Brighten Your Rainy Day with a Diaper Bag Full of Activities

I am not sure what’s worse, a child being cooped up inside your home on a rainy day or a mom cooped up inside the house without a trusty list of rainy-day activities.

It’s 10 a.m. on a Saturday. Hail is pelting the ground at full force. We’ve received the call from our coach saying our noon T-Ball game has been rained out. Looks like a post-game ice-cream shop stop is out too. It’s going to be a long day stuck indoors with three very active children.

What shall we do? We had to do some research but we came up with a list of some very exciting and time-consuming activities. Whether you want to brave the weather and see some new indoor spots or stay in and play in the comfort of your home, here are a few ideas to keep your rainy day bright.

Tea Party: Invite some fluffy animals, steep some tea or hot chocolate and set up a tea party atop your kitchen table. Cut up some fruit and tiny sandwiches and read your children a fairytale while sampling your healthy offerings. Your kids will love being allowed to sit on top of the table and the luxury of drinking from an “adult” cup.

Play-doh with a Purpose: Instead of just pulling out the Play-doh bin, have a mission with your malleable dough. Create a Play-doh zoo or ice-cream shop. Create the alphabet or generate numbers up to 10; form a rainbow together or a space scene. Your children will be focused on the project instead of growing tiresome of the same scissors and cookie cutters.

Hide the Object: Find one special item and take turns hiding it. This will allow your children to be the hider and the seeker without the rowdiness of full-fledged running game of Hide-and-Seek.

Bake or Cook Together: Kids love to create. Have your children measure and stir and create hypotheses on what might happen next. Will the bread rise or fall? What color will the batter turn once we crack the eggs? How many stirs will it take for the brown sugar to dissolve? How long do you think it will take to bake? Once it’s out, share your creation with your child. Bon appétit!

Art Studio: Bust out that easel or art bin! Cover your dining room table with easel paper and let your little ones make a beautiful, disposable paper tablecloth. Use stickers and stencils, markers and crayons and let your kids create! Be sure to compliment their creation at dinner that night!

Pitch a Tent: Build a fort or dust off the camping tent and pitch it indoors. Let them make a home inside. They’ll spend loads of time lugging their toys inside and will enjoy playing in their fort for a great portion of the day. You can even tell campfire stories, go fishing in the bathtub and make microwavable S’mores if you wish.

Play Kiddie Pictionary or Charades: Get out the white board or chalkboard and have your child draw something while you and the other kids guess. Do the same with Charades.

Pizza and a Movie: Make a pizza or grab one from the freezer and play restaurant. Have your child set the table and take your order and let the child serve you. Rave about the food and pretend to leave a tip. Then pop some popcorn and cuddle up for a Disney movie or age-appropriate show.

So you’ve decided to strap on your trusty rain boots and bundle up the little ones. Here’s a list of local spots sure to keep you busy on a blustery day.

Bowlmor Lanes:
Get ready for premiere rainy day fun at Bowlmor Lanes in Cupertino, which offers 32 glow-in-the-dark bowling lanes. Order lunch, reserve your lane and bowl the day away!

Jungle:
The Jungle boasts the largest play structure in Northern California, with 20,000 square feet of space. Bring the kids and tire them out while they slide down safari slides, jump in ball huts and slither through tiny tunnels. There’s even a Toddler Village for kids under 3 and an extensive arcade and game room for children of all ages. Check for open play availability, as birthday parties book up fast here. The Jungle and The Jungle Island are both located in San Jose.

Silver Creek Sportsplex:
There’s something for everyone at Silver Creek, from dance, fitness and health and camps. But for a rainy day, kids ages 18 months to 12 years old can come play on the giant inflatable play zones for just $7.

Pump It Up:
Another fun inflatable zone, Pump It Up will allow your little ones to rid themselves of the cabin fever while they jump, bounce and play. Check times for open play.

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo:
Owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto, the offers interactive museum exhibits for young kids and a nice outdoor arena with a bobcat, raccoon, snakes, bats and more. There is no entrance fee, but guests are encouraged to make a monetary donation.

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose:
Located on Woz Way in San Jose, the of San Jose is sure to keep everyone in your family entertained until that storm passes. From its Imaginary Playground to its Theatre Experiences and special events, the museum has something for everyone. Coming up April 2-3 is the Children of the Dragon Vietnamese Community Celebration.

The Tech Museum of San Jose:
Hands-on, interactive exhibits will keep your children begging for more time at The Tech Museum in San Jose. Learning about earth sciences, renewable energy, virtual design, genetics and more is especially intriguing for kids 6 and up.  

Winchester Mystery House:

For a spooky rainy day experience, visit the infamous mansion that fashions staircases that lead to nowhere and doors that open to blank walls. This strange mansion is sure to give your child an experience he or she will never forget. This one is best for older kids, as it is a guided tour.