Puddlesuits, movie nights and daytime baths: how to survive rainy days with small kids

Before becoming a mum, I never appreciated quite how complicated getting out the front door would be with kids in tow. But in my four and a half years of parenting two small people, I can confidently say it’s nothing compared with the challenge of a day spent inside when outside is off-limits. Whether because of endless rain or illnesses you don’t want to pass on, I panic at the thought of filling the hours spent indoors.

Being outside is profoundly helpful for my mental health, and it comes with its own built-in entertainment for small children: a bus ride becomes a sensory experience, a trip to the doctor’s an opportunity to pick up role-play ideas.

But what to do when leaving the house really isn’t possible? Over the years, I have developed a list of ideas for keeping my children (and me) sane indoors, and the productsthat have helped us muddle through (and dare I say, enjoy) those days. I’ve also recommended some gear to help you brave the wet weather.

How have you been keeping the kids – and yourself – entertained during the rainy days? Let us know by emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com

The best indoor rainy-day activities for kids

Play tent

An unexpectedly popular item in our house came from one of the kids’ many generous aunties and uncles: a play tent. My initial thoughts? “How big! How intrusive! How unnecessary!” How wrong I was.

Kids of all ages seem to gravitate towards it – perhaps owing to the illusion of privacy it offers (as well as being a very non-obvious place to scarper when playing hide-and-seek, wink wink). When ours was played with so much and broke beyond repair, I didn’t think twice about replacing it with this lovely, bright Djeco one. We chose it because of its colourful design, but I’d also seen one at a play cafe from the same brand and admired how sturdy it was. It’s a great place for us all to get cosy and read, and somewhere for my four-year-old to take a minute when his little brother is destroying his beautiful Magna-Tiles creations.

Djeco multicoloured play tent

£55.25 at Baby Mori£59.99 at Vertbaudet

Suitable for: 3+

Magna-Tiles

That brings me nicely to Magna-Tiles. Parents seem to enjoy these almost as much as their kids do, and they’re popular with older children too. We don’t have it, but I just know this Rail Racers set would be an absolute hit in this house. There are imitation brands, but we invested in the official Magna-Tiles, which have lasted really well and endured being lobbed around by our toddler – who may or may not end up being a bowler in later life, given how much he likes to throw. Friends with cheaper knock-offs say you get what you pay for in this case.

Magna-Tiles Rail Racers set

£40 at Argos

Suitable for: 3+

This random car toy

Look, I don’t really understand why, but my children were given this car toy by another auntie for Christmas last year, and every single child who has crossed the threshold of our house since then, big and small, has been obsessed with it. Not only does it play really earwormy songs, which they love, but it has a roller beneath a screen that shows a road unfolding in front of you as you “drive” with the steering wheel. You can also just push it around like any other toy car.So many friends have gone on to buy one too, but sorry in advance for the noise of the songs and for the fact it is, essentially, a big lump of plastic.

Steering wheel car toy

£29.89 at Amazon

Suitable for: 3+

Craft kits

Our kids have a higgledy-piggledy medley of millions of different craft bits and pieces that their mother has bought for herself, used once and discarded. A visit to a craft shop such as Hobbycraft is probably the cheapest option for this, but there are a few nice premade kits out there too, like the Djeco one below. Another wildly popular craft activity in our house – also from a clever auntie – is this foil sticker set from Galt. It’s easy to use with minimal mess, so it ticks all my boxes.

Djeco animal houses craft pack

£25.50 at Baby Mori

Suitable for: 3+

Galt foil set

£7 at Hobbycraft£7 at Amazon

Suitable for: 6+

Toy subscription

Before I became a mum, I used to say I would be vigilant in rotating toys to maintain interest (putting some into storage and bringing others out from time to time), then I actually became a mum and, well, that never happened. But then I discovered Lovevery.

