10 Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers (Using Stuff You Already Own)
You hear the first rumble of thunder, glance out the window, and feel that familiar wave of oh no wash over you. Rain means no backyard, no park, no walk around the block to burn off that toddler energy. Just you, your tiny tornado, and a very long day stretching out ahead.
Take a breath, mama. You've got this — and you probably already have everything you need.
Here are 10 tried-and-true rainy day activities using stuff you likely already have at home, split into two categories: quiet crafts for when you need a little calm, and energy-burners for when your toddler is bouncing off the walls (literally).
🎨 Crafts & Quiet-Time Activities
1. Painter's Tape Roads
Grab a roll of painter's tape and turn your kitchen floor into a city. Stick down roads, intersections, and parking spots, then let your toddler drive their toy cars around town. Bonus: it peels right up when you're done, no marks left behind.
3. Sensory Bin from the Pantry
Dump some dry rice, beans, or oats into a big bowl or bin, hide some small toys or measuring spoons inside, and let your toddler dig. This one buys you a solid 20-30 minutes of focused play (a shower curtain or old towel underneath keeps cleanup easy).
3. Pasta Necklace Threading
Boxed pasta (penne or rigatoni works best) + a shoelace or piece of yarn = an instant fine-motor activity. Color the pasta with food coloring and rubbing alcohol ahead of time for extra fun, or just go with the classic beige.
4. Homemade Playdough
No playdough on hand? No problem. Flour, salt, water, and a little oil make a perfectly good batch in about 5 minutes. Let your toddler help "cook" it while you mix — they'll love feeling like they made it themselves.
5. Sticker Scenes
A blank piece of paper and a sheet of stickers can occupy a toddler for way longer than you'd expect. Draw a simple scene (a tree, a road, an ocean) and let them fill it in with whatever stickers you've got lying around.
🏃 Energy-Burning Indoor Activities
6. Indoor Obstacle Course
Couch cushions to crawl over, a laundry basket to jump into, a hallway to "balance beam" walk down with tape lines — build a course with furniture and pillows you already own. Time them with a stopwatch for extra excitement.
7. Balloon Volleyball
Blow up a balloon, clear a little space, and see how long you can keep it off the ground. Low stakes, high giggles, and it's basically impossible to break anything with a balloon.
8. "The Floor is Lava"
A classic for a reason. Use couch cushions, pillows, and towels as stepping stones across the living room. Toddlers will run this loop approximately 400 times, which is exactly the point.
9. Laundry Basket Bowling
Line up some empty water bottles or toilet paper rolls, hand your toddler a sock or a soft ball, and let them bowl them down. Reset and repeat. And repeat. And repeat.
10. Simon Says
No supplies needed at all — just your voice and their wiggles. "Simon says jump 10 times," "Simon says spin in a circle," "Simon says touch your toes." It's a genuinely great energy-burner disguised as a game.
Want 25 More? 🌧️
This list only scratches the surface. I put together "35 Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers" — a printable, fridge-ready guide with all of these activities plus 25 more crafts and games, organized and ready to grab whenever the forecast turns gray.
35 Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers — a printable, fridge-ready guide made for moms who need a plan the second the forecast turns gray.
Inside you'll find 35 screen-free activities split into two categories: quiet crafts for when you need a calm moment, and energy-burning games for when your toddler is bouncing off the walls. Every single one uses stuff you already have at home — pantry staples, couch cushions, painter's tape, and other everyday items — so there's no last-minute supply run required.
Each activity comes with a simple checkbox and easy-to-follow instructions, so you can print it, stick it on the fridge, and grab it the moment you hear thunder.
What's inside:
17 low-mess craft & quiet-time activities
18 indoor games designed to burn energy fast
A bonus list of rainy day essentials worth keeping on hand
Instant digital download — print at home, use again and again
No Pinterest-perfect setup required. Just a little creativity, things you already own, and a plan for the next rainy day that actually works.
A Few Rainy Day Essentials Worth Keeping on Hand
If you find yourself wishing you had a few more go-to supplies for next time, a small stash of rainy-day basics can make these activities even easier to pull off:
A big bin of building blocks or magnetic tiles
A roll of painter's tape (seriously, buy two), or get a multi-color pack
A basic art supply caddy — washable paint, crayons, and construction paper
A soft indoor ball set for the energy-burning days
The Real Takeaway
Rainy days feel long when you're in them, but they don't have to feel hard. You don't need a Pinterest-perfect setup or a closet full of craft supplies — just a little creativity, some pantry staples, and permission to let things get a little messy.
So next time the forecast says rain, take a deep breath, pick two or three activities from this list, and know that you and your toddler are going to make it through just fine — maybe even having a little fun along the way.
What's your go-to rainy day activity? I'd love to hear it — tag me on Instagram @littleandelevated
