by Krystle Gard, PCD

We all know getting kids outside is imperative to their wellbeing - and to parent sanity! However, a winter forecast in the Pacific Northwest can be daunting (rain in the forecast for the next ten days!?).

Having a toolkit - of ideas, practical gear, and systems for keeping things handy and organized - can make winter outside play easier, more comfortable and more fun.

For many parts of the year in the Pacific Northwest, specialized outdoor gear is helpful but not necessary. On warmer, rainy days, letting your little outside in bare feet and normal clothes can be so thrilling for them. To them it is like breaking all the rules! Letting them feel the wet grass and mud in their toes is not only exciting, but helps with sensory development, too. However, we know not all days can be a ‘getting soaking wet’ kind of day - and some days, the cold is a real challenge to enjoying outside time.

Gear and Games for Playing Outside in Winter Weather

• For walking with your baby in a carrier, a winter weather cover for the carrier is a great tool - Ergobaby’s carrier cover is big enough to go up to toddler age, and other universal carrier covers may fit your carrier as well

• A full body rainsuit is just right for puddle jumping or simply exploring in wet weather - our family loves Oakiwear, and the Tuffo suit is a classic, too

• Good boots are the foundation to having fun outdoors in the winter - Bogs and Crocs are popular in the PNW

• Keeping little hands comfy makes for a better outing - BB families suggest Reima and you can check out other options in this guide

• Warm socks keep us all cheerier - Darn Tough’s options are super durable and cute, too

• Rain hats for the win! We love the offerings from Sunday Afternoons

• Layer with thermal underwear, vests, and jackets - or have a set of seriously warm options for playing in the snow

• Have a “gear station” where everyone’s outdoor gear is easily accessible - a labeled box or bin for each person, and a designated place to hang wet items to dry before putting them back in the gear station for the next outing

• Designate a backpack or other bag as the “outdoor play kit,” with extra gloves for wet, cold fingers, some shelf-stable snacks, sidewalk chalk, kid-safe binoculars, collection bags or other containers for “specimens”

• Buy or create games like Gofindit and check out local resources for more weather-friendly outdoor fun

A few pro tips:

• Always have a full change of clothes in your car, including shoes - this way whenever rain play occurs, you’re prepared to let them be free to have fun

• For colder weather, buy 2 pairs of mittens so one pair can dry while the other is in use

• Your local baby and kid consignment stores can be a treasure trove for gear that’s lightly used, and both more affordable and easier on the planet than buying new

Beyond clothing to keep everyone comfortable, you don’t need much. With all the social media ads, it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of “oh, we need that, too.” However, the best part about outdoor rainy play is you don’t need much of anything special to have a fun time - rain makes everything ordinary feel different.

Here are some activities that kids can’t get enough of:

Keep it simple. Head out on a simple rainy day walk. Gear up (or not), bring umbrellas and take a walk down the street. This requires no planning or preparation and you can do it any time. You can even add a simple scavenger hunt; umbrella, puddle, boots, worms, etc. Bonus if you can take your walk in the forest. Rainy day play in the forest is absolutely magical. Check out Tryon Creek for fantastic rainy day walks, including a bridge walk and creek play. 

Get Dirty! When it rains, make mud pies. I have three boys and I always say, ‘if they aren’t dirty, they aren’t having fun.’ Letting your little one get dirty and play in the mud is quintessential to rainy day play. There are a lot of options; make mud pies, paint with mud, make muddy footprints, etc. And, of course, don't forget the best part about rainy days… jumping in muddy puddles, or riding through them on a scooter or bike!

STEM it up. On your walk, look around for things to build a boat. Sticks, leaves, pinecones are all great options. If you did want to do a bit of planning, you can have some other materials available, too, such as recycled plastic containers, tinfoil, foam, or wood. Once the boats are built then you can race down the water run-off down the street. You can even add in a little engineering by playing the “Does it float?” game. Another fun game is collecting rainwater in different types of containers.

Make rain art! Making rain art is so simple but really cool. All you need is a paper towel and some markers. Have your little draw with markers on the paper towel inside. Then you can take them outside, let them get wet, and watch the art transform before your eyes. 

For more opportunities and ideas, check out our short list of outdoor playspaces, exercise classes to do with baby in tow, and outdoor preschools around the Portland area. 

Outdoor Fun:
Guided walks at Tryon Creek
Gabriel Park
Macleay Park
Marshall Park playground
Irvington Elementary School playground
George Rogers Playground and River Access
Lacamas Creek Loop Trail
Hike It Baby
Fit4Mom

Outdoor preschools: 
Ballyntyne Learning Farm
Multnomah Playschool
Lavender Farm Preschool
PDX Outdoor Forest Preschool
Willow Creek Forest School

Krystle Gard is a Certified Postpartum Doula, rocking it as a mom of three boys on Portland’s West side. When she’s not supporting other parents through the transition of growing their families, you can find her teaching, trying new and nutritious kitchen creations, or getting out into the outdoors with her husband and kids.