At first, I was a bit confused about why our kids might need new toys every few months, but after a few boxes, the value became evident. Those who sign up get a new set of toys (often sustainably made) every two to three months that are focused at their current age. It’s not cheap, but we’ve bought one or two boxes over the years or asked family to (as well as being sent some samples as press gifts in the past). There are favourites in every kit that have been thrown into the routine toy circulation, and saving them for a time stuck indoors has been a total salvation when I’m low on ideas.

The toys are good quality, often wooden, and a one-off box makes a great present for grandparents to give when they’re looking for new ideas. The newborn Looker play kit is especially valuable, chiefly owing to the wooden mobile I hung above the changing table, which helped entertain them while I was committing the grave offence of cleaning their bottoms.

The Looker play kit

£80 per kit on subscription at Lovevery£93.85 for one kit at Amazon

Suitable for: 0+

Pikler triangle

When our eldest was given one of these as a toddler, I struggled to see the value. But then came baby number two: a future rock-climbing tornado who makes it his business to scale any piece of furniture that crosses his path. Pikler triangles can be added to with other products to make little indoor climbing frames, and ours has a slide, which our toddler spends his life climbing up and throwing himself down, especially on days when the park is off limits.

TP Toys climbing triangle

£69.99 at John Lewis£62.32 at Amazon

Suitable for: 1+

Puzzles

We have a wide array of Ravensburger puzzles, gifted by a very keen nanna. The brand makes a wide range of puzzles for different ages, so it’s worth investing in a couple. Hits in our house include the Hey Duggee one for younger kids and the current obsession: Spidey & His Amazing Friends (Ghost Spider specifically – IYKYK).

Hey Duggee puzzle

£11.99 at Ravensburger

Suitable for: 2+

Spidey & His Amazing Friends puzzle

£4.99 at Ravensburger£4.99 at Amazon

Suitable for: 3+

Ice-cream shop

No imagination-based toy has been more used in our house than this ice-cream shop, made mostly of wood, by American brand Melissa & Doug. My friend’s children, seven and nine, still won’t part with theirs, which in my book is the sign of a good toy.

Melissa & Doug Scoop and Serveice-cream counter

£39.99 at John Lewis£34.99 at Amazon

Suitable for: 3+

Portable race track

I have seen these Speed Track car-racing tracks pop up in living rooms and birthday parties, with little kids, teenagers and even adults getting in on the action. It works with most small car toys you probably already own, and it’s easy to roll up and put away.

Speed Track, 4 metres (without cars)

£27.99 at Speed Track£27.99 at Amazon

Suitable for: 3+

Play sofa

A relatively new phenomenon, “play sofas” (modular sofas that can be rearranged to spark kids’ imagination) are fast becoming a go-to for parents of active children. Ours is from the Irish brand Baby Elegance, and has become a castle, a train, a spaceship, a cave, a house, a shop and many other things, all in the first few months. It has a foam core covered in hard-wearing corduroy fabric and doubles as a very comfortable bed for fans of what I like to call lying-down parenting (favoured by those with early-rising offspring, who have difficulties sitting up or who may have just had one too many the night before).

Baby Elegance play sofa

£213 at Baby Elegance

Suitable for: 1+ (with adult supervision)

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Stepping stones

I first came across Stapelstein stepping stones at a local play cafe, and initially had no idea what the appeal was. Doubly so when I found out the price. Nonetheless, I have been blown away by just how many hours of fun my two have had playing with them, especially when friends come over. They’re made from high-density foamed plastic, making them lightweight and easy to pick up, but sturdy enough to support up to 180kg in weight, so they’re perfect for stacking, climbing on, using as hats or making seats from.

They are great for mobility and practising balance, and they spark my kids’ imagination like nothing else I’ve seen. Visiting older kids have been just as obsessed with these, suggesting it may be a toy for the long haul, too.

Stapelstein stepping stones

£154.95 at the Kid Collective£154.95 at Scandiborn

Suitable for: 1+ (with adult supervision)

Audio player

The Yoto player is a screen-free audio player that’s a reliable all-rounder for both my kids. We listen to stories and songs, and grandparents and other relatives have recorded their own cards of them reading stories or singing for the kids to listen to. Cards can be targeted to a specific age, too. Our two-year-old loves the nursery rhymes and our four-year-old listens to stories, and both get a real kick out of “being in control” of the content, without realising that it’s actually their father and me who oversee it all. The smartphone app means we can stop and start playback from our phones, and we have recently discovered the software is available on Android Auto, meaning we can listen to our cards when in the car.

