Do you let your kids play in the rain?
By tanniebabe78
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
United States
June 16, 2008 2:33pm CST
Or are you one of those that makes them stay in because they may get sick.
I am okay with letting them play in the rain as long as obviously there is no lightning and whatnot.
I have been noticing than some of the local teens have been into going to the park and playing BALL when it storms. Makes my hair stand on end when I see them out there shrieking around and the lightning is flashing all around. Didn't their parents teach them better than that??
7 people like this
39 responses
@Jemina (5770)
•
17 Jun 08
I don't have kids yet but as a kid I always enjoyed playing in the rain up to this age. But when I got to the UK I don't find it as fun anymore because here it's too cold when it rains. But in Thailand and the Philippines, you see kids playing football or basketball in the rain because it feels nice.
So, when I get my own kids in the near future I will let them play in the rain if we are in the Philippines and let them experience the fun it gives.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I have heard of the cold rains in England. BRRRR. And it rains there a lot. Aren't the rains warm and frequent in Thailand/ Philippines? I thought I read that somewhere. My thoughts being if it rains much, you would almost have to play in the rain to get outside.
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@Jemina (5770)
•
19 Jun 08
It rains more frequent in the Philippines and considering we're in the tropics rains are a welcome treat because it cools us off. But in Thailand it doesn't rain much. They do a lot of cloudseeding or artificial rain as I call it because the process is not natural. And when it pours it only lasts for about 30 minutes. So it's not fun really.
Here in England it rains a lot which is a good thing on the other hand because we always have good supply of water all year round.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
20 Jun 08
I guess maybe it is more of an island thing? Do you think? It just seems to me that islands get rain more than any continent.
1 person likes this
@1grnthmb (2055)
• United States
16 Jun 08
If it is storming then no but if it is a gentle rain then they can just go for it. When they were younger it was really fun to watch them play in the rain. They would act so silly. Now they really aren't interested. Darn I wish we could shrink them back down to young ones when they were so fun.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
It is funny, we spend so much time wanting them to grow up and hit all those milestones, but when they do, we want to go back again.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Heck, mine are 5 and 1, they already have an attitude. However, it is at least punctuated by nice loving moments. If I remember the movies right, them teens are terrible.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
18 Jun 08
I hate the people that say you'll get sick if you play in the rain - didn't they ever pay attention in school :)
You dont get sick from that - it's usually from floating germs so if the rain is only kind of drizzling & stuff & my daughter's out there, then i let her play until she's had enough, gets cold or if the weather gets worse!
I think it's fine to let your kids play in the rain, although with the teenagers you are talking about, well, i guess they just don't remember their parents telling them how dangerous it is - maybe they weren't told or maybe they just didn't believe it but one day they'll learn their lesson i guess.
1 person likes this
@proudmammabear (556)
• Canada
16 Jun 08
I allow my kids to be out in the rain, to play and have a good time. Where I grew up was in the country in a small town, and we always would go outside to watch the thunder/lightning storms, as we all really love them. Since the chances of my child getting hit by lightning is less than their chances of getting hit by a bus, or vehicle, I see no harm in this. When we are done playing in the rain, we all go in strip down into some fresh warm clothes and share a cup of hot chocolate together. It is an awesome time that we spend together. Being out in the rain/thunder/lightning is so much fun!It won't make you sick, as most sicknesses are viral or bacterial,being out in the cool damp weather can only hurt you if you are already sick, or begining to get sick!
Ty have a great day :)
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I will still prefer to not have my kids in the storms. lol. Rain yes, thunder even yes, lightning no. I won't chance my babies even for a 1,000,000,000th of a chance.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I remember playing in some storms, but then my parents didn't much care about more than the next drink. lol. I try to do things differently.
@proudmammabear (556)
• Canada
16 Jun 08
I understand and respect that for sure. We were just always raised with it as no big deal, even though my dad knew someone who had been hit by lightning not once but twice while on the golf course. I wonder how much we were raised plays a role in whether it is a threat or not?
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
18 Jun 08
rain ...oh yes. thunder and lightning ....absolutely not. I love thunder and lightning but it is to be respected. It is dangerous. I have gone out and picked my daughter up from walking many times if lightning started up. I have a friend who was killed by a bolt of lightning. It is nothing to mess with. I don't care how old my kid was, I'd be hauling them in if they were foolish enough to stay out there.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
19 Jun 08
This is my sentiment. Why weren't their parents out dragging them back in and nagging them. I would have.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
16 Jun 08
My boy would play out whenever he is allowed. Which I encourage. My daughter isn't old enough to have an opinion. YET!
