toy cars or balls using empty paper towel rolls. Tape them in a zig-zag pattern and race items down.

What you’ll need: Empty paper towel rolls, tape, small balls, or toy cars
How to do it: Tape rolls to a wall or box in a zig-zag pattern and race things down.

44. Recycled Collage

Encourage toddlers to create art using recycled materials, such as magazine clippings and bottle caps. They can glue the items onto paper to make a fun collage.

What you’ll need: Magazine clippings, glue, paper, bottle caps, foil
How to do it: Let them glue found objects or pictures onto paper to create a collage.

45. DIY Shakers

Make musical shakers with empty containers and dry materials like rice or pasta. Seal the containers and let toddlers decorate them.

What you’ll need: Empty containers, rice or pasta, tape
How to do it: Fill containers with dry items, seal, decorate, and shake to the beat.

46. Egg Carton Creatures

Transform egg cartons into fun animals with paint and googly eyes. Cut the cartons into sections and let toddlers paint and decorate them.

What you’ll need: Egg cartons, paint, googly eyes, glue
How to do it: Cut sections, paint them, and add decorations for eyes and legs.

47. Button Sorting Tray

Toddlers sort buttons by color, size, or shape using a muffin tray. This calming activity helps boost sorting and fine motor skills.

What you’ll need: Assorted buttons, muffin tray
How to do it: Sort buttons by color, shape, or size using fingers or tongs.

48. DIY Stamps

Create fun patterns with sponges or halved potatoes to make prints. Dip the stamps into the paint and press them onto the paper.

What you’ll need: Sponges or halved potatoes, paint, paper
How to do it: Dip stamps into paint and press on paper for fun patterns.

Tasty Little Helpers: Snack Time Activities

Combine snack preparation with learning by allowing toddlers to help with making their treats. These activities enhance fine motor skills while introducing healthy food options.

49. Decorate-Your-Own Rice Cake

Let toddlers spread their choice of toppings on a rice cake, like fruit or spreads. They can create edible art while practicing fine motor skills.

What you’ll need: Rice cakes, spreads, fruit slices
How to do it: Let them spread and decorate with fruit or edible faces.

50. DIY Trail Mix Station

Toddlers love mixing different snack items to create their trail mix. Let them scoop cereal, raisins, and pretzels into bags or bowls.

What you’ll need: Small bowls of cereal, raisins, and pretzels
How to do it: Help them scoop each item into a zip-top bag and then shake it.

51. Banana Faces

Let toddlers decorate banana slices with raisins and yogurt to create silly faces. This snack activity encourages creativity while learners explore healthy food options.

What you’ll need: Banana slices, raisins, yogurt
How to do it: Let them decorate banana slices with “eyes” and “mouths” before eating.

52. Fruit Kabobs

Toddlers can safely assemble mini fruit kabobs using soft fruits and child-safe skewers. Supervising them while they build these colorful snacks helps with fine motor development.

What you’ll need: Soft fruits, child-safe skewers or straws
How to do it: Supervise while they slide fruit pieces onto make mini rainbow kabobs.

53. Yogurt Swirl Art

Swirl food coloring or fruit puree into plain yogurt for a fun and visual snack. Toddlers can create colorful patterns with a spoon before enjoying their edible art.

What you’ll need: Plain yogurt, food coloring, or fruit puree
How to do it: Swirl colors or puree into yogurt with a spoon; then eat it!

54. Edible Necklaces

Create necklaces by threading cereal with holes (such as Cheerios) onto a string. Toddlers can wear and eat their creation afterward.

What you’ll need: Cereal with holes (like O’s), string
How to do it: Thread cereal onto the string and let them wear (and eat) it.

Quick & Easy Rainy Day Wins

These low-effort, quick-to-set-up activities offer big fun for toddlers, perfect for rainy days. They’re ideal for keeping little ones entertained without much preparation.

55. Toy Parade

Line up your toddler’s favorite toys and march them around the house, making music or sound effects. This simple activity engages toddlers in imaginative play and encourages them to move.

What you’ll need: Favorite toys (stuffies, trucks, dolls)
How to do it: Line them up and parade around the house with music or sound effects.

56. Mirror Time

Toddlers love looking at themselves in a mirror. Make funny faces or copy expressions to create a fun and interactive game.

What you’ll need: A Mirror at toddler height
How to do it: Make silly faces, copy expressions, or play peekaboo.

57. Laundry Basket Boat

Transform a laundry basket into a boat for pretend play. Add stuffed animals or blankets, and let toddlers “sail” around the living room.

What you’ll need: Laundry basket, blanket, stuffed animals
How to do it: Sit inside, pretend to row or sail, and spot “ocean animals” around.

