Our Clever Finds

There is something magical about a rainy afternoon — unless you hear those familiar words: “I’m bored!” While there is certainly a time and place for movies or tablets, some of our family’s favorite memories have come from turning off the screens and finding creative ways to play together.

Over the years we have discovered a handful of activities that keep the grandkids laughing, moving, and using their imaginations. Some involve a favorite game or toy, while others require nothing more than a little creativity (and maybe a tub of cookie dough). Whether you are planning for a rainy weekend, a school break, or a full house at the holidays, I hope these favorites inspire a few new traditions in your own home.

Happy Playing from The Clever Crew! 🐾

Get Everyone Moving with the Nex Playground

The Nex Playground has honestly been a lifesaver — especially for playdates when the neighborhood kids are stuck indoors. It hooks up to almost any television and uses your body as the controller, so instead of sitting on the couch, everyone is jumping, dodging, and laughing.

Our favorite games range from silly carnival balloon popping and sports challenges to brain games and fitness activities. We were genuinely surprised how much of a workout some of them are — try playing Whack-A-Mole five times in a row and you will see what I mean! Even Pepper likes to “help” by chasing everyone around the room.

If you do not own a Nex Playground, do not worry — kids also love free interactive movement videos on YouTube like Danny Go! and story-based yoga adventures that get everyone off the couch.

Hide-and-Seek (and the Day Uncle Had to Say “Uncle”)

Hide-and-seek never seems to get old at our house.

At our recent family reunion, all the grandkids were playing with their uncle when his niece found a hiding spot so good that he searched everywhere. He finally had to yell “uncle!” before she would come out — grinning ear to ear, of course. We are still laughing about it.

Our favorite twist is Sardines: one person hides, and everyone who finds them quietly squeezes into the same hiding spot until only one person is left searching. It was one of the biggest hits of the whole reunion — there is nothing like five giggling grandkids trying to stay silent behind one couch.

For younger kids, we have also loved our Where’s Squeaky? hide-and-seek toy. We have owned ours for several years, and it is still going strong despite lots of use.

Red Light, Green Light — with a Twist

At that same family gathering, Red Light Green Light kept the grandkids entertained for hours. If you want to up the game, the Move2Play Red light Green Light game uses lights, sounds, and motion sensors, with three different game modes, so the kids keep inventing new ways to play. We bought this a few years ago and still love watching them try to beat the game and each other. Of course, sometimes Pepper cheats.

Honestly, the traditional version without any electronics is just as much fun and does not cost a thing. Sometimes the simplest games become everyone’s favorite — but when you need something to hold their attention on a long rainy afternoon, this one has earned its spot on our shelf.

The Floor Is Lava!

My grandson has been playing The Floor Is Lava for years and never gets tired of it. What I love most is watching his imagination take over — he invents the rules, narrates the danger, and absolutely insists that the adults join in. (Yes, GiGi and even PawPaw have leapt across an imaginary river of molten lava. More than once.)

The foam stepping stones are also perfect for building indoor obstacle courses. Add couch cushions, pillows, bean bags, or a little painter’s tape, and the living room becomes a whole new world.

Let the Family Talent Show Begin!

In our family, karaoke has a reigning queen: my sister. She brings her microphones and karaoke machine to every single gathering, and it has become one of our most beloved traditions.

There is something about handing a child a microphone that instantly transforms them into a superstar. Before long, the adults join in too — usually huddled around YouTube searching for that perfect song. Whether it is Disney favorites, today’s hits, or a silly duet with the family belter or the more bashful members, karaoke builds confidence, creativity, and the kind of laughter you remember for years.

Don’t have a karaoke machine? No problem. YouTube has karaoke versions of nearly every song, so you can host your own concert with just a TV or tablet.

Everyone in the Kitchen!

Some of our best rainy-day moments do not involve a single toy.

We love including a kitchen activity that gets everyone involved — and it can be as simple as slicing premade cookie dough or as ambitious as baking brownies from scratch. The grandkids love measuring, stirring, and (let’s be honest) sampling, and there is a delicious reward at the end.

One of my favorite memories is our Play-Doh sundae contest. Everyone from the littlest to the biggest crafted their most creative ice cream sundae masterpiece and presented it to us for “tasting.” The presentations were half the fun — you have never seen such pride over a pretend cherry on top. The Play-Doh Ice Cream Set makes it easy with cones, scoops, and toppings — but you do not even need store-bought dough to join the fun. Making your own play dough is a wonderful kitchen activity all by itself, rainy day or not!

The Great Living Room Fort

At our family reunion, the kids took over the main living room and built an enormous sleeping fort — blankets, pillows, couch cushions, the works. It became their headquarters for a slumber party every single night of the reunion.

Watching them work together to engineer their fort (and negotiate who got the best pillow) was almost as entertaining as the giggles that drifted out well past bedtime. All it costs is a few blankets and your willingness to let the living room look like a campsite for a while.

More Screen-Free Fun

You do not need lots of products to make rainy days memorable. A few more of our family’s favorites:

• Kitchen science experiments
• An indoor treasure hunt
• A family dance party
• A homemade puppet show
• Reading a favorite book together

Our Next New Family Game

If there is one thing our family has learned over years of game nights, it is that a game with props always seems to be more fun. There is just something about silly goggles, a microphone, or light-up gadgets that gets everyone laughing before the game even starts.

That is exactly why the Original UpsideDown Challenge Game is next on our list. Players wear goggles that flip their vision completely upside down while trying to complete hilarious challenges — like pouring a glass of water or giving a high five. Just watching someone attempt the simplest task looks like half the entertainment!

It is designed for kids who can read (ages 8 and up), but the challenges could easily be modified for younger family members so no one is left out. This looks like great memories waiting to be made — we might even let Pepper in on a challenge! I will report back once we have played it.