@nksalford (1)
• China
17 Jun 08
Fine,i support children playing in slight rain,coz trying anying will be beneficial for them,though i am single now.
1 person likes this
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
17 Jun 08
When my kids were really little, I had no problem with them wanting to play in the rain, as long as it wasn't lightening and thunder. Kids like dirty and muddy, and rain is good for that. If you let them play in the ice and snow, why are you afraid of the rain? It's only water. As long as they change when they come in, it's really fine. And like I said, not in an electrical storm, especially around slides and swings on chains, and other metal toys, etc.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
19 Jun 08
No, no. I am not afraid or refuse to let MY son play in the rain unless it is lightning. I was referring to the neighborhood's teenagers playing ball in the lightning storms here lately.
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
17 Jun 08
If its not lighting then I wouldn't mind them playing in the rain. My husband took my 2 year old out in the rain once b/c she said she wanted to play in the rain. They had fun running around our yard. She thought it was so funny.
1 person likes this
@youless (112595)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Jun 08
Perhaps I am too careful in this aspect. And it may sound like I overprotect my child. But I won't let him play in the rain as I am afraid he will get sick. When he is sick, I feel so bad. I prefer I suffer the disease for him. There is only one exception. That is when we are swimming, if it rains, it doesn't matter. We will enjoy it anyway.
I love China
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
17 Jun 08
Hi tanniebabe, I played in the rain when I was a kid, but not if there was thunder and lightning. I believe our children played in the rain as well, but if I remember correctly, I think they preferred to play inside when it rained. How great is the danger from lightning anyway? Blessings.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
20 Jun 08
It is like million to 1 or something like that. I still take no chances with my kids, no matter how little the risk. Fact is, it does happen and its not happening to mine if I can help it.
@bieke81 (1067)
• Belgium
17 Jun 08
Yes, they can play in the rain. And they are still very young: two and three. They are both born in wintertime and from day one I would go out with them and walk, even if it was very cold. A warm jacket and a blanket to cover them up and away we where. I don't like to protect them from every bacteria I can think of, but I don't take big risks either. They need to be dressed for the bad weather and they don't go out when there's lightning or very hard wind.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
19 Jun 08
This is true. I remember when I was a kid, more than not it was just a light warm rain. Now it is all severe weather and practically tornadoes and floods.
@kittenmc (464)
• United States
17 Jun 08
If it just a good ole summer rain, then my answer would be yes. If lighting is near, than my answer would be NO WAY!
Those teens you are talking about: Their parents probably did teach them better, but at that age they think they are invincible!
I have 2 teens and sometimes I think their brains have turned to scrambled eggs! Don't get me wrong, they are very good kids, but sometimes! It's hard to explain.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
20 Jun 08
lol! Believe it or not, I understand about teens, even though I don't have any.... I used to be one. :p
And it hasn't been all that long ago. I look back now and just sort of...
@Danesmommy (123)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I let my son go out and play in the rain, as long as it's not pouring and it's not a thunderstorm. I little rainshower never hurt anyone.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Well, lets just ask the wicked witch of the east and west shall we?
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I let my kids play in the rain because they feel like they are getting away with something. I don't mind if its raining but when the lightning comes I don't have to tell them to come in, they're already at the door. I usually meet them with towels and make them strip right there so I don't have to chase them around and pick up their soaked clothes.
1 person likes this
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
That is a very good idea. I think my son would be that way too, but knowing him, he would be terrified more than likely and never go out in rain again.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
So a person should never eat the first snowflakes? lol. Just teasing. I agree. Our rains have serious toxins in them not many know about. I suppose if it makes it an hour, rain would be clean.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
This is as it should be. Of course the kids I speak of weren't young. So it is up to the parent to instill common sense.
@leo2727 (138)
• India
17 Jun 08
When i was a kid i loved playinging the rain .but as a mother am afraid to let my son out in the rain because he has wheezing problem .i know my son enjoy himself if he is allowed to play in the rain but do not allow hism because i know that he will have wheezing if he goes out in the rain .But I make it up by taking him to water theme parks during the vacations .
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@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I don't think he feels he is missing out on much. Not as far as playing in the rain at least.
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Yes we do. We are so afraid to let them do too much. I remember half the crap I did as a kid and am terrified to let them out of my sight even. lol.