Rain rain go away, come again another day does not have to be your personal parental mantra if you are resourceful and think a step ahead of your active offspring. As a father of two active boys and another on the way, I have no problem comparing my own children to dogs when it comes to how to get their energy out. You have to find an open space and tell them to run, run with them until you are exhausted and then run for another hour more, and by the end of the day, you wish it was okay to install a human-sized hamster wheel to assist your plight. Finding rainy day activities is necessary and beneficial to any parent’s well-being. At Kid-Friendly Triad we have done the heavy lifting for you to find the best indoor activities to make your rainy day bright.
To make things easier we have broken our Winston-Salem rainy day activities for children into two categories. The first is your traditional ideas such as museums, bounce house craziness, and movie theaters. The second category of rainy day activities is more DIY and unconventional to help churn out the energy.
Traditional Rainy Day Activities
Kaleideum Downtown or Kaleideum North
Whether you are a member or not, visiting Kaleideum North or Downtown is a great activity for young children. There is a ton of indoor space to let kids run, interact with exhibits, get hands-on with educational play (model grocery stores, doctor’s office, building blocks, etc), and interactive media to stimulate your child in a unique way. If you are a member of the museum, then you don’t have to pay for each visit and gain access to two locations.
Visit their website for more information
Forsyth County Central Library
The first floor of the Central Library has children’s librarians that can help you find just the right book or item. Parents can enjoy a coffee and snack at the coffee shop inside. Also feel free to check out the play kitchen, reading nooks, smart table, computers and reading rooms. Parking is available underneath the library which means everyone stays dry.
Visit their website for more information
Go Bowling
Bowling allies are not just for parties and events anymore. With three wonderful bowling centers to checkout, everyone in your family can join in on the fun. Choose between 30+ lanes, stocked arcade, billiards, concessions, and even free WIFI for older kids who are too cool for school. Each bowling location offers a different experience. Learn more below.
811 Jonestown Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
1450 Trade Mart Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27127
3550 Patterson Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Watch a Movie
Catch a family-friendly movie at one of Winston-Salem’smany movie theaters. Nothing calms a kid down like a bucket of popcorn and the stimulating sights and sounds of Hollywood! Below are some of the theaters in town to look up showtimes.
Indoor Insanity
If you are brave enough to get involved in some of the action, you can always check out two of Winston-Salem’s indoor activity centers at Safari Nation and Rockin’ jump. At the former, you can let your kids enjoy bounce houses and bounce their energy out or head to Rockin’ Jump and enjoy the trampolines and foam pits for younger and older kids alike. Winston is also home to a new indoor trampoline park at Surge Adventure Park. a great place to have some rainy-day fun right near Hanes Mall.
Go Historic
Old Salem is a historic Moravian village tucked into the heart of downtown Winston-Salem and makes up half of the town’s namesake. Even though the majority of Old Salem is outside, you can always drive to the different sections of Old Salem and get inside at the bakery, gift shop, tavern, and visitor’s center.
Visit their website for more information
Unconventional Rainy Day Activities
Hit The Gym
As a parent with a gym membership, I understand that I also need to get out and move to stay mentally and physically healthy. So for a rainy day activity in Winston-Salem, why not bring your kids along with you. My local YMCA offers free childcare, but I also can bring my kids along to the jogging track, indoor turf, and basketball courts to stretch those active legs.
Go Shopping
As a dad and man of the world, I don’t mind shopping when I have to, but to be honest, department stores are large, open, have high-ceilings and allow for your kids to be loud and active without bringing about too much-unwanted attention. My kids personally love Target, Wal-Mart, and especially Costco where they can get involved in shopping and even get free samples (Yes! Free snacks!). Also, plan your grocery trip in there as well to help distract the kids and maybe even teach them some nutritional basics. Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter both offer free cookies to children and my kids want to beeline to that area first on every trip.
Hidden Book Nook
I am an avid book-lover and try to instill that in my children as well. But lugging the kids along at bookstores can be stressful, especially with active kids who think shelf shopping is BORING. So whether you are at one of Winston’s local bookstores like Bright Leaf, McKay’s, or Bookmarks or at a chain like Barnes & Noble, find the children’s section and read to your kids to improve their own comprehension and keep them happy.
Pro Tip: Barnes & Noble has a devoted Children’s book section and my kids love the plush toys, train table, and chairs. We can spend an hour or tow here easy and may even catch a reading aloud event on the Barnes & Noble stage as well.
Cook Up Some Fun
If staying at home is your scene, why not take a moment to teach your children more about food, ingredients, and how meals are prepared by having them cook with you. My kids love using a whisk or mixing spoon and making baked goods, dropping the pasta in a pot, or even learning to chop vegetables with child-safe utensils.
Get Arts & Craftsy
Winston-Salem does have painting and pottery craft stores where you and your child can create your own bowls, cups, and more. Our city is also home to the Sawtooth School for Visual Art where you can take your kids to an art class. But if neither of these ideas fits your budget, you can always crack open some Play-Dough or crayons and make your own art at home.
Have your own ideas? Feel free to comment below!