Yoto player

From £64.99 at Yoto£65 at Argos

Suitable for: 3+

A movie projector

Bad weather always leaves me jealous of friends who have projectors ready to turn their living rooms into home cinemas. A friend recommended this Samsung one, and it’s on my “if we ever have spare money” list.

Samsung Freestyle 2

£399 at John Lewis£349 at Amazon

Nintendo Switch

Friends with older kids rave about the Nintendo Switch their families got for Christmas. It can be played alone or as a family, with plenty of games for everyone. In their case, the console is kept in the living room, and children can swap TV time for console time on weekends. Mario Kart and Just Dance are good for getting the whole family together.

The Switch 2 is the latest, but the original Switch has a huge library of games and is now cheaper thanks to the arrival of its successor.

Nintendo Switch 2

£389.99 at Argos£384.99 at Amazon

Suitable for: 3+

Nintendo Switch (first generation)

£248 at John Lewis£259.99 at Argos

Suitable for: 3+

Activities on the cheap or even for free

Homemade playdough

I bought this fairly extensive colour palette of food dyes from Amazon, and the kids love being able to pick which shade they will play with that day. I use this recipe, but there are loads out there. One thing to be aware of is these playdoughs are more likely to stain than the shop-bought stuff, so are best limited to the kitchen.

A daytime bath

When all else fails, I chuck my kids into the bath and let them have an extended play session they wouldn’t ordinarily have in the evening. If I’m feeling generous, I throw in a Munchkin ColourMix bath bomb, which my kids adore, even if the yellow shade does often make me think they may have had an accident.

Costume play

I found a pile of costumes in my kids’ sizes on Vinted for days when we just need a little extra inspiration. I spent about £6 and got a huge range for whoever they feel like being on that particular day.

A den

A timeless classic that is still a favourite for a reason. All you need is some chairs and bed sheets. For extra pizzazz, I sometimes add fairy lights, but this is not at all necessary.

Active games

We also often play the floor is lava (with the very annoying song you can find on Spotify), hide-and-seek or Bluey-style “keepy uppy” with a balloon and accompanying soundtrack music.

Braving the weather: the best wet-weather clothing for kids

Good-quality waterproofs

We live in the rainy south-west, so to have a fighting chance of leaving the house between November and April, good waterproofs for the kids are a must. For smaller ones, many friends have recommended these Muddy Puddles suitswith a removable warm inner layer for adapting them to fluctuating temperatures.

For older kids, I love shell trousers because they really do keep kids dry. I am a huge Mini Rodini fan and, though they are expensive, their sizes span 1.5 to 2 years generally, so on average, can be worn for two winters. I also know many fans of Polarn O Pyret, which offers more reasonably priced options for toddlers through to 12-year-olds.

Muddy Puddles Scampsuit

£95 at John Lewis£95 at Muddy Puddles

Mini Rodini waterproof trousers

£82 at Mini Rodini£82 at Smallable

Polarn O Pyret shell trousers

From £40 at Polarn O Pyret

Wellies and warm socks

A good pair of wellies is essential, and my kids have always liked their colour-changing ones from Grass & Air. Put their little tootsies in some merino wool socks like these from Polarn O Pyret and job’s a good’un.

One final tip I must add is not to buy fur-lined wellies. I know they look cute, but trust me, they get wet quickly, and then your kid is essentially walking around in soggy socks.

Grass & Air wellies

£27 at Mountain Warehouse£27 at Amazon

Merino wool socks

From £11.20 at Polarn O Pyret

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For more, read the best wellies for everyone and the best umbrellas

Rose Stokes is a Bath-based journalist who balances writing about women’s health and parenting two small humans

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