Surprising Ways to Use Kid's Wet Weather Gear

Surprising Ways To Use Kids Wet Weather Gear

 

I know, I know… Rainwear is for rain. It’s right there in the name!

 However, if we borrowed a phrase… what’s in a name? Let’s disprove here, beyond all reasonable doubt, that rainwear is NOT just for rainy days! 😃

 

At Grubbybub, we believe that the best adventures happen when you’re ready for anything – because that means that you don’t have anything to worry about! Our range of recycled puddle suits, all weather rain jackets and children’s gumboots makes outdoor play fun, accessible and worry-free in any conditions. 

 Let us tell you our favourite ways to use ‘rainwear’ that aren’t in the rain!

 

Beach Days

Now, we won’t argue – a beach day in the rain with your rain overalls and a good wet weather jacket is always brilliant! But we’re not talking about the rain today. We’re talking about those blustery, grey days that seem never-ending in autumn and winter.

Wet sand is the bee’s knees, rockpools are so much busier with life when there’s no one else around – and don’t even get us started about beach cricket and frisee when you don’t need to worry about the crowds!

A good, waterproof all-weather jacket will keep off both the wind chill and protects against splashes from both play and the ocean spray.

We love the beach for its sensory exploration, the free play and creative play opportunities it offers, as well as the easy connection with nature and being able to observe the changing seasons.

P.S. Wet sand makes the best scuptures – and no one is around to step on them!

 

Park Days After Rain

Like we said before, kids seem to have at least three times as much energy as usual after being inside for a while. And yes, the park is probably two feet deep in mud and puddles that you know – without a shadow of doubt – that your child will be hip deep in, within nanoseconds of arriving 😆.

But, with a puddle suit for the little ones, or some sustainable waterproof overalls for the bigger kids, that doesn’t matter! You can just let them have at it, knowing they’re going to stay warm and comfortable.

Oh – and don’t forget their gumboots! If they’re just walking, though, you might prefer our early walker GumBooties.

 

Bushwalks After Rain

Getting out and about after the rain is possibly one of our favourite times to be out in nature. There’s just something about the way everything glistens, and that fresh rain and petrichor smell, that can’t be beaten. And since the kids seem to have way more energy than usual after the rain – why not make the most of it?

We recommend waterproof rain pants or play overalls for this kind of adventure. Everything they brush past seems to soak them, and then they’re whinging to go home five minutes later. Head that off before you head out and keep them ready to go all day.

Use the soaked environment around you to spark conversations – hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic is one of our favourite talking points when bushwalking, along with plant life cycles, and conservation.

 

Gardening

Teaching kids about gardening is a fun way to instil in kids a sense of sustainability, self-reliance, patience and a life-long love and respect for nature. But – it does tend to get messy! Especially when you factor in morning dew and garden hoses. In summer, let them run around in their undies and have a blast! But when the weather isn’t as glorious, throw on their waterproof play clothes, like a pair of rain overalls.

Our waterproof pants are tough, durable enough to handle rocks, shovels and the tumbles that kids often throw at their clothes. And the best bit – hose them off when you’re done! Watch the mud drain off and clean kids head inside for a snack.

 

Mud Kitchens

Mud kitchens are a child’s sensory delight. Tipping, pouring, measuring, mixing, creating, imagining… it’s perfect for any child! Once again, fun though mud kitchens are, they can get incredibly messy! Add in the mud to make pies, the grass stains from salads, the pollen from flower potions and what have you got?
Laundry, that’s what 😆.

Add a kids rain jacket, some waterproof play pants and some children’s gumboots (or GumBooties!) and you’ve got a hose-able outfit to keep them dry and comfortable for as long as they want to play – and a clean child underneath, ready for lunchtime!

Arts and Crafts

Best activity ever, according to 76% of children under 8. Okay, we made that statistic up, but it’s probably pretty accurate, right? Now, let’s poll the parents…

Glue drips everywhere, glitter explosions, paint smears on the clothes… Yeah, we can hear you thinking twice already.

Mess is a part of the creative process, but it doesn’t have to leave lasting marks. That’s where our wet weather gear comes in. Whether your child is finger painting, creating a papier-mâché masterpiece, or experimenting with shaving cream art, our waterproof clothing protects them from the mess while letting their creativity flow.

Take your crafting outdoors for even more freedom. Set up a splatter-paint station where kids can throw paint at canvases or try tie-dyeing with natural dyes made from flowers and leaves. For sensory play, fill trays with shaving cream, coloured sand, or oobleck and let them explore textures and patterns. With our waterproof playwear, mini artists can dive into these messy activities with enthusiasm, and you’ll only have to rinse them off afterward!

 

Car Wash

There isn’t much kids like more in a backyard than to have ‘a turn’ of the hose. Add in the car wash bubbles, sponges and buckets - and you’ve got yourself a fun morning!
Now, again, in summer – this is a blast in your undies, especially if you’re a toddler. But it’s not always summer, and the car still needs to be washed. And the kids still desperately want to ‘help’.  So, throw on those toddler-proof puddle suits and have at it!

Bonus – the suits will help to keep the chemicals in the bubbles off their skin!

Downside – the toddler has control of the hose, in winter. Adult sized puddle suits, anyone? 🤣

 

 

Exploring Creeks

‘Rainwear’ like our recycled puddle suits let kids explore nature, and parents can watch (because which parent ‘rests’, right?!) easy, knowing that pint sized adventures aren’t going to need three changes of clothes before morning tea.

Frogs, tadpoles, yabbies, water dragons, bugs galore can all be found on a morning ramble down the local creek. If you’re looking closely, you might even spot a burrow or nest! We find the best time to visit the creek is after a good rain. Loads of puddles to splash in, the extra water that creates mini waterfalls and cascades, the active wildlife and, of course, the fresh mud. With our waterproof, durable suit and rain overalls, explorers are ready to tackle mossy rocks, new puddles, wading and bug hunting without a care in the world.

Pro tip: leave them in their playwear for morning tea, and the food stains wipe right off 👌

 

DIY Rain Projects

When rain is on the radar, but you’ve got some time yet, head outside and set up some obstacle courses for the rain to flow over. Draw some chalk murals and watch how the colours blend and run under the falling water. Set up a series of jars to catch the water and make music.

All these activities spark creativity and curiosity, and as a bonus, they are great springboards into educational conversations. Science meets fun in the backyard!
Now, if you were a child making these really cool experiments, would you be able to resist testing them out? We couldn’t, that’s for sure! And that’s where your child’s raincoat, puddle suit and gumboots come in handy-dandy.

Okay, okay – you got us. This one could also be done in the rain 😎

 

 

Anyway – we hope we’ve inspired you to find some time to be outside!