Ten fun rainy day activities to enjoy with your children
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EmailApril showers bring… lots of fun activities!
April showers might bring May flowers, but those same showers can lead for some long days with little kids. The rain doesn’t have to mean boring days. Here are 10 fun activities to enjoy with your children on rainy days.
1. Go on a rainy day walk
Put those rain boots to good use and head out for a walk in the rain. Let kids jump in the puddles! What do you see in the rain that is different than when it’s dry? Are there worms on the sidewalk? Where does the water go when it runs down the road? Do you see birds outside?
2. Measure the rain
Make a rain gauge with your preschooler or elementary school-age child. How much rain fell in the rain storm this morning? Is that more or less than what happened in the rain showers the other day? Graph your results over the month of April. Is it drier at the end or the beginning of the month?
3. Make rain art
Many different art mediums will run when they get wet. Children can sprinkle dry paint on paper and take it out in the rain or they can color on paper with markers and let them get wet. Have children sprinkle powdered tempera paint on paper and let it get wet.
4. Sing in the rain
Pretend you are Gene Kelly and head outside with your umbrella! What songs involve the rain? “Itsy, Bitsy Spider,” “Rain, Rain, Go Away,” “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring” and more! Pull on your rain boots, grab that umbrella and go sing in the rain!
5. Go ahead and get wet
Forget trying to stay dry! Go outside planning to get wet. When it’s warm and raining, it’s fun to go play in the rain! Jump in the puddles and feel how high the splash goes up. Stand at the edge of the roof and observe how much harder the rain comes down from the edge of the roof than when it’s falling from the sky.
6. Play in the mud
Adults are always telling kids to stay out of the mud. This time, give them permission to play in it. Remember that ground in dirt can be very difficult to get out, so wear old clothes. Make mud pies, mud handprints, mud footprints and mud puddles. Paint with mud on cardboard, and have a lot of fun! Don’t forget to take pictures.
7. Stay inside and make a fort
What’s more fun on a rainy day than building a fantastic blanket fort? Snuggle in with your kids on the rainy day and join in the fun. Build a fort in the living room. Did you know that pool noodles make great supports for blanket roofs? Once your fort is constructed, grab some pillows or bean bags and a big stack of books! Read your child’s favorite books while you listen to the rain fall.
8. Read about rain
There are lots of great books that take place on rainy days. Head to the library before the sky opens up and check out some books that take place on rainy days. Goodreads offers a list of rainy day books that are worth checking out.
9. Learn about rain
Why is it raining? Does rain do anything for people? What about plants? Take some time to learn about rain with your child. Where does the water come from when it rains? Where does it go once it hits the ground? What is thunder? What about lightening?
10. Look for a rainbow
Can you find a rainbow? Where do they come from? Help your child learn what makes a rainbow and where and when to look for one. Can’t find a rainbow? Make one! You and your child can make a prism at home and create your own rainbow.
April does bring a lot of rain showers, but the rain does not have to prevent you from getting outside, learning and playing with your children. Learn more about activities you can enjoy with your child, programs in your area, webinars and more by visiting Michigan State University Extension’s Early Childhood Development web page.
