It has been raining a LOT the past few weeks. But my children have not seemed to mind all that much. They have been thrilled to play in the rain, sometimes wearing bathing suits. Jumping in puddles. Splashing in the street. Luckily the weather has cooperated in so far as there has been no thunder and lightening.
I remember a few times as a child when the rain came down hard and I was allowed to play outside in it. My parents were from the generation that believed getting wet and cold would make you sick. So playing outside in inclement weather was not something that happened very often.
What are the things that matter most? I see my children being pressured at school to succeed. I see them being pushed at sports to succeed. I see the hours of their childhoods slipping away. The time left over for playing and running around with no agenda is squeezed in the empty spaces. I think that jumping in puddles is just as important as learning the multiplication tables.
If it is a warm rain in the summer my kids take bars of Ivory soap and bathe in swimsuits. they have ivory soap races in the puddles as the soap floats! It is too cold here right now to let them jump barefoot, but they can always wear galoshes. They also love “mudding” and trolling around in the mud after a good rain – provided it is not my landscaped front yard.
Comment by Claire — October 15, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
Preaching to the choir, here!
Comment by Brigitte — October 16, 2009 @ 6:33 am
After the rain we love to go out and “Save the worms”. We collect the worms that have made their way onto the driveway, sidewalk, or road. I totally agree with you – play is just as important!
Comment by Sarah — October 16, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
I totally agree with letting the kids play in the rain and puddles! Where I live, we have a few streets that really flood and stay flooded! Luckily they aren’t busy streets after they flood, so my kids get to ride their bikes in them and play. Also, my yard has a low spot and the get to play there too!
Comment by chandra — October 24, 2009 @ 4:50 pm