Indoor and rainy day activities with kids in Santa Clara

What's on for kids in Santa Clara

• Santa Clara City Library Comic Con

  Sat, Oct 10 · 10:00 AM · Santa Clara City Library - Central Park · Ages 0–12

Within a short drive of Santa Clara

• Super Family Sundays

  Sun, Oct 18 · Junior Museum & Zoo · palo alto · 12 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 · 12 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

• 

  Learn Basic Chess Strategy

  In this activity, kids learn fundamental chess strategies, including how to start a game effectively with openings, how to set up a "fork" to capture two pieces at once, and common ways to deliver a checkmate. It's incredibly satisfying for this age group to understand the logic behind each move and to see their plans unfold on the board. Mastering these basic tactics gives them a sense of control and empowers them to play more thoughtfully, rather than just moving pieces randomly. Start by introducing a few simple opening moves and explaining their purpose. Next, demonstrate what a "fork" is and let them practice setting one up. Finally, show a couple of common checkmate patterns like Scholar's Mate. Afterwards, put their new skills to the test with a family chess tournament. To stretch the activity, encourage them to look up and learn one new tactic or opening before their next game.

  9-13 · Indoor · 60 min

  Open
• 

  Stop-Motion Movie Studio

  You'll become a director, animator, and storyteller as you create your own stop-motion movie. Using your imagination, you'll bring everyday objects or figures to life, moving them incrementally and capturing each tiny change with a phone. Seeing your story unfold frame by frame is incredibly satisfying, as you craft a unique film that expresses your creativity and shows off a new technical skill. Begin by brainstorming your story and characters. Then, set up your stage and start taking pictures, moving your figures just a little bit between each shot. Once you have all your frames, use a simple editing app to string them together and add any sound effects or music. To stretch the activity, try making a more complex plot with multiple characters or experimenting with different camera angles.

  9-13 · Indoor · 120 min

  Open
• 

  Paper Plate Animal Masks

  Who do you want to be today? A roaring lion, a cute bunny, or a hooting owl? Let's turn simple paper plates into amazing animal masks.

  4,5,6 · Indoor · 45 min · About $5–$15

  Open
• 

  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 Santa Clara

What can you do with a toddler in Santa Clara on a rainy day?

Santa Clara's central library has a large children's area and runs storytimes most weekday mornings — a better bet than driving to a paid indoor playground. The indoor list for Santa Clara shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library and park programs are free. The theme-park and museum outings nearby are the ones that need a budget and a booking. 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.