Indoor and rainy day activities with kids in Mountain View

Coming up near Mountain View

Nothing listed in Mountain View for this view right now. Here's what's on elsewhere in the Bay Area, plus ideas you can do today.

Within a short drive of Mountain View

• Super Family Sundays

  Sun, Oct 18 · Junior Museum & Zoo · palo alto · 5 mi away · Ages 0–12

  A free event when the JMZ is open exclusively to families with children who have disabilities. Children with all disabilities are welcome, as well as parents, siblings, and grandparents. Come meet zoo animals up-close.

• 16th Annual Peninsula Private Elementary School Fair

  Sun, Oct 18 · 11:00 AM · Center for Children and Youth · palo alto · 5 mi away · Age 4

  A unique opportunity to engage in-person with more than 30 schools located on the Peninsula. Families can speak informally with school representatives and find the right fit for their child. Light snacks will be provided.

• Santa Clara City Library Comic Con

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Santa Clara City Library - Central Park · santa clara · 7 mi away · Ages 0–12

Rainy day ideas you already have the stuff for

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  Learn to Bake Cookies Solo

  Step into the kitchen and bake a batch of delicious cookies all by yourself! This is a chance to show off your growing independence and follow instructions carefully, which feels really good when you see and taste the yummy results. You'll gain confidence in the kitchen and create something tasty to share, or to enjoy as a reward for your hard work. First, you'll choose a simple cookie recipe and read it through, making sure you have all the ingredients. Next, measure everything precisely and mix the dough together. Finally, you'll scoop or shape your cookies and bake them to golden perfection. To stretch this activity, try a recipe with slightly more steps, like adding a frosting or glaze after they cool.

  9-12 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open
• 

  Paper Airplane Distance Contest

  Get ready for some serious aerodynamic fun as you design, fold, and launch your own paper airplanes! This activity lets you explore how different wing shapes and folds affect a plane's flight, which is really satisfying for kids who enjoy tinkering and seeing immediate results. You'll not only create something with your hands, but also use observation and problem-solving skills to find the winning design. Start by folding five different paper airplane designs, perhaps one you know well and four new ones you research online or in a book. Test each design a few times, measuring how far it flies and how long it stays in the air. Keep a simple chart to record your best results for each plane. To stretch this activity, try modifying your best-performing plane with small adjustments, like folding the tips of the wings up or down, and see how these changes impact its flight.

  9-12 · Indoor/Outdoor · 45 min

  Open
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  Ocean Animal Sorting & Counting

  Let's explore the deep sea and meet some amazing creatures. We can sort them by color, count their legs, and arrange them in their ocean homes.

  4,5 · Indoor · 30 min · About $30–$35

  Open
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  Kitchen Chemistry Lab

  Become a real kitchen scientist and conduct exciting experiments using everyday items. You'll create a colorful pH indicator from red cabbage, build a stunning density tower with different liquids, and uncover secret messages with invisible ink. This activity lets you explore scientific principles like acids, bases, density, and chemical reactions in a hands-on way, which is deeply satisfying for curious minds who love to see how things work and make discoveries. First, you'll prepare your red cabbage indicator, then test household liquids to see their pH. Next, layer different liquids carefully to watch a density tower form. Finally, write and reveal your secret messages. To stretch the activity, try predicting the order of liquids in your density tower before you pour, or experiment with other natural materials to see if they can also act as pH indicators.

  9-12 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open

Questions parents ask about Mountain View

What can you do with a toddler in Mountain View on a rainy day?

The public library runs baby and toddler storytimes through the week, and the community center adds indoor programs during winter. The indoor list for Mountain View shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library and open-space visits are free; science and maker programs typically charge per child and fill quickly. Anything ticketed links out to the organizer so you can check the price before you go.

How often is this page updated?

Event listings refresh automatically from local sources, so past dates drop off on their own.