10 Indoor Play Ideas For the Dog Days of Summer
As the summer begins to wind down into the long days of August, it can be hard to remember ways to fill the days! Plus, when dreary weather sets in for a few days in a row, you might be hard up for ways to get the energy out of your toddlers (and bigger kids too!). Luckily, we’ve got you covered with ten ideas to freshen up your list of activities, sure to please littles and bigs alike, and maybe even lengthen that nap time?? We can hope!
Host a Sensory Bin Playdate
Get together with your creative Mom friends and bring some shoe-sized clear bins and your imagination! You can either have everyone create duplicates of a bin activity to swap and leave you with a few different bins, or explore our Pinterest page for ideas and create one all together. Either way, you’ll have something to pull out when the weather is dreary and the kids say ‘I’m bored!’.
Not creative? Invest in a Koala or Kiwi crate subscription. Each month a crate will arrive with STEM related activities for your little ones, plus a magazine to explore a topic. Kids get their own mail which is super exciting, and you have a handful of things to do!
Go Bowling (yes, really!) Go to a Tot Skate (yes, really!)
Many of your local bowling alleys and skate rinks have toddler days with discounted admission and the ability to bring ride on toys (rink) or have bumpers and smaller, toddler friendly ball weights (bowling) to safely explore without being in others’ way. It’s a fun way to introduce younger siblings to these older recreational activities!
Do Yoga in the Living Room
If Disney on repeat is getting old, log onto YouTube and put on Cosmic Kids yoga! Each 20 minute video has kid friendly poses, a dynamic instructor and visual backgrounds, and a theme to keep their imagination going during the session. You can even do the yoga alongside them! Bonus; the end has a mindfulness and meditation cool down that focuses on feelings and frustrations.
Enjoy the Mall Playground
This might for some be a last minute desperate escape, but try a new mall with a different play center! A majority of the malls in our state have excellent ones that are well maintained and designed for big imaginations. You can always hit up the Chick Fil A on the way out, a good excuse for some nugget fun, and the toys will be an educational hit and another activity to occupy them when you get home!
Head to Indoor Summer Movies
Not sure if your kids are ready for a full scale movie theater experience? With dollar movie days in the summer, you can afford to get up and leave if the movie bores your kids, but with the large selection of kid-themed releases, they’ll most likely have a great time! Plus, the theater will be full of others with small children, so it’s a great environment for them to practice their theater etiquette without anyone minding.
Run Around at Indoor Gymnastics
Sometimes kids just need to run! And you don’t need a gym membership to have fun on rainy days! Many local gymnastics businesses have open play ours during the week, allowing you to run on the track, climb the mats and play while honing some interest for lessons when they’re older! Even when crowded, the size of most centers allows for little ones to run and play to their hearts’ content!
Find an Indoor Playground
Wish you could just get the kids on a playground but it’s too rainy? At Play N’ Learn, located in Rockville and Columbia, you can do just that! The center markets their custom build swing sets by allowing you to go and play on them all, along with basketball nets, fooseball tables and trampolines, during weekday hours.
Take a Trip to Storyville or the Library
Nothing beats a story time session at the library, and most local branches have excellent hours geared towards specific age groups complete with songs, stories and craft activities. If you’re feeling adventurous, hit up the two Storyville locations in Woodlawn and Rosedale. Complete with story ‘zones’ that are decorated and interactive play centers, you can alternate reading and exploring on dreary days.
Enjoy the Science Center or Aquarium
Words cannot express how much we’ve gotten out of our Maryland Science Center and Baltimore Aquarium memberships. Hours of fun can be had in the halls of either location, and often in the summer they have dollar days for a discounted good time! Pack snacks and a lunch and wear the kids out before nap time.
Arcade Time at Chuck E Cheese’s
When in doubt, I keep my change from Starbucks visits in the center console of my car and use it for reloading token passes at Chuck E Cheese’s. The kids can swipe and play games or climb the jungle gym and we can indulge in the lunch buffet for a reasonable price!
Here’s to summer and all its wonders, and to you, as you brainstorm some more adventures! Hoping to fill your days with fun and exploration! Need more ideas? Email us for our complimentary list of Maryland Fun Activities, straight to your inbox!
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