CHEAP AND FREE RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AT HOME

The weather in the UK is cold, to say the least. We are still going through the trenches of winter, and it can be miserable. Finding things to do with the kids can be expensive, the cost of living is wild right now, parks are wet, it’s raining most days, and money is tight.

When you are stuck indoors, it can feel hard to come up with ideas, trust me, I hear you, but there are actually so many cheap and free rainy day activities for kids at home.

We have a ton of really low-cost things to do at home. All the kids love them, and they can turn a miserable, wet, rainy Saturday into so much fun.

BAKING

I have been a from-scratch baking mum and a rip-the-packet-open, mix-and-bake kind of mum. Both mums are winning, so go with what you have got in.

If it’s a £1 packet of vanilla sponge mix from Aldi, trust me when I say these are actually really nice, or some biscuits and leftover Christmas chocolate.

Melt the chocolate, crush the biscuits in and line a tray. Pop it in the fridge for an hour and you have got yourself some homemade rocky road. It keeps the little ones entertained and you’ve then got snacks ready for a movie marathon.

Baking is one of our favourite cheap things to do with kids at home, especially on cold winter days.

CRAFT & SCIENCE

Craft days are such a lifesaver when the weather is miserable. They are easy, affordable, and perfect for indoor activities for kids on rainy days.

Make your own slime,  it's always a winner. You can make it with things you probably already have in the cupboard, and it keeps them busy for ages. Add food colouring, glitter, beads, spiders, whatever you’ve got lying around, and it becomes a full sensory activity.

Homemade playdough is another classic. Flour, salt, a bit of oil and water, and you are good to go. We make different colours and scents and then sit for ages making cakes, animals and random creations. 

Surprise eggs are great too. Hide a small item in the playdough and let your little ones open it to find the surprise. When I say Nila can do these for hours, I am not kidding!.

Some simple science experiments at home are brilliant:

• baking soda and vinegar volcanoes

• floating and sinking experiments

• colour mixing with water and food colouring

It sneaks learning in without them realising,  and it costs next to nothing.

MOVIE MARATHON

We love a movie marathon, not just a film night. We are talking all the duvets downstairs, candles on, snacks, cushions, teddies, and an entire afternoon of movies.

This is one of our favourite cosy indoor activities for kids, and it’s so therapeutic. You really do unwind and decompress. Even better if you pick a film that has a sequel.

LIBRARY

The library is a brilliant one for rainy days and a great free option if you are trying to save money, but also need to get out; cabin fever hits us all. They will usually have some kind of craft on, too. Nila loves colouring in after picking up her books.

They also do workshops, Lego and Minecraft clubs, depending on what’s on in your area, so definitely check out your local library if you are looking for free things to do with kids in the UK.

DANCE OFF

The weather does not stop us from moving our bodies. We love a Just Dance session; you can also find the dances on YouTube.

We also love Cosmic Kids Yoga and the Disney themed dance workouts from Grow with Jo. They are so fun, get our bodies moving, and get the girls off the iPads for an hour. Perfect for indoor winter activities for kids.

These are some of the things we do, as well as the board games, colouring in mornings, winter walks.

If you have any go-to rainy day activities that your kiddies love, I’d love to hear them. We are always looking for new ideas to get us through winter.