Rainy Day Magic: Nature Play, Water Coloring, and Joyful Moments in the Rain

Lately, the rain has been falling often where I am and I’ve been watching it with a quiet sense of wonder. There’s a rhythm to rainy days that slows us down, invites us to look closer, to feel more deeply, to remember the simple joys that come when we let nature lead the way.

Have you ever watched children play in the rain? Their faces light up, arms open wide, feet jumping joyfully in puddles. They don’t care about wet socks or muddy pants. They are present — fully and freely. A rainy day offers them a chance to experience the world with heightened senses: the cool splash of water, the slipperiness of mud, the feel of droplets running down their cheeks.

And here’s something important for parents to know:

Rain doesn’t make children sick.

The rain itself doesn’t contain any germs or viruses. Colds and flus are caused by viruses, not by getting wet. What can happen, however, is that being wet and cold for too long can lower a child’s body temperature and weaken the immune system slightly, making them more susceptible to picking up a virus if it's already circulating. But the rain itself is not the cause.

So, as long as children are dressed appropriately (think rain boots, a waterproof layer, and something warm underneath) and are dried off and warmed up afterward, playing in the rain is perfectly safe — and incredibly beneficial!

Photo by Xavi Cabrera on Unsplash

Colouring Water: A Simple, Magical Activity

One of our favorite rainy day activities is colouring water. It’s simple, open-ended, and full of wonder.

Here’s how to do it:

• Set up a Rainy Day Lab: Bring out some jars, bowls, and cups — anything that can hold water. Collect some rainwater in containers or let the kids scoop puddles with ladles and spoons.

• Add Natural Colour: Use food colouring or try natural dyes like beet juice, turmeric, red cabbage water, or even flower petals and leaves. Watch as the water transforms!

• Mix and Create: Let the children mix colours, pour from one container to another, or "paint" the sidewalk with their coloured water using brushes or sponges.

  
  

This activity is part art, part science, and all imagination. Children begin to notice how colours change, how water moves, and how beautiful even a gray day can become with a little colour and curiosity.