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If you live in the UK, you’ll be familiar with rainy weather. It’s something most of us like to comment on, and often complain about! And yet, when we experience a glorious summer, we sometimes forget that the rain will return, and we need to find new ways to entertain ourselves, not to mention the kids!
Don’t let the rain put a damper on your plans – there are loads of fun things you can do indoors this autumn. You could visit some local attractions, such as art galleries, museums, or an aquarium, or perhaps go to the cinema or the theatre. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to save money and stay at home, you can try a few of the activities we’ve outlined below!
There are tons of ways you can get creative on a rainy day, from colouring and painting, to creating some homemade playdough. You don’t have to be particularly arty to have fun with these sorts of activities, and if you’re really stuck for ideas, check out Pinterest. You can always find crafts to entertain your children with there!
Creating something doesn’t have to involve traditional arts and crafts either. Why not try building a house from cardboard, or making a pillow fort in the living room? Kids and adults alike love a good pillow fort – it’s a great way to hide from the outside world, and create one of your own.
Many people learned in lockdown that board games can be great fun! So if it’s raining outside, why not crack out the board games, or dig out a pack of cards. You could even make up a game, or set up a tournament for the ultimate Game Day champion.
Puzzles are another inexpensive way to entertain your kids, which are also good for the mind. A puzzle can keep children occupied for hours, especially if the image is something that appeals to them.
One of the great things about cooking or baking is that you get something delicious to eat at the end of it! Encourage your kids to help you make the evening meal, or experiment with variations of a recipe to see if you can perfect it. Pizza is always a good option here!
With baking, you might be conscious of how much sugar goes into the recipe. But there are plenty of alternative recipes you can try these days, that substitute sugar with things like bananas or apple sauce. Baking doesn’t have to be unhealthy – as with the cooking, experiment until you find something that works for you!
You don’t have to be a student to veg out on the sofa and watch movies all day – adults and kids can do it on occasion too! A rainy day is the perfect excuse to watch a bunch of your favourite films. Make some popcorn, and consider themed snacks that reflect the movies you’re watching.
You could even combine this activity with making a pillow fort – who doesn’t want to watch movies snuggled up in a pillow fort? Particularly if there are loads of blankets to curl up under!
Reading is a brilliant way to spend time indoors – you’re transported to another time or land, where the weather no longer affects you. It doesn’t matter what’s going on outside, as you’ll be submerged in the pages of a good book!
Encouraging your kids to read books can be beneficial to their development and growth too. Not only will their reading skills improve, this activity can also strengthen their imagination.
We often talk about doing a spring clean, but why not do a thorough cleaning in autumn as well? There are always nooks and crannies that get missed in regular cleaning jobs, though these smaller tasks will probably need doing too! You can try and make cleaning more fun, for the kids in particular, by putting some music on and dancing around the house while you clean.
It’s also a good idea to get rid of some of the clutter in autumn. Especially as Christmas presents are bound to take up even more space in your home! Go through your cupboards, and even the attic if you’re feeling adventurous, and make a pile of things you can sell or donate to charity.
While we often take loads of photos and record big moments in our children’s lives, we rarely go back and look at them. Get out some old pictures or watch some home videos with your kids, telling them more about what they were like when they were little.
The whole family would probably appreciate spending a few hours reminiscing about the past and thinking of funny memories you share. Use the opportunity a rainy day presents to spend some quality time with your family, and make some new memories along the way.