Indoor and rainy day activities with kids in San Jose

Coming up near San Jose

Nothing listed in San Jose 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 San Jose

• Santa Clara City Library Comic Con

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Santa Clara City Library - Central Park · santa clara · 4 mi away · Ages 0–12

Rainy day ideas you already have the stuff for

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  Sew a Simple Tote Bag

  In this activity, you'll learn to sew your own fabric tote bag, either by hand or with a sewing machine. It’s satisfying to create something useful and personal from scratch. You get to choose your fabric and even decorate it, making a bag that perfectly suits your style. This project helps build hand-eye coordination and introduces basic crafting skills you can use for many future projects, giving you a sense of accomplishment. Start by selecting your fabric and cutting out the pieces following a simple pattern. Then, you'll learn to stitch the sides and bottom together, either with a sewing machine or by hand using basic stitches like the running stitch. Finally, attach the handles to complete your bag. To stretch the activity, consider adding a pocket to the inside or outside of your bag, or decorating it with fabric markers, patches, or embroidery.

  10-13 · Indoor · 90 min

  Open
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  Flashlight Shadow Puppet Show

  Turn down the lights, the show is about to begin! We'll use our hands and a flashlight to make rabbits, birds, and silly monsters dance on the wall.

  4,5,6,7 · Indoor · 20 min · About $0–$5

  Open
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  Cook Dinner for the Family

  Take charge of the kitchen and prepare a delicious dinner for your family. This activity lets you choose a recipe, create a shopping list, and then, with a grown-up's help, cook an entire meal. Kids this age enjoy the independence of planning and the satisfaction of seeing their efforts turn into a shared family experience. It's a great way to build confidence and learn practical skills that will last a lifetime. Start by browsing cookbooks or online to pick a recipe that sounds good to everyone. Next, write down all the ingredients you'll need, making a shopping list. With your grown-up sous-chef, head to the store, then return home to chop, mix, and cook. To make it a bigger challenge, try baking dessert too, or decorating the table for a special meal presentation.

  10-13 · Indoor · 90 min

  Open
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  Start a Comic Book

  Unleash your inner storyteller and cartoonist by creating your very own comic book. Kids this age love to invent worlds and characters, and seeing their ideas come to life visually is incredibly rewarding. You’ll get to design heroes, villains, or everyday characters, and then craft a short, exciting narrative that’s entirely your own. It's satisfying to hold a finished story you imagined and drew yourself. First, brainstorm your characters and a simple plot. Then, sketch out a few comic panels on paper, focusing on the action and expressions. Add dialogue and narration using speech bubbles and captions. Once your pages are complete, you can staple them together to form a mini-comic. For a longer project, try expanding your story into multiple issues or even designing a unique cover.

  9-13 · Indoor · 90 min

  Open

Questions parents ask about San Jose

What can you do with a toddler in San Jose on a rainy day?

San Jose is the easiest Bay Area city for this: large indoor children's venues plus a library system with storytimes across most branches every week. The indoor list for San Jose shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library and city park programs are free; the larger indoor venues are ticketed per person, and weekend slots sell out first. 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.