Rainy day activities for young kids - hit me with ideas!

[spikemomma]

I need to be prepared and only your help can do it!!

splashing in muddy puddles

i was all set with me pen and paper and then... puddles.

I have googled the local softplay, nearest roller skating, local swimming pool and cinema as places we tbh don't often go to from home and won't bankrupt us if we need respite from the weather. Hoping to use as few as possible but forecast looks pretty mixed for next week.

If there's woodland nearby, that's not too bad as you get some rain cover from the trees at least.

make your own playdough, indoor picnic, make tents with chairs and blankets.

Cooking, make fairy cakes? DD (3) can spend hours decorating them.

at 'make tents with chairs and blankets'...won't the OP's children already be in a tent?

LOL I didnt notice this was in camping section just saw title

Make fairy cakes in a tent..., make a tent, in a tent...?! I've hit the gin. It'll make more sense when i can't feel me cheeks.

lolol at making a tent in a tent.

You know my dds would love that. They could make many tents within tents.

We take colouring and dot to dot books, and have a tin of games (snakes and ladders, bingo etc) that keeps us amused for a few hours.

Funny . Yes keeping them entertained in a tent is a WHOLE different ballgame.

Actually we went camping last week with 2 three years old and even though it was v sunny, they spent ages playing inside with their doctor's set.

Also, have you got a portable DVD player - it may not be your thing but desperate measures and all that.

wellies outdoors...there is only so wet you can get. As long as they don't get cold they can entertain themselves for ages

hide n seek? You may laugh but i once spent a good hour (in desperation when it was blowing a gale outside) playing hide and seek in pop up bins with a 3 year old.

(actually i wouldn't wish that on anyone)

wrestling?...mine will happily pile top of any adult for a good half hour or so

colouring books

comics (don't usually buy em..but they usually have activities/free gift)...quite a good one to have put by.

I take colouring books, plenty of plain paper, top trumps for the 7 yr old, picture cards for snap and pairs that 3yo can play too. I also take some little barbie type dolls and small toy horses etc as well as some doctor kit stuff they are quite happy to play inside the tent at mummy's and babies too