Discover that rainy days are so much more fun when you're on the outside looking in!
These rainy day activities will not only keep you little ones out of the house and engage them with nature, but promotes a number of other benefits, be it physical, sensory or problem solving.
Rain Musical Instruments:
Dig around in your kitchen drawers and raid the potting shed for empty containers, pots, and pans to create rain-inspired musical instruments. Let your little ones experiment with the sounds they can produce by catching rain in the containers or drumming on them.
Benefits: This activity is amazing for fine tuning their hearing, promotes creativity, and if you can get a group together, you’ll find you have a newly formed wet weather band.
Nature Scavenger Hunt:
Our trusty old friend, this one genuinely never grows old! Create a list of items for children to find in the rain; this can be different types of leaves, rocks, insects or plants. Little gardening trugs are ideal for holding scavenger hunt treasures, we particularly love
this little one but there are plenty of good options out there.
Benefits: Encourages Tiny Explorers of tomorrow by building observation skills and is a good way of getting your children to exert some energy without them realising.
Mud Kitchen
An old table will provide the perfect base for an outdoor mud kitchen. Be prepared to sacrifice your old pots, pans, and utensils for the greater good and watch as your little ones make "mud pies" and other creations using natural materials. I used to do this in my Grandparents old chicken hutch, serving out of a nesting window. So, should you have one of these to hand, it’s a double win!
Benefits: Builds creativity, sensory play, and fine motor skills.
Puddle Jumping and Splashing:
This is of course our forte at Töastie; equip your little ones with wellies and waterproof clothing and let them jump and splash in puddles. Create a game by seeing who can make the biggest splash and don’t worry, all of our waterproof clothing is endlessly machine washable so commit to enjoying this activity to the maximum.
We recommend our
Classic Waterproof Raincoat and
Waterproof Dungarees for this puddle jumping activity, both fully lined for comfort and warmth.
Benefits: Provides physical exercise, improves balance and coordination, and releases pent-up energy.
Nature Art and Crafts:
Collect leaves, twigs, stones, and flowers to create natural art pieces. Encourage your little ones to make leaf prints, rock paintings, or twig sculptures.
Benefits: Encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and appreciation of natural materials.
Rain Gauge and Weather Observation:
Not all classrooms have four walls … set up a simple rain gauge and let children measure the amount of rainfall. This is a great opportunity discuss weather patterns and encourage them to keep a rain journal – I would recommend this has many, many pages as it looks set to be filled rapidly this summer.
Benefits: Teaches basic science concepts, observational skills, and record-keeping. You may find yourself with the next Michael Fish in the making.
Obstacle Course:
Create a simple outdoor obstacle course using natural and available materials such as logs, ropes, and puddles. Challenge your little ones to navigate the course in the rain.
Benefits: Improves gross motor skills, agility, and problem-solving.
