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50 Outdoor Rainy Day Activities for Kids: Fun in the Rain!

The Best Rainy Day Activities for Kids Ages Toddler through Tween

Spring is finally here, and we’ve been having a steady mix of rainy days and warm, sunshine. We’re all about continuing to get outside, even if the weather isn’t always a warm sunny day. 

Sometimes staying in the living room and playing board games or card games can only be fun for so long, and rain showers don’t just stop when kids get restless. 

In order to have as much fun as possible on a rainy day, I’ve included plenty of rainy day outdoor activities to have a great time and beat rainy day blues. Use this list to have a lot of fun next time you think you’ll be trapped inside on a rainy day. 

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Choose the Best Rain Gear for Bad Weather

First, be sure to choose outdoor gear that can make playing outside lasting and fun. I like to choose rain boots that are either rubber boots or high-quality, waterproof hiking boots, like these Reima boots. You can either opt for a rain jacket and rain pants or a rain suit to keep your kiddos dry in wet weather. 

I always recommend Jan and Jul outdoor gear or Reima kids gear. Both companies are smaller, kid-specific brands that work to bring high-quality outdoor gear that’s specifically made to fit kids on any outdoor adventures. 

(Use code OUTDOORSY20 for 20% off all your Reima purchases!)

Rain Activities for Kids of All Ages (Including Grown Ups!)

 These activities work for kids of all ages, and can enable a full sensory experience for children. They’re guaranteed to get rid of excess energy in your kiddos! They also work well for the whole family, and can get everyone excited for a rainy day. 

  1. Try shadow puppets against a rainy wall- Create different puppets on a dark and stormy day! 
  2. Blow bubbles in the rain- Let kids experiment with cause and effect concerning bubbles and rain. 
  3. Make a rain journal – Use waterproof notebooks to record the rainy day experience outside! Have kids write about the full sensory experience- sight, smell, taste, and touch. If you have younger kids, let them draw pictures of their rainy day experience. 
  4. Toss a ball or frisbee – Throwing a ball or frisbee in the rain will let kids see the difference in how much more challenging it is to play with wet equipment. Talk to your kids about the difference. 
  5. Have a rain relay race using sponges to transfer water- If it’s super wet outside try a relay race by setting up buckets and seeing who can fill the most water first. Not enough kids? Get the whole family involved in this fun outside game! Or, work as a team and time yourselves to see if you can beat your own record for water-filled.
  6. Play hide-and-seek under trees or in sheltered spots- Playing hide and seek in the rain is a great way to get outside and play, no matter the weather. This classic game is a hit, whether it’s sunny or rainy. 
  7. Test which materials (like fabric, leaves, or rocks) absorb the most rain- Collect household and natural objects and see which one absorbs the most water. You can then create different categories to see which is the most absorbent. 
  8. Create a weather station- Use a rain gauge to see how much rain you’re receiving and record the data. Even better- make your own weather station complete with hygrometer and barometric pressure gauge. 
  9. Have a campfire in the rain – Make a fire to cozy up near while rain falls. Don’t forget to bring a cozy blanket with you!
  10. End with warm cocoa and storytelling about your rainy adventure- Nothing is better than hot cocoa to warm up after a cold day in the rain! 


Toddler Rainy Day Activities

Is there anything as classic as toddlers and rain? When my kids were toddler age they would beg to go play in the rain, just to stomp through puddles and get muddy. There’s something magical about seeing a toddler experience rain, mud, and puddles for the first time. 

11. Jump in puddles – This is the perfect, simple rain activity that will keep toddlers happy all day!

12. Catch raindrops on your tongue- Toddlers are naturally curious and inquisitive. Let the try to catch raindrops and watch them be in wonder at where the water is coming from!

13. Stomp in the mud – is there anything better than getting a little muddy? Accept that mud makes a great sensory experience and let them squish their toes in the mud. 

14. Float leaves or sticks in puddles – Let toddlers experience different naturally floating objects. No explanations needed at this age! 

15. Paint with mud – Use stones or flat rocks make a great canvas for mud finger painting for toddlers. Enjoy the rain art, then wipe it away and start all over again! This is a great activity for fine motor skills too!

16. Sing in the rain – Share your toddlers favorite nursery rhymes and sing or dance out in the rain. 

17. Hunt for worms – This was one of my kids favorite rainy day activities when they were little kids. We would always find worms on the gravel road near our house and the kids would work together to “save” the worms by moving them back to the grass. *If you’re doing this on a gravel road, be sure it’s not busy! Ours is a private drive, so it’s not risky because there are fewer people than typical roads.  

18. Fill cups and containers with rainwater- If you already have a water station or mud station, this is the perfect to fill it with rainwater. If not, you can easily use buckets or shovels to scoop rainwater into different containers. 

19. Watch raindrops roll down leaves and grass- Toddlers love to just obverse the world around them. Take time to let them process how our world works. 

20. Play “Follow the Leader” through puddles- Yes, you’ll need to get a little muddy and wet too, but it’s so much fun to see how your little ones will react to you joining in the rainy playtime! 

Perfect Preschool Rainy Day Play

Preschoolers are at the age where they have an infectious level of curiosity over how our world works. I love helping them explore that in more detail, and experiencing rain is a great way to encourage this curiosity. Below are fun ideas that are perfect for any preschooler. If possible, try to take them to a park, woods, or other natural area. Natural spaces are great play spaces for preschoolers to observe the world around them. 

