While the school summer holidays are in full swing in Europe and the West, here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the monsoon season has set in, bringing heavy rains to our doorstep. It’s that time of year when puddle jumping becomes a favorite pastime for kids, but many parents hesitate to let their little ones stay outdoors for too long, fearing the seasonal challenges. However, outdoor learning is gaining recognition as a valuable approach to child development, and numerous international schools in Chiang Mai have fully embraced it. Connecting with the natural world, getting dirty, and exploring the environment are essential for holistic growth. But what can we do when the rain pours down? Well, there are several exciting outdoor activities that can be brought indoors.
These activities don’t have to be messy or chaotic; they can be more about exploration, creativity, and investigation, all within the comfortable and dry confines of our homes. We can bring elements of the outdoors inside to engage our kids in fantastic artwork, exciting science projects, and even math and English learning—all while having fun. To keep the kids entertained during the rainy season, we’ve discovered some wonderful ideas that involve various forms of learning and are easy to implement.
Observation Charts
Observation charts are excellent for encouraging children to closely examine what’s happening outside, even if they’re gazing through a window. You can observe the weather, animals, birds, insects, planes, and more.
Have your kids create a sizable observation chart focused on their areas of interest. Use stickers or stamps to record daily changes. For instance, a weather observation chart could include pictures of the sun, clouds, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. At different times of the day, have the children look outside and describe the weather, noting it on the chart. Encourage them to think beyond simple statements like “today it’s sunny.” There’s always more to discover than meets the eye.
*Tip: Keep some binoculars by the door and see if the children take the lead in this activity.
Stick, Flower & Leaf Art
There’s an abundance of plant materials lying around, such as twigs, fallen leaves, and flowers, especially if you venture out early. However, exercise caution—if you’re unsure about a plant, it’s best to leave it be, especially if your child has allergies.
Collect anything that piques your interest, from leaves of various shapes to empty snail shells.
The possibilities for creative projects are endless: create mosaics using differently shaped leaves, use flowers as paintbrushes for painting, construct roads with sticks, or decorate dried leaves to make a beautiful mobile.
*Tip: Be as creative as you like and follow the children’s ideas to see where their imaginations take them.
Design Your Own Garden
Here’s a fantastic way to make use of old magazines. You’ll need large boards and plenty of PVA glue, so prepare for a bit of messiness.
Guide the children to look through magazines for images of gardens and outdoor scenes they like. Help them carefully cut out these images, encouraging them to concentrate.
Then, let them arrange the images on their boards to create their dream garden. It could be a fairy garden or a monster truck-themed one—let their imaginations soar!
*Tip: Remember, the final outcome doesn’t matter as much as the creative process itself.
Grow Your Own Garden
Engaging in a science project with the kids, like growing their own plants, can be both fun and educational. Children love watching things grow, and it’s a valuable lesson in responsibility as they care for their plants by watering them and ensuring they get enough sunlight. Growing cress heads is a straightforward and delightful way to demonstrate how seeds become food in a relatively short time, allowing your child to witness the entire growth process from start to finish.
Since cress is so easy to grow, you can use it as a learning tool to show children what plants require for growth. Plus, it’s one of the simplest plants to cultivate indoors. As a bonus, the kids can trim the cress and add it to their egg sandwiches for a delightful treat!
So, go ahead and explore these rainy season activities with your little ones. It’s an excellent opportunity to bond, learn, and make the most of your time indoors during the monsoon season.
