Rainy days don’t always have to be indoors. Here are a dozen rainy day activities for kids to play outside, get a little wet, and explore.
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This post was originally published on One Mama’s Daily Drama in 2015.
There’s nothing quite like gentle summer rain. When it rains in the winter, it gets too cold and we have to stay indoors and find something to do.
But in the late spring and summer, it’s different. Most of the time, the summer rain is warm and the clouds are sparse. It might even be raining, but still sunny.
Think of summer rain as nature’s sprinkler. It’s time to get outside and play in the rain. Here are our favorite rainy day activities for kids to do outside.
Outdoor play safety tips
First and foremost, use your own best judgment to determine if it is safe or not.
As a general rule for our kids, we say it is okay if the rain is gentle and there is no lightning. The best summer rain for playing is when the sun is still shining through the clouds.
Also…
- Dress comfortably but appropriate for the weather.
- Wear sunscreen.
- Don’t run on slippery surfaces.
- Do not play near running water like drains or creeks.
- Go inside if the weather gets worse.
- Be prepared to get messy!
Rainy day activities
1. Go for a walk. Umbrella optional.
2. Dance, jump rope, or hula hoop. (Be careful on slippery surfaces.)
3. Build a water wall using PVC tubes and angles, pool noodles, and beach toys.
4. Make some ice chalk paint and color the sidewalk until it melts. No need to worry about clean up.
5. Bring a rubber duck or build a cork boat to sail in a puddle. Have a contest to see who can sail across a puddle the fastest or who can cross a big puddle without falling in!
6. Lay on the ground and look for shapes in the clouds.
7. Little kids can give their plastic animals a bath or older kids can have a play car wash. Let them scrub their bikes and outdoor toys, or maybe convince them to shine up Mom and Dad’s vehicle.
8. Watercolor with rain like Sun Hats & Wellie Boots did.
9. Set up a waterproof tent or pavilion before it starts raining. Have a picnic, play board games, or just watch the rain from the shelter.
10. Watch the sunset or hunt for rainbows after the rain is done.
11. Play tag or hide and seek in the backyard – and plan to get muddy and wet!
12. Play with water blasters or other water toys.
Rainy days are often days when you have to stay indoors, but when the weather is just right, send the kids outside to play! These rainy day activities might just inspire them to try something new.
Play, craft, and learn all summer long
Plan your summer with the DIY Summer Camp Planner! Our step-by-step guide will help you organize a day, a week, or a whole summer of fun activities for your kids.
