Playing in the Rain

    The beauty of letting kids play in the rain is that there is no preparation, no need to plan; they will find things to do, just from the novelty of it. As long as there is no thunder and lightning and they are dressed for the weather (make sure they wear things that can get messy), you can let them play without concern. If you really want to make it fun for them, join them in their play! Some basic ideas include:

• Put leaves in the water and watch it flow in the gutters
  
• Make a simple rain gauge by taping a ruler inside a jar or bucket. Or collect the water and bring out a ruler when it's time to measure.
  
• Watch for worms that come out on rainy days. If you find them on the sidewalk or driveway, consider moving them back to the dirt. They can dry out and die when the rain stops if they don't make if back to the dirt. (Plus, a way to teach children that every life matters - even the worm's.)
  
• Go for a walk under the umbrella
  
• Get out the beach toys and dig in the wet earth (okay, mud!)
  
• Try using chalk in the rain for extra-vibrant colors
  
• Play with sand in the rain - how is it different from when it's dry?
  
• Have a towel ready by the door, for when playtime is over. (You won't want a wet child trudging through the house while you look for a towel - I've learned this the hard way!)
  
• Have fun!

              A few more ideas for you....

*Rain Painting from Housing A Forest (different ways to make art in the rain) 

*Ride on Toys and Rain from Happy Little Messes 

*Homemade Rain Gauge from The Imagination Tree 

*Homemade Rain Gauge from It's All Kid's Play

  *Squelchy Mud Soup from Emma's Childcare 

  *Mud Surfing from Let the Children Play 

Not convinced it's worth the trouble and the mess? There's a link for that:

*8 Reasons to Play in the Rain from S.M.Art Kids/Healthy Kids 

*Games and Activities to Play in the Rain from About.com 

*Rainy Days Clouds and Puddle from Housing A Forest 

*Rainy Day Outdoor Activities from Wild Bytes (this one pretty much covers everything!)