When cold, windy, or rainy days keep your family indoors, it can be hard to think of new ways to keep children entertained. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 10 fun and easy activities to do at home with your kids — perfect for cosy autumn afternoons, after-school downtime, or weekend play.
All of these ideas are low-cost, simple to set up, and designed to help children get creative, stay active, and enjoy quality time with you.
1. Indoor Obstacle Course
Create a mini adventure right in your living room!
Use pillows, chairs, blankets, and safe floor markers to build a fun course. Kids can crawl, jump, balance, and race their way through — great for burning energy indoors.
2. DIY Slime
A messy favourite at Educamps!
Mix PVA glue, bicarbonate of soda, a splash of contact lens solution, and your choice of food colouring. Kids can add glitter or textures to personalise their slime.
3. Leaf Rubbings
Bring the colours of autumn inside.
Collect leaves and other objects fallen from trees, place paper on top, and rub crayons over the surface to reveal beautiful shapes and patterns. A simple, calming craft that always looks magical.
4. Build Your Own Bug Hotel
Use a shoebox or small tub and fill it with sticks, bark, leaves, moss and pinecones.
Kids can explore nature, learn about insects, and create a little home to check on throughout the season.
5. Easy Cookie Decorating
Bake (or buy) plain cookies and let kids decorate them with icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips, edible glitter, or edible eyes.
It’s creative, hands-on, and delicious!
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies — BBC Good Food
6. Autumn Sensory Bins
Fill a tray or container with pasta, rice, conkers, leaves, scoops, and spoons.
Children can sort, pour, and explore textures — perfect for sensory play at home.
7. Blanket Fort Movie Night
Build a cosy fort with blankets, cushions, and fairy lights.
Kids love creating their own secret space, and it’s the perfect setup for a family film night.
8. DIY Bird Feeders
Use pinecones and cover them with peanut butter (or a nut-free alternative), then roll in birdseed.
Hang them outside a window and enjoy some indoor birdwatching.
9. Paper Plate Crafts
Turn paper plates into autumn animals, characters, or fun masks using simple craft supplies like glue, pencils, pens, scissors, and glitter.
It’s budget-friendly and ideal for quick creative fun.
10. Homemade Face Masks
Honey & Oat Soothing Mask
You’ll need:
A few drops of warm water
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp finely blended oats
Yoghurt & Cucumber Refresh Mask
You’ll need:
1 tbsp plain yoghurt
1 tbsp grated cucumber
How to make:
Mix into a smooth paste and gently apply to the face. Leave on for 5–10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
These activities to do at home with your kids are perfect for rainy days, after-school boredom, or chilled autumn weekends.
We hope to see you at Educamps this winter for cosy crafts, big adventures, and festive fun!
