Rainy Day Songs for Babies | Early Years Outdoor Play Ideas

Rainy days do not have to mean staying indoors. In fact, rain can create some of the most exciting sensory and musical experiences for babies.

These rainy day songs for babies are perfect for nurseries, childminders, baby rooms and early years settings looking for simple ways to combine music, movement, sensory play and early years outdoor learning.

At The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, we believe babies should experience the outdoors in every season. Rain brings new sounds, textures, movements and sensations that simply cannot be recreated in the same way indoors.

So pull on the waterproofs, head outside and turn a rainy day into a musical adventure.

These are all early creative experiences. For more insight into the power of the outdoors for expressive art learning, explore Expressive Arts Outdoors and for more overall guidance, discover The Complete Guide to Early Years Outdoors. 

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Why Sing Rainy Day Songs Outdoors With Babies?

Music and outdoor play work beautifully together.

Babies learn through repeated experiences, movement, sound, touch and interaction with trusted adults. Singing outdoors adds another layer of sensory information as children hear raindrops, feel changes in temperature, watch water move and notice the natural world changing around them.

Rainy-day singing can support:

• communication and early language
• listening and attention
• rhythm and repetition
• physical development
• sensory exploration
• emotional connection
• early understanding of the natural world

It is also a wonderfully simple way to make outdoor play for babies feel purposeful without turning it into an adult-led lesson.

The rain itself becomes the resource.

1. Pitter Patter Raindrops

Sing slowly while babies listen to the rain falling around them.

Pitter patter, pitter patter,Raindrops falling down.Pitter patter, pitter patter,Landing on the ground.

Gently tap your fingers onto your palms, knees or waterproof clothing to imitate raindrops.

Take it outdoors

Sit underneath a canopy, tree shelter or covered outdoor area and listen carefully.

Can the babies hear the rain landing on different surfaces?

Try letting the rain fall onto:

• metal bowls
• buckets
• wooden blocks
• plastic tubs
• leaves
• umbrellas

Each material creates a slightly different sound.

This is a lovely introduction to sound exploration outdoors in the early years.

2. Rain, Rain, Tap Away

Use your hands, feet or simple outdoor objects to create a beat.

Rain, rain, tap away,Tap the puddles here today.Tap them softly, tap them loud,Rain is falling from the cloud.

Older babies may enjoy stamping their feet or patting puddles with their hands.

Adults can model words such as:

tap, splash, wet, drip, rain, puddle, fast and slow.

3. Splash, Splash, Splash

Puddles are one of the best naturally occurring play resources available to an early years setting.

Try:

Splash, splash, splash,Splashing in the rain.Splash, splash, splash,Then we splash again.

Allow babies who are developmentally ready to stand, stomp, crawl beside or explore shallow puddles.

There is no need to create an elaborate activity.

A puddle, waterproof clothing and an interested adult can provide an enormous amount of learning.

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4. Drip Drop Rain

This simple repetitive rhyme works beautifully with babies.

Drip drop, drip drop,Raindrops from the sky.Drip drop, drip drop,Watch them falling by.

Try holding out a metal tray or bowl so babies can listen to the rain hitting it.

Move the container to different parts of your outdoor provision and compare the sounds.

5. Here Comes the Rain

Use a familiar, predictable rhythm.

Here comes the rain,Here comes the rain,Falling on our garden,Here comes the rain.

Change the final lines depending on what babies can see.

For example:

Falling on the leaves.

Falling on the roof.

Falling in the puddles.

Falling on our boots.

This simple change encourages adults to talk about what is actually happening in the environment.

6. Tiny Raindrops

Use your fingers to demonstrate small movements.

Tiny raindrops falling down,Falling softly to the ground.One, two, three and four,Then we hear a few drops more.

This can be paired with gentle finger movements, tapping and counting.

For babies, the purpose is not learning numbers formally. Instead, they are hearing mathematical language naturally through play and song.

7. Splashing Boots Song

For mobile babies and toddlers:

Boots go splash, splash, splash,Boots go splash, splash, splash,Boots go splash, splash, splash,On a rainy morning.

You can change the movement:

Hands go tap, tap, tap.

Raindrops drip, drip, drip.

Puddles splash, splash, splash.

Repeated songs such as this are excellent for supporting anticipation and early communication.

Turn Rain Into a Musical Sensory Experience

One of the best things about rainy-day outdoor play is that very little equipment is needed.

Rather than bringing lots of toys outdoors, try placing a small number of open-ended resources into the environment and allowing babies to investigate the rain.

You might offer:

• stainless-steel bowls
• wooden spoons
• pots and pans
• buckets
• scoops
• natural objects
• containers
• lengths of guttering
• large spoons
• waterproof fabric

Rain transforms these resources.

