Kids' Rainy Day Outdoor Activities
Entertain Your Child in Bad Weather with Outdoor Fun and Games
It can be disheartening to have a period of bad weather, particularly during school vacations. Here are some ideas to entertain your child on even the rainiest of days.
It is actually often parents rather than children who are keen to avoid going out in the rain. Children are usually fascinated by rainy weather and enjoy seeing the changes in the neighborhood during a rain shower. Most children have few opportunities to go out in the rain, and are usually hurried from the car to the house when the weather’s bad. Making the most of rainy days will create new experiences and memories your child will treasure.
Walking in the Rain
Find your wellington boots and umbrellas and get out there. Enjoy splashing through the puddles, watch the rain run down the road and into the gutters. Count how many umbrellas you see on your trip and note their colors. A trip to the mailbox or a local store can give a focus to the walk and ensure it doesn’t last too long.
After the Storm
If you really can’t bear to go out in the rain, venture out just after the bad weather has passed. Creatures such as slugs and snails usually come out after a rain storm and your child will love to see them in the garden or park. Talk about what still looks dry after the rain, (eg the area under parked cars, porchways) and why these areas are still dry.
Already Wet? Get Wetter!
Rather than trying to shelter, why not really revel in the rain and do things to get even more soaked. Have a water fight outside and relish the water play; fill balloons with tap water, tie loosely and have fun throwing them and watching them burst on each other.
If this is a success, why not consider a trip to your nearest outdoor swimming pool? With few people braving the rain, the pool should be free of crowds and the rain actually makes the water in the pool feel warmer.
Rainy Weather Games in a Playhouse
Do you have an outdoor playhouse, or is there one in a nearby playground? Playing games or reading in a playhouse while the rain pours outside is cosy and great fun for a child. Try to ensure any games you take outside are not too fragile or valuable in case of a trip or fall on the way to the playhouse.
Collect Rainwater
This allows for rainy day outdoor play without you having to venture too far outside. Find different sized containers in the house and let your child put these just outside the door or near a window. Watch from the house as the containers fill up and then use the rain you’ve collected to water plants in the house.
Finding Ideas for Rainy Weather Play
If your child attends a playgroup or nursery, chances are the staff will have some good wet weather ideas. Most groups encourage children to play out whatever the weather, so take note of any activities which you could try at home.
Websites offering ideas for birthday party games can be a good source of inspiration for outdoor fun. Party Game Central offers snow, swimming pool and garden games and Family Fun has a section for outdoor and pool games.
So next time the forecast is bad, don’t despair. Look on the rainy weather as an opportunity for some fun with your child and create memories they’ll take into adulthood.
