Rainy days can be so hard when you have littles. Or at least if they are like mine and LOVE being outside most of the day. Rainy days usually equate to being stuck inside until the rain clears. But does it have to be that way? If it isn’t thundering and lightening do you have to be stuck inside? And if the rain has mostly cleared are there other things you can do that are outside?
We often find ourselves trying to find ways to entertain the kids when it is raining. Sometimes they love doing little art projects and can spend HOURS doing them and other days they want nothing to do with it. We do our learning, but what can we do for fun? I have seen several great posts on Pinterest and other sites but sometimes it is so last minute and I don’t have all the supplies to do the recommended activities. Recently my daughter asked about going to play in the rain. At first I was hesitant. All that mud all over the house..I would have to sweep, mop, give a bath…so time consuming. Initially I said no. Then I thought some more about it. I mean what is a little extra cleaning compared to making memories and doing something the kids want to do. I put the kids in their swimsuits and rain boots (well, one of my kiddos doesn’t have rain boots so he went in some tennis shoes). The rain had pretty much stopped but we had plenty of puddles around (and now all I think of when I hear puddles is “Muddy puddles” from Peppa Pig). Out we went. We barely made it to the end of the driveway and my oldest boy child decided puddles were not for him and he was too cold to go (it was a little chilly on this particular day). I took him back to the house while my daughter and youngest boy child went out and played in the puddles with Daddy.
Fast forward to a few weeks later. It rained again. The kids again asked to go play out in the rain again. I again changed everyone but in the back of my mind kept thinking I would again have the oldest boy telling me he changed his mind. This time he didn’t so as a family we all went out in the rain and played in the puddles. They all LOVED it and had a fantastic time. Another weekend this Mama needed a little break. Daddy took the 3 kids out to play in the puddles. Boy did he find puddles! They came home covered head to toe in mud. They had so much fun though. It was totally worth the cleanup and the baths! This may be our new favorite thing to do. Sometimes you just have to have fun and play in the rain as long as there isn’t any thunder or lightening. When the storm has passed, go play in the puddles! Make memories, have fun, be a kid again! Your kids will love it and it will be one of the most fun times you will have too! It’s also FREE! You can’t beat free!
As an aside, remember, storms in life will pass too! Some days are hard and some days it feels like the storm will never end, but it will. Hang in there Mama. You are not alone!
