Indoor and rainy day activities with kids in San Mateo

Coming up near San Mateo

Nothing listed in San Mateo 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 Mateo

• Super Family Sundays

  Sun, Oct 18 · Junior Museum & Zoo · palo alto · 13 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 · 13 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.

Rainy day ideas you already have the stuff for

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  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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  Paint a Canvas With Acrylics

  Grab your brush and get ready to create a masterpiece. Kids this age enjoy seeing their artistic ideas come to life on a real canvas, using vibrant colors they mix themselves. There's a real satisfaction in transforming a blank surface into something unique, whether it's a peaceful landscape or an imaginative abstract design, and then having a finished piece to display. Start by choosing your palette of colors and experimenting with how they blend together to make new shades. Then, sketch out a simple design for your landscape or abstract shapes before you begin painting. Don't be afraid to try different brushstrokes or layer colors for interesting textures. To stretch this activity, try painting a still life of objects around your home.

  9-13 · Indoor · 90 min

  Open
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  Design a Dream Bedroom to Scale

  Transform your bedroom into a designer’s paradise by drawing a floor plan to scale. Kids this age enjoy imagining their own space and making independent decisions about it. Creating a scaled drawing is satisfying because it makes their dream room feel real and helps them think like an architect, using math skills in a fun, practical way. They get to design a space that’s uniquely theirs. First, measure your room and any furniture you want to keep. Then, decide on a scale (like one inch equals one foot) and draw your room’s outline on paper. Cut out scaled shapes for your dream furniture, like a gaming station or a reading nook, and arrange them until you find the perfect layout. To stretch this activity, try making a 3D model using cardboard for walls and furniture.

  10-13 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open
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  Dot Marker Masterpiece Gallery

  These easy-to-hold markers make satisfying dots of color. We can follow the patterns in the book or create our own brilliant, dotty works of art!

  4,5 · Indoor · 30 min · About $15–$20

  Open

Questions parents ask about San Mateo

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

San Mateo's libraries run toddler storytimes most mornings, and the indoor play and gym classes nearby take drop-ins when it rains. The indoor list for San Mateo shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library programs are free; the park train, rides and drop-in classes charge a few dollars per child. 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.