Thursday, June 30, 2011

Rainy Day Active Play Ideas

No shoes, no problem! It’s summertime. It’s wet and warm outside and water play comes naturally to young children. And don’t hesitate to join in too. As long as there is no lightning or thunder, being outside is a joyful experience! “Get your feet wet” with some of these rainy day active play ideas.


1. Splash and jump in puddles. Ask the children, “How many puddles did you find to jump in?

2. Blow bubbles in the rain. Challenge the children to pop them using sand blocks or to catch them with a chopstick.

3. Run and find a rainbow. If it’s a sunny rainy day, chances are that you just might spot a rainbow or two. Encourage the children to run to it and try to find the legendary “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow. If no rainbow in sight, let children run with their own Rainbow Dancing Wrist Band in hand.

4. Colorful rain dance. Allow children to paint an arm or leg with Colorations® Simply Washable Tempera paint or even draw a silly face on their stomach. Now it’s time to get out in the rain and “dance, dance, dance” until the color washes away.

5. Nature walk and insect and crawly critter hunt. Some bugs become active when it rains. Bring along a magnifying glass to look along sidewalks, in the grasses, or under rocks and pieces of wood to find worms, beetles, slugs, snails, roly-polies, ants.

6. Wet and Wild Obstacle Course. Kick a ball around cones, walk the river logs (Step-A-Logs Balance Beam), jump the river (two jump ropes laid on the ground in a V-shape), toss soggy foam balls into a bucket, and go mountain climbing in the rain (Cones and Poles -- thread a pole horizontally through medium or high level holes in two cones to make a crossbar (mountain) for climbing (stepping over).


Jump, run, walk, kick, dance, toss, throw are all active verbs that encourage active play.

Head outside and have some rainy day fun!

2 comments:

Michelle said...

Sharron,
I attended your 4hr workshop at the NAFCC preconference, I not only enjoyed, I can't tell enough people about you and the energy you pass along!! Thanks!!
I happened by today while writing my own blog post, where I happened to mention the Dancing Rainbow Wrist bands and your blog, when I stopped by here you talked about the wrist bands. What a conincidence :) Anyway, I wanted let you know I mentioned you on my blog and I really did enjoy and learned a lot at your workshop!!! My kids will Thank You!!
Michelle

http://kozykidslc.blogspot.com/2011/08/outdoor-sprinkler-fun.html

Sharron Krull said...

Hi Michelle,
Thanks for the kudos and feedback. I do appreciate it! I am so happy to hear that you are sharing all that you are learning as an educator. Active teachers make for active children.
Playing is learning!
Sharin with Sharron