Singing in the Rain: Outside Ideas for a Rainy Day

As an adult, I love rainy days. The soft drumming of rain on the window is the perfect setting for a book, a blanket, and a cup of hot chocolate. For children, however, rain is usually the equivalent of a day spent inside burning energy by tearing books apart and seeing just how many spoonfuls of cocoa it takes before the cup overflows. So when the next warm rain falls, put on your slickers, take the kids outside, and get wet! Be sure to have some towels sitting right inside the door so that everyone can dry off as soon as they walk in the house. Here are a few ideas for you and your toddler or preschooler to try in the rain.

Sidewalk Chalk

It's great to draw on a wet sidewalk. The colors of the chalk turn up brighter than usual, and the kids have fun seeing how fast their pictures disappear. (This activity is usually better for a light rain rather than a downpour.)

Catch the Raindrops

Tell your child that you need to catch some raindrops by taking a small empty bowl outside and letting it fill with rainwater. Little ones will love watching the raindrops hit the bowl and slowly fill. Try a metal bowl and ask her to listen to the sound the rain makes when it hits the bowl. Before you go inside, measure the amount of water you "caught" with a ruler.

The Classic Tongue

Who said tongues are only for catching snowflakes? Encourage your little one to stick out his tongue, and catch some raindrops!

Jump in Puddles

Make sure she's wearing some good rain boots, and let her get her feet wet! Find some puddles in your driveway or backyard, and see who can make the biggest splash. It's almost as good as swimming...

A Wet World

Children are always amazed at the world around them. Try pointing out little things that they normally don't see a sunny day, such as leaves that are slowly dripping water, raindrops clinging to a flower, the dark clouds in the sky, or birds that are searching for worms.

Umbrella Walk

Going outside in the rain can be as simple as taking a short walk. Let your toddler hold onto a small umbrella if he wants. He'll love trying to keep it over his head, and it makes for very cute pictures, too!

Time to Dry Off

Remember, always be sure to dress your child warmly, and be sure the rain isn't too cold. Change out of wet clothes immediately, and dry off thoroughly.

However wet you end up getting, your little one will always remember a day playing in the rain. Who knows, it may even tire him out enough that you can get back to that book...