58. Indoor Bowling

Set up a bowling lane in the hallway with plastic cups or bottles and a soft ball. Toddlers can roll the ball to knock down the pins, enhancing their hand-eye coordination.

What you’ll need: Plastic cups or bottles, a soft ball
How to do it: Set up pins and let them roll the ball to knock them over.

59. Color Hunt

Toddlers can search the house for objects matching a color you call out. This game helps reinforce color recognition in a fun and interactive way.

What you’ll need: Color cards, or call them out
How to do it: Say a color and have them find matching objects in the room.

60. Blanket Slide

Let toddlers enjoy a giggling ride around the house by pulling them gently on a blanket. This activity offers a great deal of fun while promoting balance and coordination.

What you’ll need: A Blanket and a smooth floor
How to do it: Gently pull them around on the blanket for a giggly ride.

61. Hide the Animal

Hide a small toy animal under a pillow or behind furniture and have your toddler find it. This guessing game engages their problem-solving skills and keeps them entertained.

What you’ll need: Small toy animal
How to do it: Hide it under a pillow or behind furniture and have them search.

62. Sock Puppets

Create sock puppets by decorating clean socks with markers or buttons. Toddlers can use the puppets to tell stories or sing.

What you’ll need: Clean socks, markers, or buttons
How to do it: Decorate socks and let them talk or sing with you.

63. Paper Tearing Collage

Toddlers tear old magazines or colored paper into bits and glue them to create a collage. This tactile activity develops fine motor skills while giving toddlers the freedom to create.

What you’ll need: Old magazines or colored paper
How to do it: Tear paper into bits and glue them onto a bigger page to make art.

64. Spoon Drum Band

Use spoons, pots, and bowls to make music together. Toddlers can bang the instruments to a rhythm, exploring sounds and beats.

What you’ll need: Spoons, pots, plastic bowls
How to do it: Give each “instrument” and let them bang to a rhythm.

65. Scarf Dancing

Let toddlers twirl light scarves or dish towels to music, pretending to be butterflies or fairies. This activity encourages gentle movement and creativity while helping develop coordination.

What you’ll need: Light scarves or dish towels
How to do it: Dance slowly with scarves to music and pretend to be butterflies or fairies.

66. Shadow Play

Turn off the lights and use a flashlight to create shadows on a wall. Toddlers can create hand shapes or play with toys to cast shadows, which is great for developing storytelling skills.

What you’ll need: Flashlight, blank wall
How to do it: Make hand shapes or toys cast shadows, then tell mini stories.

67. Shape Hopscotch

Use paper shapes taped to the floor to create a hopscotch grid. Call out shapes and have your toddler jump on them, reinforcing shape recognition.

What you’ll need: Paper shapes, tape
How to do it: Tape shapes to the floor and call out ones to jump on.

68. Wash the Windows

Let toddlers help with cleaning by giving them a spray bottle and a cloth to “wash” the windows. This activity is an excellent way to teach toddlers responsibility and involve them in simple chores.

What you’ll need: Spray bottle (with water), cloth
How to do it: Show them how to spray and wipe, and supervise carefully.

69. Ribbon Wands

Create ribbon wands by attaching ribbons to a stick or spoon. Toddlers can swirl the ribbons around to make beautiful movements.

What you’ll need: Ribbons, a stick, or a spoon
How to do it: Tape the ribbon to a handle and let them twirl around the room.

70. Peekaboo Box

Hide a small toy or their hands inside a box and have your toddler guess where it is. This game sparks curiosity and excitement.

What you’ll need: Small box, soft toys
How to do it: Hide and reveal toys, or their hands, endless giggles guaranteed.

71. Pouring Station

Let toddlers scoop and pour dry beans or oats from one container to another. This simple activity promotes fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

What you’ll need: Measuring cups, bowls, dry beans or oats
How to do it: Let them scoop and pour back and forth safely on a tray.

72. Match the Socks

Dump a bunch of clean socks out and let toddlers find matching pairs. This simple game helps develop sorting skills and introduces toddlers to the concept of organization.

What you’ll need: Clean socks
How to do it: Dump out a bunch and let them find the matching pairs.

To Sum up

Simple activities like crafting, watching a favorite movie, or sharing a laugh can uplift your spirits and create comfort indoors. If you find this list helpful, consider saving or bookmarking it for future reference.

Remember, it’s perfectly okay to start small; what matters is giving yourself permission to pause, enjoy, and recharge. Let these ideas serve as a gentle reminder that joy can be found in even the simplest moments.

Share your favorites with others or encourage a friend to try something new from the list.

If you loved these ideas, share this post, leave a comment with your top picks, and come back anytime you need a mood boost; your next cozy day-in is just a click away!