The Rainy Day Survival Guide
The Rainy Day Survival Guide: 5 Easy Ways to Entertain Little Ones Indoors (Without Losing Your Mind or Making a Massive Mess)
It’s week two of the Easter holidays, the novelty of no school is wearing off, and surprise, surprise—it’s raining! The park’s a no-go, soft play sounds like a full-on endurance challenge, and you’ve already maxed out screen time by 11 a.m. If you’re facing off with sugar-fuelled tiny humans who are this close to swinging from the curtain rails, you need some fuss-free, low-mess ideas to bring back a bit of sanity. Here are five fun (and surprisingly doable) activities to keep the chaos at bay and the giggles flowing
1. Colouring Fun
Crafts seem like a good idea... until your dining table’s sticky and glitter has somehow entered every nook and cranny of your house. A safer alternative? Colouring. It’s creative, calming, and beautifully mess-free (in most cases).
Get some crayons, coloured pencils, highlighters—even a few sticker sheets—and let their imagination go wild while your house stays intact. You can find loads of printable colouring pages online – and if you sign up for my emails, you’ll get an adorable collection of Maggie Moo colouring pages featuring a cow in a bow. Yes, really. Click here to sign up!
2. Fashion Show Extravaganza
When I was a kid, dress-up was elite entertainment—especially when my cousins came to visit. We’d dive into a big bag of hilariously questionable fashion items: my mum’s hippie makes, odd holiday buys no one ever wore, and ridiculous high heels that made us feel so grown up.
Your little one will love raiding the fancy dress chest—or even your wardrobe. Add a runway (the hallway will do nicely), snap some pics, or record a full-blown fashion video. And don’t forget the accessories: scarves, bandanas, sunglasses, necklaces, and fancy hats. Accessorising is the secret sauce of any iconic look!
And before you ask—of course I haven’t forgotten hair accessories! Maggie Moo glitter bows are absolutely fashion show material. Browse runway-worthy bows here.
3. Dance Party
Blast some tunes, clear a bit of floor space, and let the coordinated chaos commence! A living room dance party is a brilliant way for little ones to shake off that rainy-day restlessness.
You can freestyle, put on a kids’ dance-along video from YouTube, or even make up your own silly choreography together (bonus points for twirls, jazz hands, and dramatic floor spins).
You get to join in too (if you want to)! So whether you're busting out your best moves or just hopping awkwardly to Baby Shark (or Chicken-Banana!), you'll be making memories your child will treasure (and possibly never let you forget).
Best part? it requires zero prep, zero cost, and results in very minimal mess. Win-win-win.
4. Indoor Picnic (Plushie Guests Optional)
No sunshine? No problem. Lay down a blanket, raid the fridge and the snack drawer, and bring the picnic indoors. You can throw in some board games or even an impromptu story time. Bonus idea: invite favourite toys and dolls to join the feast. It’s also a sneaky chance to chat about kindness, manners, and the magic of sharing – all while nibbling on carrot sticks and custard creams.
5. Spa Day
Pop on some calming music, pour a bubbly bath, and roll out the spa treatment – kids edition. Follow the bath with nail painting and a dab of kid-friendly face mask (you can make your own using ingredients from the kitchen), then move on to hair brushing and picking the perfect hair bow. A little self-care routine can turn a grey day into full princess mode in no time. Fancy a twist? Let them pamper you – but only if you’re feeling brave enough!
Rainy days don’t have to mean cabin fever or endless cries of “Muuum, I’m booooored.” With a bit of imagination (and perhaps a bow or two), you can turn indoor time into something truly magical. Whether it’s a chilled-out colouring session, a high-energy dance party, or a plushie-approved indoor picnic, these simple activities are easy for you and exciting for them. No major prep, no fancy supplies, and minimal mess – just good old-fashioned fun, a few sparkles, and lots of giggles. So hopefully next time the rain won’t stop and the park’s off the table, you’ve got a plan!
Which activity would you try first? Or do you have a go-to rainy day trick up your sleeve? Tell me in the comments!
