Is the rain a pain in your setting, or an opportunity? There’s lots of learning and fun to be had in the rain, and a rainy-day ‘grab and go’ kit will help you make the most of the weather, while a water butt will let you have rainy-day fun even on a dry day.
1. RESOURCES KIT
Themed ‘grab and go’ kits are an efficient way of making the most of outdoors for spontaneous play. A rainy-day kit of loose parts, stored in a trug or wheeled container, enables children to help themselves to a generous selection of compelling resources – and allows them to help pack everything away afterwards.
Possible contents: squeezy bottles, bubbles, sponges and paintbrushes, water wheels, pots and vessels for collecting and pouring, rainbow-coloured ribbons and streamers, funnels, magnifying glasses, small umbrellas, pipes and tubes, a sieve and tea strainer, short lengths of guttering, wooden and metal ladles and spoons, small watering cans…
2.UMBRELLA ATHLETICS
A set of umbrellas (especially the transparent kind) is a great prop for encouraging active play in the rain. Plan a physicality trail that children can follow while holding an umbrella in one or two hands – for example, following a rope laid out on the ground, moving up and down steps, running in and out of obstacles, around trees and through puddles. You could mark out each athletic ‘station’ with a laminated picture of a numbered umbrella.
Holding an umbrella won’t necessarily keep children dry, but it will force them to adjust their centre of gravity and work hard to maintain balance and co-ordination.
3. PLAYGROUND PAINTING
Wet playgrounds make superb canvases. Coloured chalks are particularly vibrant when used on wet Tarmac, and water-based paints, powder paint or food dyes can be used on a large scale to create huge abstracts. The paintings won’t last long, but chalk pictures might survive a few dry days.
Turn puddles into swirly modern art by adding powder paint to them and using a wide variety of different-sized brushes – from tiny toothbrushes to wallpaper paste brushes and feathers – to combine the colours.
Leave paper paintings outside in the rain to find out what happens when they get really wet; watch what happens when pictures cut from a ‘paint with water’ book are left out on a drizzly day.
Crumble chalk or sprinkle powder paint in random blobs around the wet Tarmac, then use sweeping brushes to blend the colours.
4. ANIMAL ACTIONS
Lots of animals love the rain – get children active outdoors on a rainy day by imitating the movements and sounds of animals that love to get wet. In your garden, where would these animals choose to go? For example, a croaking frog might hop in and out of your puddles; a quacking duck might waddle through them; a slow and silent snail might head for your veggie patch for a snack; a dog will bark and snap at the raindrops, then shake its body vigorously to dry off; a piglet might oink with joy as it rolls in a mud patch. What about exotic animals such as tigers, elephants and alligators?
5. SONG (AND DANCE)
Introduce children to the Gene Kelly performance of Singin’ in the Rain; the extract is easily found on YouTube. The song’s famous refrain is easy to learn and it’s possible to approximate most of the dance moves with a bit of practice – even the ‘lamp post’ sequence (use your play equipment!).
Children will enjoy making up their own lyrics for the song, and creating their own joyful dance moves – include swinging, tap dancing, leaping, twirling and splashing like Gene Kelly does. There are plenty of other ‘rainy day’ songs that lend themselves to choreography: start with simple steps for ‘Rain, rain, go away’ and build up the complexity and speed of the movements and lyrics as the children become more confident movers and singers.
RISKS…AND BENEFITS
The benefits of playing out in the rain far outweigh any risks. Nevertheless, rainy-day play is not hazard-free, so a few simple preparations are needed:
Waterproof, adjustable dungarees (for all children, if possible) are about the best ‘outdoor play’ investment a setting can make. Most children have a decent coat, but covering legs and chests will allow them to play outside whatever the weather.
Keep a stack of towels handy – ask parents to donate them.
Ensure children move frequently in order to keep warm, and encourage children to go back indoors if they start to look really chilly.
Provide shelter and hidey-holes so children can escape the rain if they need or want to.
