Rain often ruins plans for outdoor activities, but it also provides a one-of-a-kind experience for outdoor game play. Instead of sitting inside watching the rain, head outdoors with your family for a day of wet entertainment. Keep an eye on the weather forecast to assess the threat of severe weather. Never play outdoors when lightning, hail or strong winds are a possibility.
Jump the Puddle
Puddles that form during a rain storm offer a natural game option. Choose a large puddle in an area without traffic. The players take turns trying to jump over the puddle without landing in the water. Choose different sized puddles for more of a challenge. Your kids will likely enjoy this activity even if they don't successfully jump over the puddle. Landing in the puddles offers kids a chance to splash as much as they want.
Stick Races
If you live near a hilly road, you may notice streams of water running down the street during a heavy rain. The water streams create the basis of a rain game suggested by Nickelodeon Parents Connect. Each child picks a small stick or twig to race. Small leaves or other light objects may also work. The contestants drop the sticks into the water stream at the same time near the top of the hill. The stick that goes the farthest or gets to the bottom of the hill first wins the stick race.
Rain Olympics
A series of outdoor challenges makes up your own "rain Olympics" competition, a game suggested on the Malt-O-Meal website. The activities you include in your Olympics depend on available materials and the age of your children. Some ideas include relay races, hula hooping, water balloon toss and kicking a beach ball into a goal. Many everyday games are more challenging when it is rainy because the equipment is slippery.
Worm Hunt
Worms often crawl out of the ground on rainy days. Watching the worms can be fascinating for kids of all ages. Instead of just observing the worms, turn it into a game by counting the worms you see. Work in teams to see who can find the most worms. The Malt-O-Meal website also recommends moving the worms off of the sidewalks or driveways, as they can dry out and die when the rain stops if they don't make it back to the grass.
For variety, hold competitions to see who can find the most of other items. This might include puddles, umbrellas or other common rainy day items.
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