WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RAINY DAY ACTIVITY?

Growing up, rainy days were always fun at our house. It was a time to build forts with the sofa cushions and bedsheets. Find a cozy place to read a good book. Bake cookies. Have a tea parties with Holly Hobbie and all my stuffed animal friends. Basically, anything and everything I could think to do until the skies cleared and I was free to run and play outside.

At some point, especially after the rain dragged on for days, I was itching to get back outside. (And after 48 hours of running around the house, playing with every toy in sight and leaving a huge mess of glue, construction papers and popsicle sticks – my mother wanted me out of the house as well!) So away I went – running and playing in the warm summer rain.

Right away I kicked off my galoshes, threw my umbrella to the wayside and - ignoring my mother’s voice in my head telling me to stay clean – jumped right into the middle of the first puddle I could find. After about 20 minutes and all the puddles on the farm were emptied by my enthusiastic stomping, I would set out looking for a new diversion.

Mostly I would make up my own fun. One of my favorites was to search for prettiest rock in our driveway (because the rain always brought out the hidden colors in each stone.) Or I would climb a tree in search of a bird’s nest, watching for the momma to bring back worms and bugs for her tiny babies. Or, I would just find a muddy spot and giggle at how cool it felt to squish mud between my toes.

Looking back, what I learned was that there are many beautiful things to discover when the world around us is covered in rain and gloom. It was a time to stop and see everything in a different light. And for me, it is still a time to discover a new world within a book. Or become a famous painter. Or learn how a garden does grow.

Next time your plans are stopped by a rainy day, just let you kids out to see the world in a new light. And maybe, for old times’ sake, you can find a puddle for yourself and jump on in!

Please tell us your Favorite Rainy Day Activity by posting a response below!

And be sure to check out our favorite RAINY DAY toys and games.