The Best Rainy Day Activities For Kids

We had more than a week of beautiful weather last month, and in the UK that means we’re long overdue for a bit of rain. Last week we saw heavy (heavy!) rainfall and even flooding, and it looks like the dreary weather isn’t going away anytime soon with this week set to look like more of the same.

Doing the school run in the rain might be a drag, but with the kids not being able to get outside at all in the middle of the summer holidays it’s seriously dire. But fret not, we have the solution to your overactive kid induced worries. Our rainy day activities have something for everyone, from budding scientists to future bakers. So hang up your brolly, chuck off your wellies and have a great day in with our favourite indoor activities!

Embrace Your Inner Scientist

From Back To The Future to Frankenstein, everyone loves a mad scientist. So why not try out some fun and safe experiments even young kids can get involved with? School might be out for summer but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new and teach your wee ones some fun lessons. One fun experiment they’ll love is making their own crystals, all you need to do is:

1. Stir ½ a cup of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) with ½ a cup of very hot water in a beaker or glass for at least one minute 
2. Add a couple of drops of food colouring if you want brightly coloured crystals
3. Put the mixture in the fridge for a few hours and you’ll have crystals!

For younger kids, an easy experiment that’ll have them seriously impressed is instant-ice. All you have to do is pop a bottle of water in the freezer until it’s almost frozen and then pour it onto the bottom of an overturned ceramic bowl. This results in a super cool (pun not intended) effect where the water freezes as it’s poured. 

Kids obsessed with Elsa and all things Frozen will love this, and it’s also a great way to teach them about the states of matter and how ice forms.

Encourage Budding Bakers

Listen, if you’re spending the day inside trying to keep your little ones busy you might as well get a treat out of it! Baking is a fun family activity that even the smallest members of the family can get involved in, and this recipe for Cake Pops is perfect for wee bakers.

Ingredients:

• 100g Butter
• 100g Caster Sugar
• 2 x ½ tsp Vanilla Extract (one for the cake and one for the icing)
• 2 Eggs
• 100g Self Raising Flour
• 75g Butter
• 150g Icing Sugar
• 1tbsp Milk
• 200g White Chocolate
• Sprinkles

To make these treats all you have to do is,

1. Heat the oven to 190C (170C fan or gas 5) and grease the bottom of a 20cm sandwich tin
2. Put the butter, sugar and ½ a tsp of vanilla extract into a bowl and beat well into a creamy consistency. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then fold in the flour and mix.
3. Tip the mixture into your tin and pop in the oven and bake for 20 mins until risen and golden brown
4. Let the cakes cool and start on the buttercream icing. In a large bowl or a stand mixer beat the butter and icing sugar together until smooth, then add ½ a tsp of vanilla extract and 1tbsp of milk 
5. Once the cake is all cooled down, crumble it into large crumbs (the perfect job for kids!) then mix in the buttercream, roll into balls, insert a lollipop stick or a paper straw cut in half, then place into the fridge to cool for an hour to set
6. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, then dip the cake pops in the melted chocolate, then into the sprinkles for a tasty topping

Excite Future Artists 

What kid doesn’t love play dough? However, some of the options on the market can be pricey and not very long-lasting. Luckily, making your own playdough from scratch at home is really easy, cost-effective and lasts for ages in a Ziploc bag. You can even customise it with your own colours and scents. 

                             Source: I Heart Naptime

All you need is:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup salt
• 4 teaspoons cream of tartar 
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 tbsps of vegetable oil
• Food colouring
• Small Ziploc bags

To make your playdough mix the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot then add your water and oil. If you’re just making one colour of playdough then you can add your food colouring now. Cook your mixture on medium heat, stirring constantly until the dough thickens and forms a ball, then remove from the heat and pop onto wax paper. Allow the dough to cool then knead it gently until flat. If you’re making more than one colour, you can separate the mixture into separate bags, add the food colouring and knead the bag to save stains on your hands. Then you’re ready to go! 

Another great way to get your kids creative juices flowing is upcycling. One of the biggest trends in furniture, upcycling is a great way to put your own spin on old furniture. For a gorgeous finish, try sprucing up with Little Greene Paint and turning old pieces into bright new conversation starters. For tips on getting started, check out our upcycling blog here!