21. Make a rainy day obstacle course – This is the perfect activity to do at an outdoor space. Create an obstacle course with logs, rocks, etc. Just let them know that these can be slick and help them play safely. 

22. Pretend to be ducks and waddle around- This silly activity will have everyone giggling. Lead your preschoolers like a mother duck with her ducklings through puddles and under trees. Make it even more fun by singing __ Little Ducks. Instead of using five, use the amount of kids you have playing with you!

23. Use sidewalk chalk on wet pavement – Create bold colors while drawing with sidewalk chalk. 

24. Make mud pies and decorate with leaves- Is there anything better than getting muddy? Preschoolers will love to use their imaginations while creating mud pies. 

25. Look for rainbows after the storm- There’s something so magical about finding a rainbow. Share that magic with your preschooler and go chasing rainbows!

26. Collect rainwater in different containers- Practice measuring or pouring rainwater from different jars and cups.

27. Use a magnifying glass to look at raindrops on plants- Get up close and personal with nature by studying it with a magnifying glass. 

28. Race raindrops on a window or umbrella- Do you remember doing this as a kid? Tap the raindrop and see who has the fastest raindrop down a flat surface. Super simple, but such a fun entertainment for little ones. 

29. Go on a rainy-day scavenger hunt – Find things like wet leaves, worms, and shiny rocks.

30. Pretend to be weather reporters and describe the rain- This is a great way to work on language development for preschoolers! Have them describe the weather using all their senses. 


Rainy Day Activities for Elementary-Age Kids

Interestingly, I’ve noticed it was a lot easier to get my kids outside to play in the rain when they were young children instead of elementary age kids. Don’t let them lose their sense of wonder and exploration! Get outside in the rain, even when they’re reluctant. Encouraging them with fun games and activities will make rainy day play magical, even as they grow older!

31. Build a mini dam or river in the mud- This has been a favorite activity for my kids for years, and still remains one! We like to find places where the water is flowing along our dirt road and create a dam to hold the water back. Another favorite activity is to open up potholes and get them draining like a stream, diverting it to other potholes!

32. Share fairy tales and play pretend outside – Share or create a fairy tale that you can all play outside in the rain. 

33. Write messages and do math facts in the mud with sticks- Bring learning outside by writing in the mud! Write messages to each other, or even share math facts for your kids to answer as you play outside. This is a great activity for hiking on muddy trails!

34. Make leaf or stick boats and race them in streams or puddles- This is a perfect springtime activity, especially if you live in an area with seasonal streams. Make use of them while they last!

35. Jump rope in the rain for an extra challenge- Sometimes fun things can become even more fun when you try them in a new way! Jumping rope in the rain is no different!

36. Take waterproof toys outside for a rain adventure- I don’t know about you, but we have so many bath toys that go unused after my kids lose interest. This is a new way to reinvigorate old toys. 

37. Play flashlight tag if it’s dark and rainy- Flashlight tag is one of those classic, fun ways to get outside in the dark. Add extra excitement by playing in the rain. 

38. Test different objects to see what floats in puddles- This is a great activity for all ages! Find different natural objects that float and sink. Discuss why everyone thinks the different objects react differently. 

39. Have a dance party with silly moves- Turn on some music and dance with your best silly rainy day moves!

40. Have a “who can get the wettest?” contest – Caveat: Do this only if you’re brave enough to get soaked in possibly cooler temperatures! It’s a good idea to be close to home, or at least bring a change of clothes!

Older Kids Rainy Day Activities

Making memories with older kids in the rain is a great way to bond! Like elementary-aged kids, they may be more reluctant to go outside in the rain than younger children. But don’t give up hope! These activities can get them outside having fun in the rain. 

41. Play soccer or football in the mud – Playing sports in the rain is a great way to get older kids outside on a rainy day. 

42. Try a rainy-day relay race – Consider creating a relay race with jumping, running, and sliding through the wet ground. 

43. Take artistic photos of raindrops on flowers or spiderwebs- Everyone can take pictures, then your family can vote for their favorite photos. 

44. Make a rain catcher and measure the rain- You can even use a notebook and track the amount of rain for each month, figuring out what average rainfalls your region has. 

45. Rain on a ski day? Go anyway!- Rain on a ski day in the spring sounds like a day ruiner, but it can actually be a lot of fun, especially when conditions are soft and slippery. 

46. Take a rainy day hike – Similar to skiing on a rainy day, hiking on a rainy day is a great way to have fun in conditions that you may not expect. Just be sure to pack your rain gear!

47. Splash war – Who can make the biggest splash?- Similar to the wettest contest, this is one of those activities that’s not for the faint of heart!

48. Play hide and seek in the rain- Choose a spot with plenty of hiding spots, like a local park. 

49. Pretend to be a survivalist and build a shelter- This is a great activity for active older kids who want to build things on their own. Add to the event with a warm fire! 

50. Go barefoot and feel different textures in the rain- A fun way to experiment with textures and feelings. This can be great for all ages, too!

Rainy-Day Activities for All Ages

A rain shower can make an ordinary experience into a fun, adventurous, and different experience from a normal day. With a little creativity and an adventurous spirit, kids of all ages can embrace rainy weather and have fun outside in the best way possible! 

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