The weather has been awful. Again!
As soon as the kids finish school for the summer holidays, dark clouds roll in, and rain soon follows. If you're like me, you've probably spent loads of time searching for free indoor activities and things to do to keep them engaged and entertained... and on a budget too!
Here are some fantastic tips and ideas for indoor planting and nature-inspired activities that will brighten up those dreary days. If you can’t get out to your local park or the woods, then let's bring the outdoors in!
Get Growing with Indoor Plants
Embrace nature right within your home by starting an indoor garden. It's an excellent way to teach your kids about the magic of growth and responsibility.
To begin, select easy-to-care-for indoor plants like spider plants, peace lilies, or succulents.
My son particularly likes cacti, and you can pick them up in the pound shops. Once you've got the plants, let your little ones get their hands dirty and assist with potting. Show them how to water the plants properly and explain why sunlight is crucial for their growth. Watching their plants thrive will hopefully spark curiosity and joy.
Now that your indoor garden is blooming - let's explore more creative ways to bring nature inside!
Build A DIY Terrarium
Terrariums are like miniature gardens enclosed in glass, creating a cute little world for kids to explore. Crafting a terrarium together is an exciting and educational experience that encourages imagination and observation.
To get started, you'll need a glass container, small pebbles, activated charcoal, potting soil, and tiny plants. I appreciate that we probably don’t have activated charcoal just hanging around the house, so this one requires a bit of searching and online shopping before!
Go on a scavenger hunt around the house or in the garden for some decorative items like colourful stones or tiny figurines (think magical fairy gardens with mini fairies, and crystals for example).
Guide your kids through the layers - pebbles for drainage, charcoal to keep the soil fresh, and soil for the plants to grow. Then, let them add the finishing touches with any collected treasures.
Pressed Flower Masterpieces
Head outside when the rain eases off, and gather some flowers with your children. Anything from daisies, buttercups and dandelions will work.
Once back indoors, grab a heavy book and let your little artists press the flowers between its pages. After a week, they'll have beautifully preserved flowers to use in various crafts.
You can create pressed flower bookmarks, decorate picture frames, or even make personalised cards. The possibilities are endless, and the kids will adore these lovely keepsakes!
Inside Camping Adventures
Who says camping is only for the great outdoors?
Transform your living room into a cosy campsite for a fun indoor camping adventure! Gather blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags. Dim the lights, use torches or the little fake candles, and pretend you're under the stars.
For a touch of nature, you could create "star" constellations with glow-in-the-dark stickers. And of course, don’t forget the midnight feast snacks and a good film! 
Sensory Nature Play
If you’ve got younger kids, then sensory play is great for engaging your child's senses and enhancing their cognitive development. There are lots of simple and fun sensory ideas you can try - and they don’t always have to be messy!
Sensory Bins and Nature Treasures
Fill a bowl or deep tray with items like dry rice, kinetic sand, or water beads, and add natural elements like leaves, pinecones, and seashells.
Encourage your kids to explore the textures, shapes, and colours. We really like making “gloop” using cornflour and water. It’s easy and cheap to make, and the kids love it. It does tend to make a mess though, and they never seem to be able to keep it in one place!
Storytime with a Nature Twist
Rainy days are perfect for snuggling up with your little ones and diving into nature-inspired stories. Select books that feature animals, forests, oceans, or any other aspect of nature. We really love the lift-the-flap style books that allow the kids to interact with the books.
So there we have it. A few ideas for rainy day nature activities. Fingers crossed the sun will make an appearance soon, and we can all get outside. But with these indoor planting and nature ideas, you can turn rainy days into opportunities for fun, learning, and bonding.
Happy rainy day adventures!
