A Joyful Rainy Day!
Denise Gilliam
We have a rainy weekend ahead of us, and I wanted to highlight why children adore playing in the rain and how it promotes healthy development. Take a moment to think about your own childhood and a special memory you have playing in the rain. Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? We can often better understand our children’s interests and perspectives when we reflect on our own meaningful experiences when we were young. Pull out those dusty raincoats and galoshes and embrace the rainy day ahead!
Children have a natural curiosity for the rain, and for exploring the world around them. Moving, dancing, and jumping around in the rain provide opportunities to ignite imagination and spark creativity. Gross motor skills are developing with big arm and leg movements working to improve balance, coordination and strength. Children are eager to know what causes the rain and why it rains, introducing the opportunity for a science activity.
Young children delight in spending time with their parents and playing in the rain together will make lasting memories. Savor these moments with your children, all the other things you “have” to do this weekend can wait. Enjoy the link below for additional ways to delight in a rainy day with your child(ren).
Sing in the rain. Songs with a rain theme are perfect for singing in the rain. Try Rain, Rain Go Away, I Can Sing a Rainbow or I’m Singing in the Rain!
Slip and slide. Get a tarp out and off you go. Slide from side to side. Don’t forget to add mud and grass too!
Jump, stomp and sit in muddy puddles. What child wouldn’t like to do this?
Take your bath toys outside. Play with bath toys out in the rain and in mud puddles. Who says they’re just for playing in the bath?!
Look at a flowing creek. Go for a walk down to a swollen creek. It’s interesting to look at when you’ve seen it at its usual size.
Make boats. Make nature boats and then float them in a creek or gutter.
Play games. Play games like relay races, stuck in the mud and red rover.
Ingredients in bowls. Take some bowls filled with different ingredients like flour, sugar, oats and salt out into the rain and see what happens to the material when they get droplets of water.
Play in a Puddle on a Rainy Day | NAEYC
14 Fun OUTDOOR Rainy Day Play Activities for Kids (Toddlers Too!!) – The Crazy Outdoor Mama