What are some ideas for fun rainy day activities to do with a 7 year old?

* Play board games! Kids 6+ love to play board games of all kinds. You likely have a few sitting at home - dust them off and have at it!
* Learn Chess! You may be surprised, but chess comes naturally to most kids, and many of them love the idea of horses, castles, kings and queens all battling against each other. While chess can take years to master, it is easy and fun to get started.
* Go to the library! Libraries are great places to spend a rainy day, while giving you a chance to get out of the house. Many libraries have kids areas and besides books, you may be able to borrow legos, art supplies and puzzles, among other items.
* Go outside and jump in some puddles! Put on your rain boots and embrace the rainy weather by jumping in some puddles!
* Make origami! Use some unfolded scrap paper (or origami paper if you have some), fire up some online tutorials, and make anything from ninja stars to paper airplanes and boats (bonus: take the boat outside and sail it in a puddle!)
* Go to your local rec center! If you're lucky enough to have a recreation center close by, then a rainy day is a great day to visit, to play basketball indoors, for example.
* Take a bus or drive to a museum! 7 year olds tend to be very curious and as long as you don't overdo it, a museum can be a fun place to kill an hour or two!