When the rain starts pouring and the kids start climbing the walls, it’s so easy to hand them a tablet. But if you’re trying to cut down on screen time, rainy days can feel like a marathon. Here are 5 completely screen-free, low-prep activities to save your sanity!
1. Cardboard Box Architecture
Save those Amazon boxes! Give the kids some tape, markers, and scissors, and challenge them to build a robot, a house, or a spaceship. It’s open-ended play that lasts for hours.
2. Watercolor Nature Painting
Bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. Set up a still life with leaves or flowers from the yard, and let them paint what they see. Pro Tip: The DoodleBox Explorer Kit comes with all the watercolors, brushes, and paper you need—no craft store run required!
Want to try Watercolor Nature Painting?
Get The Explorer Kit3. DIY Playdough Sculptures
Make a batch of homemade playdough, or pull out the clay from your DoodleBox Builder Kit. Challenge them to sculpt their favorite animal or a crazy monster. The tactile sensation is incredibly calming for anxious kids.
4. Comic Book Creation
Fold a few pieces of paper in half and staple the edges to make a mini-book. Ask your child to draw a comic strip about their day or a made-up superhero. This is a great way to sneak in some writing practice!
5. Shadow Drawing
Place a piece of paper on the floor and set up a toy (like a dinosaur or a car) so it casts a shadow on the paper. Have your child trace the shadow and then color it in.
Rainy days don't have to mean screens. With a little creativity (and the right supplies), they can become the best days for imaginative play!