Staying Active in Bad Weather | Shady Oak Primary School

STAYING ACTIVE IN BAD WEATHER FOR FAMILIES

Common parent-child exchange from old comic books:

Parent to overly energetic, constantly underfoot child: “Why don’t you go out and play?”
Child: “But it’s raining outside!”

Another common parent-child exchange from old comic books:

Parent: “You can’t go out to play, it’s raining.”
Child: “But getting rained on is half the fun!”

Of course, if there’s a hurricane, tornado, or flood going on outside, you’ll have more immediate things to worry about than finding something active for your kids to do without tearing up the house. But if it’s simply a matter of rain or snow or even a heat wave, you don’t have to be couch potatoes all day. You can:

Find an Indoor Play Area

It’s ideal if you have a “rumpus room,” or even an empty garage or screened-in porch. But if your home lacks facilities or space, you don’t have to buy expensive fitness-center memberships to access indoor-exercise options. Most neighborhoods have a church, community center, YMCA, or shopping mall that offers facilities at little or no cost.

Play a High-Energy, Low-Impact Game

If going out isn’t an option, there are still active things you can do in your own home without risking broken glass, collisions with furniture, or neighbors coming up to complain their ceilings are shaking. Try one of these:

Simon Says or Follow the Leader games that involve bending, stretching, walking, and other things that work the muscles without throwing the weight around too heavily. (Assuming no risks to expensive carpet or the nerves of downstairs neighbors, you can also include jumping jacks and running in place.)

A game of “Twister” (or invent your own balancing/contortion game).

Musical chairs or a variant (you can use “bases” instead of real chairs, or pass around hats/other objects and see who’s caught empty-handed/bareheaded when the music stops).

Go Ahead and Play Outdoors

In the absence of lightning, floodwaters, dangerous winds, or risk of getting chilled, there’s really nothing wrong with playing in the rain. It’s a special pleasure to watch the drops falling in puddles or rolling off foliage. Even getting wet can be fun.

A few health-and-safety tips for outdoor play when the weather is “bad”:

Dress appropriately. If the weather is warm enough to allow getting wet, nylon T-shirts and shorts (or even bathing suits) are better than cotton clothes which soak up water. If it’s chilly or you’ll be out more than an hour, insist on water-repellent attire.

Consider timing. If it’s a warm, humid season and especially if the sun is likely to come out, it’s best not to be caught outdoors in the middle of the day. At all seasons, be prepared for rising temperatures after sunrise and falling temperatures in the evening: you may need to carry extra clothing layers.

Don’t wade in deep puddles: they may harbor dangerous germs or chemicals.

Bring along drinking water (rainwater and snow are rarely satisfactory substitutes) and sunscreen (it’s possible to get sunburned even on a rainy day if the clouds are thin).

Above all, have a good time, rain or shine!