Family rainy day activities

Take a look at some easy rainy day activity ideas to try with your child and watch some of the kids from Our Family getting crafty.

Make a special picture or greeting card for a friend or family member. Making art lets children make their own decisions about where to put things and what to emphasise, which is really empowering. Ask your little one about what they’ve created. See if they can explain their decisions back to you – it’ll give you a real sense of what’s important to them right now. For a mess-free alternative try our online art and painting game CBeebies Creative Lab.

Make a collage from things you’ve collected on your adventures. Did you know that giving children the opportunity to be creative when they’re small actually fires new connections between the different parts of their brain? This process, called ‘synaptogenesis’ enables children to make sense of the world. If it’s too wet to venture outside for supplies, you could make a giant handprint bonfire to warm yourselves up!

Make your own erupting volcano, like JoJo and Gran Gran, or try an arty experiment with some squirty chalk. Learning together like this helps your child to feel like you’re taking them seriously and you understand that they aren’t just messing around when they play – which in turn builds their self-esteem. Find out how magnets work and how to make raisins dance in our CBeebies science collection.

Roll up your sleeves and explore our Easy Craft Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers collection, packed with colourful crafts and simple DIY projects to spark little imaginations and keep little hands busy.

Looking for ways to make the most of the sunny days? Dive into our collection of fun-filled ideas to keep the whole family exploring, playing and making memories outdoors this summer.

Discover our CBeebies Holiday Survival collection, bursting with games for under-fives, nature-inspired shows to watch, songs, quizzes, printable activities and colouring sheets featuring Bluey, Hey Duggee and all your favourite CBeebies friends. Whether you're heading on an adventure or enjoying a quiet moment, there's plenty of screen-free fun to enjoy.

Play takes all sorts of forms, from messy and sensory play to outdoor and pretend play. It’s a key part of children's early development! Find out more about the importance of play with advice and inspiration from CBeebies parenting.