How to Prepare For Rainy Days at WYP’s Outdoor Preschool

by Xochitl Pacheco (She, Her, Ella), Administrative Coordinator & Lead Program Staff

Rainy days in the forest are magical, aren’t they? The air fills with the scent of wet earth and leaves, the world around muffled by the soft, steady drumming of raindrops. Mist often lingers between trees and spider webs, giving everything a dreamlike quality. The colors become richer—the greens deeper, the browns warmer—and little details, like droplets clinging to moss or mushrooms, catch the light in ways that feel almost otherworldly. It’s peaceful, grounding, and makes you feel closer to nature. 

WYP programs go out rain or shine! If we have the opportunity to have healthy play outside in the rain - WYP wants to do it! Where we live, rain is a blessing and we celebrate this. 

Our goal is for your children to have a positive, rich and joyful experience in the rain and they'll need to keep warm and dry. Otherwise, a child will remember their experience of rainy days as too wet or too cold to play, then the opportunity to enjoy the magic of rainfall is reduced. We will set-up a tarp shelter that we return to for snack time, lunch, clothes changes, and to watch the rain without being in the rain.

What to Bring on Rainy Days

• waterproof two-piece rain suit 
  • jacket and pants (we nature pee and being able to pull pants down is key for keeping upper body warm and dry) 
  • We suggest continuing to wear rain pants or packing them in their bag after the rainy season begins. The forest stays wet for a few days after rainfall. We play, splash in the mud, and sit on the wet earth a lot throughout the day. 
• warm fleece or wool layers layers under the rain suit fleece or wool keep us warm even after getting wet VS cotton, once wet, will draw heat away from the body and children will get cold quickly
• rain boots
• extra change of clothes in backpack pack another full-set of warm wool/fleece layers with pants, long sleeves, extra socks, underwear
  • keep dry clothes inside a waterproof bag and pack an extra waterproof bag for the change of wet clothes
• handkerchief tissue always pack when your child has a runny nose and on rainy days 
  • this is an excellent tool for your little one to become accustomed to, as young children often need to wipe their faces & will be especially useful for managing rainy drips from cheeks and noses
• extra food for snack and lunch
  • Running around in the rain takes energy and we find that kids are more hungry when it rains. This is a great day for that granola bar with chocolate chips! It's a good day for a treat. 

We can’t wait to see you and play in the rain!