Living in the Florida Panhandle, we know the routine when a storm starts making its way through the Gulf. Charge the devices, bring in the outdoor toys, check the batteries, and make sure everybody has what they need. And somewhere in the middle of all that, you know what question is coming: "What are we going to do all day?"
As of Thursday morning, October 8, Hurricane Isaias is moving through the Gulf, with dangerous wind, storm surge, heavy rain, and flooding possible along parts of the northern Gulf Coast. Please keep an eye on the National Hurricane Center and your county's emergency management updates. If officials tell your family to evacuate or move to a safer place, please do so. The fun stuff can wait until everyone is safe.
For families who will be safely staying inside, I put together a few simple activities that don't require a shopping trip, complicated supplies, or even electricity. You can also print our free rainy-day activity pages now and tuck them away before the weather moves in.
Start with a rainy-day activity basket
Grab crayons, pencils, a few favorite books, playing cards, a small board game, and some scrap paper. Add the printed coloring pages and puzzles from our activity packet. Keep everything together so you're not searching the house for supplies if the lights go out.
Print it before the rain starts
Our free black-and-white packet includes two coloring pages, a weather word search, a weather crossword, rainy-day bingo, and a couple of creative writing activities. It's made for regular printer paper, and there are activities for little ones and bigger kids. Print a few extra copies if siblings enjoy doing the same pages.
Make up a family story
Start with something silly like, "One rainy morning, a frog found an umbrella bigger than his house." Each person adds one sentence. Before long, you'll have a story nobody could have planned. Older kids can write it down while the younger ones draw the pictures.
Pull out the good old-fashioned games
Go Fish, charades, I Spy, dominoes, tic-tac-toe, or a board game that's been sitting on the shelf all summer. Let the kids choose a game and take turns being in charge. No fancy setup required.
Have an indoor scavenger hunt
Challenge the kids to find something soft, something round, something with stripes, and something that makes them smile. Keep the hunt inside your family's safe area, and away from windows while the storm is passing.
Give everyone a little quiet time
Not every minute needs to be filled. A coloring page, a chapter book, or a made-up story can be just enough. Even the kids who usually have a million things to say can sometimes get into a good puzzle when things slow down.
And here's my little mom reminder: if the weather gets rough or a warning is issued, stop the activities and follow your family's emergency plan. Stay away from windows and never head outside to watch the storm or play in floodwater. Keep flashlights and battery-powered lights available for safety—skip candles.
I hope these pages help give your kids something fun to do while everyone is tucked safely inside. Download them, print them ahead of time, and share the guide with another local family who might need a few ideas, too.
Stay weather-aware
Get the latest official storm information at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ and check your county emergency management office for local instructions. Storm forecasts can change quickly.
