Outdoor Fun for Little Puddle Jumpers
- Mar 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 22, 2025
It's officially puddle jumping season! Spring has sprung, the flowers are starting to pop out of the earth, and the birds are busy building their nests. Today we'll explore ways to be happy even when the skies are gray.
I love a rainy day. There is nothing better than throwing on a pair of rain boots and jumping in puddles - no matter what your age. Most rainy day blog posts are about what to do indoors, but there is magic in rain play. Throw on your boots and poncho and enjoy these wonderful outdoor ways to play with your little puddle jumpers...
See more ideas for mud pie nature art.
Make a mud pie .
The earth gets wonderfully soft and easy to dig up when it rains. Every kiddo should have the experience of getting messy and making mud pies. Go on a nature hunt to decorate your pies with flowers, rocks, twigs, sea shells, etc. Grab different types of bowls and sticks/spoons to make this sensory art.
Make your own mud ball critters.
Sculpt mud ball critters.
If pie isn't your thing, try making mud ball critters. Tell stories about your muddy friends. What's their favorite snack? What furry woodland creature is their best friend? Make a whole mud ball family. Let your imagination be your guide.
Paint with some mud.
Use a stick, your hands, a paint brush and fill a bowl with mud. You can paint on a piece of paper, the sidewalk, leaves, or paint a tree!
Take your bath toys outside.
Bath toys are perfect for dipping in the puddles and you don't have to worry about them getting ruined by getting wet.
Design a pool noodle boat.
Cut off a 2" section of a pool noodle (grown ups, of course) and decorate it. Stick a twig or two in the foam and attach leaves and/or flowers for the sails. Have puddle boat races by blowing on the boats to see who has the fastest boat!
Make rain art.
Grab a paper towel and color it with markers. Set it out in a light rain and see what new design the rain will make for you.
Let the rain paint for you.
Place a water coloring book page on the sidewalk and let the rain paint it for you.
Dance in the rain.
What's better than a dance party? A rainy, splashy dance party! Grab your umbrella...or don't. Kids grow up way too fast. Let them dance in the rain.
Make music.
Bring some pots and pans outdoors and let the rain make some music. Grab some glass jars and put wax paper over the top with a rubber band. See what noises the rain makes bouncing on top of your instruments. The harder the rain is falling or the bigger the drops, the better.
How much does it rain during a storm?
Build your own rain gauge.
Learn how to build a simple DIY rain gauge at home from a plastic bottle. Leave it outside the next time it rains to measure the precipitation in your area.
Save some worms.
If you see worms struggling in a puddle on the sidewalk or in your driveway, lend a helping hand and put them in the grass. Make sure to show kids how to "gently" move them. It's a great way to teach a lesson on compassion for even the littlest creatures.
Stir up some nature soup.
When you're done making your mud pies, you can rinse the bowls out and let the rain fill them. You add the nature ingredients and make the recipe your own. Don't forget a spoon or stick to mix it up.
Catch raindrops on your tongue.
The simplest pleasures in life can be the best. Catching raindrops on your tongue is what being a kid is all about. Count how many raindrops you catch.
Use your 5 senses.
Explore the wet outdoors with all of your senses. It's like you're doing literal forest bathing, even if you're not in a forest and you're actually getting wet (unlike real forest bathing). Take some time to really experience the rain. Notice everything about the rain.
What do you see? How is the rain coming down?
What do you hear? Is the rain making different kinds of noises when it's bouncing off of your poncho versus something metal?
How does the rain smell? Is it an earthy, wormy smell, or a sweet smell?
How does it feel? Is it a tickly rain or a warm, misty rain? Does it feel different on your face versus the palm of your hand? What does it feel like if you kick off your boots and feel the soggy earth with your bare feet?
How does it taste? Stick your tongue waaay out. Is it salty? Is it sour?
Go on a nature walk.
Everything looks greener and smells fresher in the rain. Grab the whole family and get soaked! Splash in those puddles that you usually tell your kids to avoid....together. Go on a rain hike, swing at the playground, run in your backyard, or ride a bike.
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