I just want to start by saying that I live in Wales. So I’ve experienced my fair share of rainy days. Maybe more than my fair share actually! And look, I know that feeling when you check the weather forecast and it’s just grey. Which for some reason seems to happen more at the weekends or just as the school holidays hit, right?
And I know how tempting it is to just stay indoors when it happens. Cwtch up on the sofa and stick a film on. Enjoy staying in all day without that feeling of guilt that you get when it’s sunny out and you should be making the most of it (I know I’m not the only one who gets that!).
The thing is, there are some days when you just need to get the kids out of the house. There are only so many rainy day activities you can do at home before you all start to get a bit stir crazy. And honestly, there are so many benefits to heading outside on rainy days.
Remember during the pandemic when we would all head out on our stupid daily walks, for our stupid mental health? Remember how it actually made a huge difference in how well we could cope with the madness of the whole situation?
Study after study has found that there are huge mental health benefits to spending time in nature. It boosts your mood and reduces feelings of anxiety and stress. So when everyone’s nerves are a bit frazzled from being cooped up indoors, heading out into the fresh air can work wonders to calm you all down.
And walking in the rain can make the whole thing even better.
The sound of rain, whether it’s on your umbrella, the hood of your coat, or just falling on the ground, is soothing.
The smell of the rain is something else, too. It’s thought that petrichor actually has calming and mood-boosting properties, potentially a throwback from the days when our ancestors would relax when the rain came because it would help the crops grow.
How to actually enjoy a rainy walk with kids
The things is though, even if you know that getting out on a rainy day will be good for everyone, it can still feel easier to just stay in.
So here are some tips to get you out the door and actually enjoying a rainy walk with the kids.
1. Get appropriate clothing
There’s a saying that goes, ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing’. And it’s true. You’ll enjoy a rainy day walk a lot more if you all have the right footwear and clothes on.
Once you’re all decked out in wellies and waterproofs you can head out the door knowing you won’t be cold and soggy by the time you get back home.
2. Include some rainy day activities
Your usual routine and activities might not work on a wet, rainy day. So have a plan to include some different activities that are more suited to this kind of weather.
Make your walk more fun for the kids by letting them jump and splash in puddles.
Head to the park and enjoy having the place to yourselves for a change!
Think of rain-specific items you could include in a nature scavenger hunt.
3. Have a plan for when you get home
If the kids (or you) are still feeling a bit reluctant to head outside in the rain, then having something to look forward to when you get home could give you the push you need.
Pick up some mini marshmallows from the local shops while you’re out, so you can have some hot chocolate once you’re home. Or plan to move bathtime forwards and get the kids in a warm bath full of bubbles and toys as soon as you can after getting in from the rain.
Then you can cwtch up and enjoy a cosy, rainy evening together knowing that you can skip that part of the bedtime routine later!
It’s natural to not particularly want to head out in the rain, especially with kids. But changing the way you think about rainy days can make all the difference.
Instead of viewing rain as a pain, try to see it as just weather. It’s not bad, it’s just different. And that means it’s a chance to get out and see the world in a different way, and to have different experiences.
Kids often take their cues from adults, basing their own opinions and world-view on what we model for them. So if you’re excited about the rain, they’ll be more likely to embrace it too.
Don’t let them grow up waiting for sunny days to be able to get out and enjoy the world, teach them that they can do that whatever the weather.
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