Rainy Day 911

Here are some ideas to get everyone started:

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How can you get your kids used to the idea of poor-weather activities? The younger your kids are, the more eager they're likely to be to head out in the drizzle. By the time kids get older, things like computer games may be luring them back inside.

Explore nature in the rain. Suggest a worm hunt—it's always ghoulishly magical to see worms appear during a rainstorm. Have kids dig in the damp earth to see whether they spot any.

Lead them on a mystery hike (you may want to blindfold them if a car ride is needed to reach the trailhead, thereby increasing the suspense of where you're going).

Let them design their own activity, with the condition that it be outdoors.

Bribe 'em, pure and simple. There's no shame in this if it's your only hope of dragging your teen outdoors. Propose a hike, for instance, in exchange for a trip to the mall or movies, or promise them a snack upon their return.

More Extensive Rainy Day Outings
If you're truly an active, outdoors-oriented family, you're bound to find yourselves caught in a rainstorm from time to time. Just keep the rain gear on hand and you should be all set.

Getting caught in the rain is one of the best ways to get kids used to being active in foul weather. Once you're outdoors and a storm comes along, you have no choice but to continue, at least until you can reach shelter. Often it's a good lesson for youngsters to see that a little rain really doesn't dampen the fun or slow down an outing—that rain comes and goes, and life goes on.

Try to help kids focus their thoughts on the positive rather than the negative:

One of the best ways to keep spirits up in the rain is by singing, which helps everyone keep the pace up and helps grumbling.

Mention how rain cuts down on crowds, biting bugs, heat exhaustion, and sunburn.

Point out how a rain shower can add brilliant color to the forest, turning leaves and scenery into a lush, verdant landscape. Ask kids to note how the scenery changes during the rain, and to look for signs of how animals and insects cope.

Once your child has been caught out in a rainstorm and found it to be a pleasant—or at least acceptable—experience, he or she is much more likely to agree to set out from home on a rainy day. Such willingness is not only a good lesson in coping with the elements, it's also a step toward making your youngster a more flexible, enduring individual in all aspects of life.

As long as your family plays it safe, avoiding lightning and hypothermia, a little rain can indeed be a gift from above.