At the Girls on the Run afterschool program, participants build confidence while unlocking life skills, a love of movement, and giving back to the community. Girls also discover the importance of embracing what makes them one-of-a-kind and learn it’s not about having the best running shoes or being the fastest; it’s about loving ALL of the parts that make you, YOU (and inspiring others to do the same). Similarly, this list of screen-free activities gives kids the opportunity to nurture their unique perspectives in unique ways—boosting creativity, critical thinking, and a boldness to try new things.
Did you open the weather app this week and see an abundance of grey skies and showers in the upcoming forecast? Don’t let the clouds dim your household’s Star Power and wipe out any chance for fun! Even though the age-old nursery rhyme wishes the rain would go away and come another day, with these 7 screen-free activities, you can rewrite the narrative with a positive spin. With a little creativity, encouragement, and intentionality, afternoons stuck inside can be the foundation for sunny memories that warm your family’s hearts for years to come. In fact, they may even become days filled with ongoing rituals you look forward to!
Play Rainy-Day Bingo
Are your kids interested in doing a little bit of everything over the course of a long rainy weekend? Check all the boxes (literally) with a Rainy-Day Bingo Card! First, draw a grid that leaves space for each activity on a blank paper. Next, incorporate a combination of movement-based activities, creative activities, and thought-provoking or critical-thinking activities. Need inspiration? Here are a few we love: ‘read 20 pages in a book,’ ‘do 10 jumping jacks,’ ‘draw a self-portrait,’ and ‘write a story in your pet’s voice.’ As the kids finish each activity, mark them off the card. To turn the fun up a notch, consider adding small rewards for completing a row and perhaps a special treat for a full board!
Create a Time Capsule
Use this time to savor the moment! Find a sturdy container with a lid and explain to the kids the purpose and value of a time capsule. The more they understand the meaning of a time capsule, the more excited they will be to get started! After sharing the purpose of the activity, let the kids fill it with photos, drawings, notes, small toys, or any other memento that represents where they are in their lives right now. Then identify a time and date for when you’ll crack it back open. Be sure to mark the date on the lid and store it somewhere safe for however long your crew decides. Making a time capsule presents your kids with a fun, interactive chance to reflect on all of the good things they have in the present while getting excited about the future.
Get Crafty with Everyday Objects
Who knew your kid’s next masterpiece could start with the three Rs of sustainability: reduce, reuse, recycle?! It’s a nifty and thrifty way for your kids to flex their creative muscles and think outside the box to create something beautiful or unique. With this activity, kids learn they can transform everyday materials that often get thrown out or forgotten into imaginative works of art. Some common examples include cardboard boxes, bottle caps, paper towel rolls, buttons, fabric scraps, and old magazines. Open-ended crafting challenges kids to look at things with new perspectives, problem-solve, and employ the limitless potential of their big ideas!
Go on an Indoor Treasure Hunt
Turn a typically dull day stuck inside into an exciting adventure with an indoor treasure hunt! Begin the activity by selecting a special “treasure.” Then, hide clues throughout the home that inch kids closer to the treasure’s location. Once everything is set, kids begin their hunt for clues that eventually lead them closer to the “treasure.” The treasure hunt can be simple, with a handful of clues based on a theme, or more elaborate, with riddles, maps, or even fitness challenges. However you design the hunt, it’s a fantastic screen-free activity that gets kids moving, thinking critically, and processing information. Plus, you may enjoy planning the hunt and witnessing the kids’ discoveries just as much as they enjoy solving it!
Write Notes and Create Cards for Loved Ones
Rainy days are the perfect time for kids to slow down, pause, and reflect on the positives in their lives, including the people who make it extraordinary. Writing letters or creating handmade cards for loved ones is a great screen-free activity that is as meaningful as it is colorful. . Does your kid love stickers and colored pencils? Bring them out! Do they have a small watercolor set they’re eager to try? Grab the brushes! This rainy-day activity combines innovation with heart, allowing kids to employ their creative side while expressing gratitude and care for those close to them.
Whether it’s a note to a grandparent, a thank-you card to a teacher, or a “just because” message to a friend, this activity is an excellent chance for kids to sharpen their writing skills, embrace the joy of “making” something, and practice mindfulness. Using this downtime to create cards and notes for the Star Sparklers in kids’ lives is a simple yet meaningful way to brighten someone’s day—and a great reminder that small gestures can make a significant impact.
Create a Gratitude Board
This screen-free activity is one many of us at GOTR engage in regularly, regardless of weather patterns! In addition to boosting mental health, sharing gratitude fosters a sense of connection and optimism. Creating a potent visual reminder to take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for helps make embracing feelings of appreciation a more regular part of your life. There’s also great value and impact (not to mention plenty of memories to be made) in the actual construction of the board. Creating a gratitude board is a unique way for families to come together and build a hands-on project that will spark joyful feelings, now and in the future. Does this gratitude-boosting activity sound like one you and your kids would enjoy? Learn how to make a Gratitude Board in our step-by-step blog!
Gather Donations and Support a Cause
Throughout each Girls on the Run season, teams drive the design and implementation of a Community Impact Project. Throughout the process, coaches step back so that girls can step up and take the lead. The goal is for participants to practice using their skills collaboratively, not to create a perfect final product. As messy as the planning may get, as long as every team member uses their voice and tools, they are on the right track! Once these steps are taken, teams are equipped to complete their project. Similarly, kids can use their talents and passions to make a difference at home on rainy days (or any day)! Create a system that works for your family and be open to making adjustments (just as our GOTR girls do) throughout the process.
Gathering canned goods, toys they no longer use, gently used clothing, or fresh toiletries is a fantastic way for kids to utilize their free time and learn the value of using their skills to make a difference alongside their community. To make the activity even more intentional, consider having a group conversation with your kids to select a specific charity, shelter, or community center. From there, let the kids work together (or independently) to gather relevant items your family can spare or even create items (such as a rope toy for a dog at an animal shelter made from old t-shirts) that would benefit the cause of your choice.
Looking for more meaningful and memory-making activities for you and your girl? Visit our parent resource page!
