8 outdoor games for children in rainy weather

Game ideas for rainy weather and why children should be allowed to play outside in the rain.

It's raining, it's raining, the ground is getting wet! Have you ever heard a child complain about the weather? We never have! Because, as they say, there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. Even in the rain, we can have all sorts of outdoor adventures with our children, and incidentally, we also boost their immune systems. Here are some game ideas for rainy days with children.

You can also find tips for motivating children when hiking , why playing outdoors is so important, indoor play ideas for rainy weather , and recipes for delicious vegan snacks on our blog.

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1. Jumping in puddles

Plop, splash! Puddles have a magical attraction for children. Kids love jumping in puddles and splashing around. With rubber boots and the right rain gear, little ones stay dry and warm, and nothing stands in the way of their jumping fun. Why not join in? Who can make the highest splash while jumping in puddles? Who can hop over the puddle or cross it with one leg? Which puddle is the deepest?

2. Observing nature in the rain

Nature changes in rainy weather. While some animals hide, others emerge. Frogs are particularly easy to observe near bodies of water during rainy weather. The likelihood of spotting slugs and earthworms is especially high now. Even if we adults find them disgusting, children usually have no problem picking them up and examining them.

3. What floats, what sinks? Experiments in rainy weather

Children love throwing small stones into the water. When it rains a lot, you don't need to go to a lake for this. Deep puddles are perfectly sufficient. Throw different objects into the water, such as stones, small twigs, leaves, empty snail shells, small flowers, a ball, sand toys, or grass, and discover what makes some things float and others sink. In doing so, little ones can begin to discover basic principles.

4. Building small boats in rainy weather

Rain forecast for the weekend? Great! Prepare well and build small boats from various natural materials. You can use wine corks, halved walnut shells, or tree bark. Toothpicks and leaves make good masts and sails. See the first puddles? Let's go outside! Hoist the sails and launch your boats. With a bit of wind, the little boats can even cross entire seas of puddles. Which boat floats best?

5. Building mud castles in the sandbox in rainy weather

Mud castles are especially fun to build in rainy weather. Get yourself some buckets and shovels and you're ready to go.

6. Measure rain

How much rain does it do in a day or at night? Place different containers outside your door and observe how they slowly fill with water. Which container will fill up first, and why? How much water does each container hold? Measure it with a measuring cup. The water can then be used to water plants.

7. What does the rain smell like?

Water is actually odorless, but did you know that you can smell rain even before the first raindrops have fallen? The scent of rain has a name: petrichor. Petrichor is formed from the Greek words "petra" for stone and "ichor" for liquid, or also the blood that flows in the veins of the gods.

Ask your children what it smells like when it rains. I'm sure you'll get some creative answers. The scent, by the way, comes from the oils of certain plants and the soil, which are released when they come into contact with water.

8. What does rain sound like?

Rain sounds different depending on where you are. Stand with your child under a tin roof, on the street, by a body of water, in a meadow, or under a tree. What does the rain sound like in each of these places? Such small experiments strengthen sensory perception.

And for a short break in between…

Find a dry spot outdoors and make yourselves really cozy with a cup of hot cocoa or children's punch and some homemade treats. You can find our healthy and not-so-healthy recipes for outdoor kids on Instagram. And hot cocoa is guaranteed to taste twice as good on a rainy day as it does at home.