My boys love playing outside and during the summer, I have no issues getting them outside playing with their friends.  In fact, I know that they will be either playing football (soccer) for my US readers or cricket most afternoons after school.  It is much harder to encourage them outside in the cold or wet weather now they are older.  But just look at these 10 amazing wet weather play ideas brought to you in conjunction with WhatShed.

Wet weather play ideas

I am a big fan of playhouses for girls and boys. Until recently we had a wooden one in our back yard that contained a kitchen and it got lots of play in all weathers.  It is only now the boys can not longer stand up in it that we passed it on to friends.  It is great to have somewhere that the kids can play outside in no matter what the weather.

10 Wet weather play ideas for kids

1. Rainy day rubbings – what a cool idea this is.  We often do rubbings using crayons, but this takes the whole process on an other step
2. Group water play – I think this would make a great collaborative exercise for kids and so much fun too.
3. Mud kitchen play – with all the rain we have in the UK there would be a plentiful supply of mud for any mud kitchen.  Mini loved experimenting in our mud kitchen when he was smaller and would often bring me a mud pie!
4. Rain painting – What a fun idea and you can try so many new techniques and ideas.  I love the idea of a project where nature is the collaborator.
5. Main a rain catcher – Making a rain catcher and then monitoring the rainfall is a great science project for kids of all ages and a great way to encourage kids that are reluctant to play in the rain.
6. Play on a water wall – you don’t have to keep water play for fine days, why not experiment with your water wall on a rainy day too.
7. Mud painting – A Rainy Day is perfect for this as you can watch what the raindrops do to your mud picture or do it just after the rain has stopped and the floor is still wet.
8. Sing songs – Get outside and sing songs in the rain – I love the Umbrella song!
9. Experiment with the rain – turns the rain into a fun, simple science experiment for the kids.
10. Have a water fight – if you are going to get anyway why not make it super fun for everyone.  Who said water fights are only for sunny days!

And this is without even adding puddle jumping which is the perfect wet weather play idea for all the family!  How do you encourage your kids to play outside in wet weather, especially if they are older?