12 Rainy Day Activities

Don't let a little precipitation keep your kids parked on the couch all day: Try one of these rainy day activities, games, or outings that encourage physical fitness (and keep the "I'm bored" complaints to a minimum too).

1. Play treasure hunters.

This is one of those rainy day activities that requires a little advance parental prep, but is always a big hit with kids (whether it's a rainy day or not, really!). Stash clues around the house (adjust difficulty based on the ages of your kids; use picture cues for little ones, tricky puns for older children), directing kids to hunt for a hidden prize.

2. Let's put on a show!

Challenge a group of kids to stage a play or talent show. Give them a theme or opening lines to get them started, if they need a little jump start (how about "Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Rainy Days, a princess was born with webbed duck feet ... ").

3. Bring outdoor games in for a surprising switch on rainy day activities.

Play basketball with a soft foam or sponge ball, or just wad up some newspaper; the hoop can be any basket or receptacle (either hung on the wall or resting on the floor). Have kids shoot from different parts of the room or in different ways, in an indoor version of HORSE. Basketball not your speed? Try indoor bowling.

4. Take a fit field trip.

Hit an indoor pool (if you don't have a gym or community center membership, check hotels—they sometimes sell day passes), ice or roller rink, climbing wall, bowling alley, or inflatables play space to blow off steam.

5. Make a sand-free sandbox for lots of rainy day activities.

Use a large plastic bin, dishpan, or aluminum-foil roasting pan as your box. Fill with rice or oatmeal and stock with scoops, funnels, spoons, toy cars, a plastic tea set—whatever suits your child's interests.

6. Teach your dog some new tricks.

These charming, kid-friendly dog-training suggestions keep both pets and children busy on boring rainy days.

7. Let's go to the videotape!

Have any fitness videos? Break them out and do them together. If you're bored with your selection, see what's offered on cable—I love ExerciseTV—or hit the library or video store. Or challenge your kids to choreograph their own routines, then film them with your video camera!

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