Play in the Rain

Play in the Rain

Kids of all ages love to play
in the rain! Here are some of
our favorite ideas of things to
do in the rain!

Safety Warning: Adult supervision is required.



What You Will Need:

• A Rainy Day
• Raincoat (optional)
• Rainboots (optional)
• Puddle Play Rain Bucket (optional - see ideas below)
• An Umbrella (optional)

What You Do:

• When it rains, go outside and experience the feeling of raindrops falling on your head.
• Try to catch the rain on your tongue (make sure to have a camera ready)!
• Explore a newly formed puddle, then jump and splash in it.
• Feel the squishy mud ooze between your toes and fingers of a newly formed mud puddle.
• Sail paddle boats across a large puddle. We've created a Puddle Paddle Boat activity, which includes diagrams and a template.
• Conduct weather experiments and measure the rain. We've created a Rain Gauge activity, which includes instructions and diagrams for building a rain gauge.
• Ride your bike through puddles! Who can spray the water off your back tire the highest?
• Play in the mud! Make mud pies, forts, roads, dams, and moats. Assemble our Puddle Play Rain Bucket (see list below) for creative mud puddle play! Want more mud play ideas? Check out our Beyond Mud Pies activity.
• Play a game of volleyball or kickball in the mud! (Make sure to wear old clothes, as the mud may be difficult to wash out of good clothes).
• Throw small pebbles into puddles and make waves. Observe the rings and patterns that form in the water.
• Jump over puddles and avoid the water. How far can you jump?

Assemble a Puddle Play Rain Bucket:

Put together our Puddle Play Rain Bucket of fun things for kids to experiment with during puddle play. Have your Rain Bucket ready for the next April Shower!

Here is a list of things you might want to include in your Puddle Play Rain Bucket:

• Funnels
• Sifters
• Spoons
• Scoops or Small Hand Shovels
• Measuring Cups
• Old Combs and Brushes (they make unique patterns in the mud)
• Plastic Squeeze Bottles
• Sponges and Old Rags
• Magnifying Glass

Go outside in the rain! Get wet! Have fun!

One Step Further:

• Encourage your kids to observe the clouds during a rain storm. Do the clouds always look the same when it is raining? Or are they different?
• Stop and smell the air during a rain. Ask your kids to describe this smell.
• Think about how the rain feels when it drops on your head and body. Describe this feeling.
• Observe the puddles formed by the rain. How long do they last before they disappear? Discuss where this water goes after the rain has stopped. Has the water been absorbed into the ground? Does it evaporate into the air?

The Science:
Rain, and the water cycle, is one of the most integral concepts concerning the functioning of our planet Earth. Rain keeps plants growing and the soil fertile. It replenishes, refreshes, and without it, life would not go on. Study the water cycle to learn where rain comes from. Use our Water Cycle Model activity to build a model to help you learn about this important concept.