Let’s be honest: grey skies and heavy rain can feel like a personal challenge when you’re the only grown-up at home. The kids get restless, the walls feel closer, and the day somehow stretches longer than it should. But rainy days don’t have to be survival missions. With a mix of intentional planning, easy activities and a bit of community support, you can turn soggy days into manageable (even quite fun) ones.

Here are lots of ideas, plus resources you can tap right now.

Create structure (without spiralling into Pinterest chaos)

When you’re at home all day, lack of structure can be the main culprit behind everyone feeling “on edge”. Break the day into simple chunks: movement, creativity, screen time, quiet time and shared jobs. It gives both of you something to look forward to and reduces the “boredom loop”.

Here are some ideas to plug into those chunks:

Active breaks
• Dancing games or obstacle courses in the living room - NHS ideas are great for inspiration.
• Simple home yoga or mindfulness sessions (these calm everyone down and boost focus).

Creative zones
• DIY craft stations with everyday materials (paper, crayons, old boxes).
• Indoor storytelling or puppet shows - no special kits needed.
• LEGO building challenges or card towers.

At-home learning disguised as play
• STEM-style experiments with kitchen ingredients (there are tons of ideas online).
• The BBC Good Food list of fun indoor activities has classics like playdough, painting, pom-pom making.

Head out somewhere dry and spacious

Sometimes a change of scenery does wonders - even if it’s just a short journey in the car or on public transport.

• Soft play and indoor adventure centres  -These big indoor spaces let children climb, slide and run off steam.
• Museums and galleries - Many are free and offer craft tables, trails and kids’ zones.
• Aquariums or indoor wildlife attractions - Great for sensory engagement and learning.

Look up local listings on sites like Great Days Out UK for indoor attractions near you.

Turn everyday moments into play

Rainy days don’t need elaborate prep. Some of the most memorable moments come from simple activities:

• Indoor treasure hunts with clues you make up on the fly.
• Book-plus-activity combos (read a story, then draw the setting or characters).
• Board games or card games that everyone can learn together.

Get some adult time too

The hardest part is being the only adult for hours on end, especially when kids have energy to burn. You don’t need to leave the house to get human connection:

Look for online or local indoor Meetups via the Frolo app, even a short coffee or chat session with other single parents can reset your mood and give you that social oxygen you didn’t even realise you needed.

Screen time can be strategic (and guilt-free)

Instead of letting screens just fill time, use them on your terms:

• Set a “feature film” slot with popcorn or cosy blankets.
• Try interactive video activities together, like family PE videos or dance breaks.

Yes, screens can be part of a day well lived; the trick is making them intentional, not default.

Keep a rainy day bank

When the weather turns nasty, having a small list handy of favourite go-to activities takes the pressure off thinking on the spot. Keep it on the fridge or in your phone notes and update it when something works well.

Rainy days might be long and loud sometimes, but with a few tried-and-true activities up your sleeve, and by leaning on your Frolo community for support and ideas, you can reclaim them as days that feel productive, connected, and yes, even enjoyable.

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