Is it time to change your rainy day mindset?
Drizzly, rainy holidays can feel like a tricky one for families, short days, cold winds, and a fair chance of rain wherever you are in the UK. It’s no surprise that Google searches for “rainy day activities for kids” spike every year as families hunt for low‑cost ways to stay sane and keep children active.
Finding indoor rainy day activities for kids can be frustrating with internet searches often leading to local soft play centres, which can get extremely busy and often cost more than you bargain for. Kids absolutely love soft play centres (whatever the weather) but when those places are packed, expensive, or just not the vibe you want for the day, a walk outdoors can still be fun and part of your rainy half‑term mix.
However not all children relish the thought of a walk in the rain… We aren’t magicians but here are a few thoughts about how you can try and shift your family mindset about rainy day walks.
How to Shift Your Mindset About Rain (So Your Kids Can Enjoy It Too)
Spoiler alert! This post does not contain a list of ideas for rainy day activities. Instead, it’s a little look at the psychology behind our experience and enjoyment of rainy days.
We’re talking ordinary drizzle and showers here, not torrential downpours, storms, high winds or anything unsafe.
Little children don’t see drizzle, mud or puddles as obstacles. Jumping in muddy puddles is basically the Olympic sport of toddlers. National Trust’s 50 Things Before You’re 11¾ is packed with very basic ideas for messy, splashy, fun because younger kids naturally embrace it. What stops children enjoying the rain is almost always the mindset and/or the preparation of the adult in charge.
If we label rain as “bad weather,” treat it as an inconvenience, or act like going out in it is something to endure to ‘build character’, kids absorb that message instantly. Language sets the tone before you even step outside. With young children try swapping that automatic negativity for curiosity and adventure.
FREEBIE OFFER!
Find out how to get an OS MAP CASE worth £26
Shop Now
“Bad weather”
Calling it “bad weather” instantly frames the day as a disappointment before you’ve even opened the door. Swap that for “rainy adventure weather” and everything changes, suddenly the rain becomes part of the story rather than the thing that ruins it. Kids pick up on this instantly. When adults talk as if rain makes the world more interesting, more dramatic, or more alive, children learn to see it as something exciting instead of something to avoid.
“Sorry, we have to go anyway”
Saying “we have to go anyway” sounds like you’re resigning yourself to a chore. It puts the whole outing into a negative frame, and kids feel that energy. But “Let’s see how different everything looks today.” flips the tone to one of curiosity and privilege. It suggests that rain reveals a different version of nature, deeper colours, louder streams, glistening branches, animal tracks in the mud. Kids love feeling like they’re getting access to a secret, special version of the outdoors.
“It’s miserable out there today”
Saying “it’s miserable out there” tells children the day is already ruined. Instead, try: “Let’s go have a bit of fun in it and see how we get on.” It’s simple, relaxed and realistic. It doesn’t pretend the weather is glorious; it just suggests that fun is still possible. This approach often lowers resistance because it feels low‑pressure and open‑ended
These are just a few examples of how your words impact younger kids mood and enthusiasm. Think about reframing language so that it helps children build a resilient, adventurous outlook, the kind that keeps them loving nature long after the puddle-jumping years are over.
Enjoying rainy days is about being comfortable
The other reason adults dread rainy days? We remember (and still don’t like) being cold, wet and miserable ourselves. No child will enjoy a rainy adventure if they’re soaked to the skin and shivering. But that’s a clothing problem, not a weather problem.
With the right layers, waterproofs and some advanced prep, staying comfortable is much easier and once comfort is sorted, the rest is mindset. Most outdoorsy adults can point to a teacher or parent who once insisted: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.” It’s true and that outdoorsy person probably has a good set of waterproofs.
When adults feel confident and prepared, kids pick up that confidence. When we treat rain as a normal part of outdoor life not a cancellation signal, children learn to do the same.
Try telling all this to my teenagers…
Agreed, it’s so much harder to encourage older children out on a walk, let alone in the rain. These are a few ideas you can try to get them to become willing participants and we love to hear any ideas you have tried too.
- Rewards eg. a two hour walk followed by spending the rest of the day as a duvet day, their choice of film or uninterrupted time on their console.
- Pick more urban walks – these can feel edgier and more interesting and perhaps be paired with a cafe or mooch around a few shops (see our excellent City Walks series for ideas)
Walks with dramatic/instagrammable views – even on rainy days, rivers and escarpments can look epic - Ask if they want to bring a friend or go with a bigger family group – make it about being social not exercise
- Let them plan the route
Budget-Friendly Ways to Gear Up Kids for Rainy Walks
• Buy second‑hand:
Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and charity shops are full of barely‑used kids’ waterproofs, wellies and boots.
• Swap with friends, family or school groups:
Gear swap chats are a great idea, ask at your school or on your local Facebook group if one exists already.
• Prioritise one good waterproof layer:
A jacket with taped seams matters most. Everything else can be cheap layers.
• Socks matter:
Often thicker or longer socks fix wellie and boot issues. Wellies are fine for simple routes if the terrain and distance suit them.
• Supermarket outdoor ranges:
Aldi, Lidl, Decathlon, Mountain Warehouse and supermarkets offer affordable waterproofs and base layers.
• Size up:
A slightly bigger waterproof can last 2 seasons. Roll sleeves; tuck trousers into wellies.
• Repair instead of replacing:
Use iron‑on patches or repair tape for small tears in waterproofs.
EXPLORE THE
OS Shop
We are with you every step of the way. Shop our trusted walking and hiking maps and guidebooks so you can explore the outdoors with confidence.
Go to the shopLittle kids don’t need convincing to enjoy rain, adults do
It is easier said than done to unravel years of conditioning that rainy days mean time indoors, but it’s worth it. Once adults stop dreading the weather, children stop resisting it. Suddenly, that rainy walk doesn’t feel like a compromise, it feels like an adventure.
- Swap negativity for curiosity
- Plan ahead to ensure you can keep dry and comfortable
- Treat rain as a different version of outside, not a lesser one
So if you want to get outside in the rain and you still want to have a fun day, it helps to stop thinking up ways to avoid the rain and start rethinking how you approach it. A little wet weather doesn’t have to ruin your plans. With the right clothing and a shift in mindset, it can be lots of fun. That mindset shift starts with us as adults learning to unpick a few long‑held habits.
If you want to find a local walk near you just open up OS Maps and browse one of the thousands of walks near you from our recommended partners and outdoor community.