A bowl becomes an instrument.

A bucket becomes a rain collector.

A piece of guttering becomes a water channel.

A puddle becomes a sensory experience.

This is why stripped-back early years outdoor provision can be so powerful.

The environment does much of the teaching for us.

Follow the Baby’s Lead

Rainy-day play does not need a predetermined outcome.

Some babies may want to watch the rain.

Others may repeatedly splash water.

Some may listen closely as drops hit a metal container.

Another child may simply enjoy being held outdoors while listening to an adult sing.

These are all valuable experiences.

Good outdoor learning for babies is not about producing something to take home. It is about giving babies time to notice, experience, repeat and explore.

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Rainy Day Outdoor Play Ideas for Babies

Alongside your rainy-day songs, you could try:

Rain collecting

Place different containers outdoors and allow the rain to collect naturally.

Puddle splashing

Provide safe shallow puddles and allow babies to investigate them using hands, feet and simple tools.

Rain sounds

Place metal, wooden and plastic objects outside and listen to how the rain sounds different on each surface.

Water transporting

Offer bowls, scoops and cups for mobile babies to move water between containers.

Watching water move

Use guttering, tubes or slightly sloping surfaces and allow rainwater to travel down them.

Looking at reflections

Puddles provide wonderful opportunities for babies to notice reflections, movement and light.

Rainy Days and Early Years Outdoor Learning

One of the biggest shifts early years settings can make is to stop seeing poor weather as something that interrupts outdoor provision.

Weather is part of outdoor provision.

Rain creates opportunities to explore:

• sound
• movement
• cause and effect
• water
• temperature
• reflections
• texture
• gravity
• nature
• communication

Children do not necessarily need a completely different activity prepared every day.

A well-designed outdoor environment can remain largely consistent throughout the year.

What changes is the weather, the children’s interests, the questions adults ask and the way children use the space.

This creates richer, more authentic early years outdoor play.

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Keep Rainy-Day Play Simple

You do not need themed tuff trays or complicated adult-designed activities.

For babies especially, simplicity matters.

Try thinking:

What has nature already provided today?

If it is raining, use the rain.

If there are puddles, investigate puddles.

If leaves are blowing around the playground, watch the leaves.

If sunlight creates shadows, explore shadows.

The outdoors continually provides new sensory experiences without adults needing to manufacture them.

Explore More Early Years Outdoor Ideas

If you are developing your outdoor provision, explore more ideas from The Muddy Puddle Teacher® including:

• Early Years Outdoor Play
• Outdoor Provision in the EYFS
• Loose Parts Play Outdoors
• Sensory Play Outdoors
• Outdoor Learning for Babies
• Outdoor Colour Activities for Babies
• Bug Activities for Babies
• Spring Activities for Babies
• Light and Shadow Play for Babies
• Sound and Texture Art for Babies

These activities can help you create a more natural, playful and sustainable approach to early years outdoors.

Want to Improve Your Early Years Outdoor Provision?

The Muddy Puddle Teacher® helps nurseries, schools, childminders and early years practitioners create meaningful outdoor learning without expensive equipment or complicated setups.

Our approach focuses on stripped-back provision, open-ended resources, sustainable practice and giving children more opportunities for genuine play.

Explore our Outdoor Play Training to discover how to create outdoor spaces that work throughout the year and help practitioners feel confident taking learning outside.

You can also join our 60-day free trial to explore hundreds of outdoor learning ideas and resources.

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FAQs About Rainy Day Songs for Babies

What songs can I sing with babies on a rainy day?

Simple repetitive songs work best. Try songs using words such as rain, splash, drip, puddle and tap. Repetition helps babies anticipate sounds and begin joining in through movement, facial expressions and early vocalisation.

Can babies play outside in the rain?

Yes, when conditions are safe and babies have suitable clothing. Experiencing different weather conditions can provide valuable sensory and environmental learning opportunities.

What can babies learn from playing in the rain?

Rainy-day play can support sensory development, communication, physical development, listening, cause-and-effect understanding and early knowledge of the natural world.

How can I make outdoor learning interesting for babies?

Keep it simple. Use natural changes in the environment alongside open-ended resources such as bowls, containers, natural materials, water and loose parts. Babies benefit from repeated opportunities to explore rather than constantly changing adult-led activities.

What is outdoor learning for babies?

Outdoor learning for babies involves giving children meaningful opportunities to explore movement, sound, texture, weather, nature and their physical environment through play and responsive adult interaction.

How can nurseries improve early years outdoor provision?

Start by simplifying the environment. Provide flexible resources, allow children plenty of uninterrupted outdoor play and use natural changes such as rain, wind, leaves, mud, shadows and seasonal changes as part of everyday learning.