Embracing the Rain: 15 Outdoor Activities for Rainy Days with Kids
When the rain is relentless it’s easy to feel stuck inside. There are only so many board games, crafts, books and Netflix episodes kids can do/read/watch, before they start getting stir-crazy and the fighting and arguing begins. The good news is, with a bit of creativity and a willingness to embrace the rain, these drizzly days can turn into memorable outdoor adventures for the whole family!
Here's a list of 15 rainy day activities to help you make the most of wet weather, instead of avoiding it. I’ve included rainy day activities for teenagers and plenty of wet weather fun for little kids too. These ideas will help get that quality time with the family, creating heaps of fun memories together and adding a touch of adventure to an otherwise normal week.
15 outdoor activities for rainy days
Puddle Jumping
Pull on the rain boots and let the kids loose in puddles. Go for a walk around your home town, find the best puddles you can. Better yet, join in with them – bonus points if you do! Show them that fun is not just for kids. And if they’re a bit old for jumping, take them bike riding through the puddles instead.Nature Scavenger Hunt in the Rain
Despite the rain, venture out into your backyard or a nearby park for a nature scavenger hunt. Create a list of items for your kids to find, from rain-soaked leaves to the sound of dripping water. Depending on your kids, you could include things that are easier to find in the rain, like worms coming out of the ground, or things which are extra difficult to find, like a bird who might be hiding somewhere sheltered.Raindrop Art Painting
Set up an outdoor art station with washable paints or even chalk. Let the raindrops become your art tools as they create unique and abstract masterpieces on the footpath/sidewalk or driveway. Or let the kids paint their own bodies and then wash it off in the rain. Make it fun and make sure to use the water!
Backyard Camping in the Rain
Transform a rainy day into a cosy camping experience. Pitch a tent in the backyard, snuggle up in sleeping bags, and listen to the soothing sound of raindrops on the tent. (This is a great time to test out how waterproof your camping/hiking gear is!) This is a great one if you just need a change of scene but don’t want to get wet. Take cards, boardgames and books into the tent.
Dance Party in the Rain
Put on some upbeat music and have a dance party in the rain. Grab a waterproof speaker or keep it undercover, whatever works! Let loose, splash around, and enjoy the freedom of dancing under the droplets with no one watching. Come on, I know you want to try this!
Rainy Day Picnic
Pack a picnic with your kids' favourite snacks and head to a covered outdoor area, like a gazebo or a picnic shelter. Invite some friends to join in the rainy day picnic – it’ll make it extra memorable. Let the kids bring their bikes, balls or toys so they can get out and muck around together. Bring wine and cheese for the grownups! And of course, pack towels so you don’t freak out about getting in the car when it’s time to go.
Create Rainy Day Tunes
Give your kids pots, pans, and wooden spoons to create their own rainy day music. The sound of rain combined with their improvised beats can turn your backyard into a musical wonderland. This is a great one for younger kids.
Rainy Weather Science School
Use the rain as a learning opportunity! Kids love learning with hands-on experience. Here are some ideas: Create a DIY rain gauge and learn to measure rainfall, learn about weather forecasting and reading weather maps, or even go on a nature walk and show how gravity works to pull water downhill. Discuss the importance of rain in nature and explore how the landscape changes during wet weather. Remember kids love learning about real-world stuff.
Wet Weather Treasure Hunt
Craft a treasure map and hide waterproof treasures around your backyard. Equip your little adventurers with rain jackets and embark on a wet weather treasure hunt. Maybe the treasure at the end could be a yummy hot chocolate with a movie. I love to make my kids earn that screen time!
Create a Dam
Bluey fans will know what I’m talking about! Help the kids try to capture all that rainwater flowing downhill. Use rocks, bricks, towels, whatever is on hand depending on where you are! The challenge will keep them busy for longer than you’d expect!
Backyard Water Slip and Slide
Set up a water slip and slide in the backyard for a thrilling and wet adventure. This activity is not just for little ones—teenagers can enjoy the excitement of sliding through the water on a warm, rainy day. Make it extra fun - take the tarp or slip and slide to the park and find some hills to go down (just make sure it’s clear at the bottom!).
PLUS here are some ideas specifically for older kids and teens:Rainy Day Sports Tournament: Organize a friendly sports tournament in the rain. Whether it's a game of soccer, touch rugby, or even a wet weather basketball competition, teenagers can enjoy the thrill of sports while getting soaked in the rain. Host a Water Olympics and get the kids doing jumps, obstacle courses and races in the rain (it’s ok if they slip over). Make sure to have towels ready for the post-game cleanup and lots of snacks. Always with the snacks.
Rainy Day Photography Challenge
Encourage teenagers to embrace the rain through a photography challenge. Provide them with waterproof phone cases and challenge them to capture the beauty of the rainy atmosphere. This can be a creative and fun way for them to express themselves while enjoying the outdoors. Even better if they are filming the rainy dance party in slow motion – can you imagine!
Epic Water Fight
Take the classic water fight to the next level with an epic water battle. Provide teenagers with an arsenal of water balloons or water guns and let them strategize and engage in friendly combat. This activity is sure to bring out the laughter and camaraderie, creating unforgettable memories.
WET WEATHER OBSTACLE COURSE! Use your creativity, or get the teens out creating their own challenge with their mates.
Have a dance party in the rain! Or challenge your teens to take some wet-weather photographs.
I can’t even read that list without grinning and imagining how fun some of them will be (or have been for us in the past!).
Preparing for Wet Weather Activities
The thing we need to remember is that kids love to play and if they’re doing it with people they love (parents or friends), they don’t care if it’s raining. It’s often us, the parents, who don’t want them getting wet. So if we can embrace it, by preparing ourselves emotionally and practically, then everyone can enjoy the wet weather. Here are some ways to be prepared:
Children love muddy puddles! Let them get the bikes and scooters out in the rain.
Dress younger kids in old clothes so you don’t worry about the mud. And if you are worried about them being cold (i.e. if you don’t live where the rainy season is in summer), then make sure they wear waterproof coverings.
Have a warm bath ready for younger kids.
If you’re out somewhere and need to drive home, then pack plenty of towels and a dry change of clothes in the car. Keep a waterproof tub or plastic bag to bring the wet gear home in. And have snacks ready to keep the kids busy while you’re getting all the wet stuff into the car.
Make sure your phone (or your teen’s phone) is in a waterproof phone pouch. These things are such a stress-reliever. And you can take photos through them too, without your phone getting wet in the rain!
With those things prepped, hopefully us parents won’t mind the rainy play so much either. It only takes one rainy day adventure to spark that love of wet weather and have you cheering at the next rainy forecast.
I should mention, where we live in the subtropics, it rains in the Summer. We avoid going out in thunderstorms and if hail is forecast. BUT the good thing is those afternoon storms come and go quickly, leaving loads of puddles behind!
So grab your umbrellas, raincoats and boots and let the rainy day adventures begin!
Related Articles:
Bike Riding in Puddles (A Mini-Adventure)
When You Can Only Adventure Close to Home (about the importance and delight of experiencing weather and seasons in one place)
Commit! Don’t Wait for Perfect Timing (about not waiting for perfect weather to have adventures)