101 Wet Playtime Games Activities to Brighten Wet Play Days

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Acknowledgments

Foreword – Dr. Sue Roffey and J. Paul Wright CEO, Alliance 4 Children

About the Author

Introduction

How to Use This Book

Organising Wet Playtimes

Playground PALS for Wet Play Days

PART ONE: WET PLAY ACTIVITY BOXES

Chapter 1 - Organising Wet Play Activity Boxes

Chapter 2 - Thinking Games

Chapter 3 - Paper Play and Creative Activities

Chapter 4 - Quiz and Puzzle Activities   

PART TWO: ACTIVE GAMES  

Chapter 5 - Circle Games

Chapter 6 - Parachute Games

Chapter 7 - Active Games for Letting Off Steam

Chapter 8 - Singing, Rhymes and Dancing Games

PART THREE: OUTDOOR PLAY ON RAINY DAYS

Chapter 9 - Activities to Encourage Outdoor Play on Rainy Days

PART FOUR: 101 WET PLAYTIME PRINTABLE RESOURCES AND AWARDS

Games Template

Awards and Certificates

PART FIVE: APPENDICES AND FURTHER RESOURCES

Appendix A Online Resources
Appendix B Organisations and Policy
Appendix C Recommended Books and Further Reading
Appendix D Training and Professional Development from Positive Playtimes
Appendix E Index of Games and Activities

Biography

Thérèse Hoyle is the Founder and Chief Play Officer of Positive Playtimes, a multi-award-winning organisation dedicated to helping schools create happier, more harmonious playtimes. With over 30 years’ experience in education and consultancy, she has worked with more than 2,250 schools and organisations across the UK and internationally. Recognised as the UK’s leading provider of playtime and lunchtime training programmes, she is the creator of the Positive Playtime Award Programme, Lunchtime Supervisor Superhero Training, and Playground PALS. She is also the author of 101 Playground Games and co-editor and contributing author of The Big Book of Whole School Wellbeing. This book draws on her extensive experience, offering practical, enriching, and tried-and-tested ideas to help schools create safer, more inclusive, and joyful playtimes.

“This is a practical, school-ready resource that helps protect children’s play when the weather (inevitably does in England!) turns. It makes a clear case for play as essential to wellbeing and learning and gives staff simple ways to create the time and space children need to play every day. #ItAllStartsWithPlay” - Eugene Minogue, Executive Director, Play England

 

“101 Wet Playtime Games is a burst of pure childhood sunshine, the kind that dances through even the stormiest school day. Thérèse weaves her warmth, wisdom and playful brilliance into every page, offering schools a treasure chest of inclusive, imaginative, ready to use ideas. And truly, what could be more powerful than turning a rainy‑day challenge into a moment of connection, creativity, and calm? This book doesn’t just transform wet playtimes; it transforms the way we honour children’s joy. A beautiful gift to educators and a bright spark for every child

Your commitment to championing play, in all weathers and all circumstances, continues to ripple across the sector in the most meaningful ways. I’m genuinely excited for the world to receive this second edition.” - Amber Ogunsanya-William, Award-Winning Inclusive Play Advocate 

 

"At a time when we know children are playing outside around 50% less than a generation ago, this updated edition of Therese’s book builds beautifully on an already trusted resource. It’s full of fun, stimulating and genuinely practical ideas that are easy to use. I especially love that children are front and centre in the process, building skills that support them well beyond the playground." - Maria Brosnan, Pursuit Wellbeing

 

“Thérèse Hoyle provides us not with simply 101 ideas for wet playtimes, but with a compelling argument for the holistic place of play throughout the primary school years, and the importance play has for mental health and wellbeing, behaviour, community and learning. A crucial read for behaviour strategy for leaders, teachers and lunchtime supervisors. Ditch that dusty box of battered and incomplete board games and invest in Thérèse’s wisdom and experience. Packed with resources and activities for individuals, groups and classes, there is plenty to help children think, let off steam and focus through those times when weather keeps them indoors.” - Andrew Cowley, Wellbeing Champion and Author of The Wellbeing Toolkit, The Wellbeing Curriculum and The School Mental Health Toolkit

 

“101 Wet Playtime Games is an inspiring and practical resource that will resonate with schools at every stage of their playtime journey from those with well-embedded practice to those asking, “Where do we start?”

The book is grounded in sound research and pedagogy, offering thoughtful structure and imaginative ideas that genuinely re-energise playtimes. What stands out most is the clear commitment to placing the child at the very heart of play, purposeful, inclusive, and joyful.

This is a book that sparks thinking, generates ideas, and encourages schools to be braver and more intentional about play. Highly recommended.” - Lee Batstone, Headteacher, Madley Primary School

 

“As I write this, I am sat in my office at school with the rain beating a rhythm on the windows and the wind howling.  Wet play!  There was a time when I often found myself in crisis management mode, keeping things calm enough until the end of play.  Today, there is a sense of calm across the school.  The children are playing games, spending time relaxing with friends and our playground buddies are there supporting and encouraging children to join in.   

I highly recommend this book for school leaders, teachers and playground staff who have felt that sense of, "this could be so much better", but don't know where to start.   In her book, Therese helps provide inspiration and extremely practical ideas to support a calm, active wet playtime.

The job of a child is to be a child, and playtime is the time where we need to make this possible!” - Samantha Smith, Primary School Principal, Torquay

 

“I absolutely loved reading this book. It is truly incredible. As a parent of two children, one who struggles with playtimes and another who finds wet play days boring and frustrating, it was wonderful to discover such a wealth of practical, engaging ideas that can transform these times into positive experiences for every child.

What stands out is how thoughtfully the book supports schools to create playtimes that benefit not only children but staff as well. The range of opportunities and the depth of understanding shown throughout make it clear that every angle has been considered.

When I reached the section on outdoor play, I was genuinely moved, knowing how much my own child would love these games. Reading the final part about the support offered to schools brought a tear to my eye. The care, passion and dedication behind this work shines through on every page.

This is a phenomenal resource that will make a real difference to children and schools alike. Thank you for your passion and dedication to this very important work.” - Sarah Clayton, Parent and Vet

 

“In this updated second edition of 101 Wet Playtime Games and Activities, Thérèse Hoyle has created far more than a collection of rainy-day fillers. She offers schools a practical, whole-school framework for transforming wet play from a logistical headache into a purposeful, enriching part of the day. The clear structure – from the three themed Wet Play Activity Boxes to Active Games and the inspiring new chapter on outdoor play in all weathers – makes it exceptionally usable in real settings. I particularly value the balance between cognitive challenges such as Kim’s Game and the Blue Baked Bean Challenge, creative tasks like origami and collaborative art, and high-energy group favourites including parachute games and Rainy Day Simon Says. The inclusion of guidance on policy, SWOT analysis and community involvement shows that this is about culture change, not just activities. With 101 field-tested ideas, clear objectives, safety guidance and inclusive adaptations, this book is an indispensable resource for any school committed to children’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing, whatever the weather.” - Dr. Amanda Gummer, CEO, FUNdamentally Children, Founder, Good Play Guide, Independent Chair, Association of Play Industries

 

“Every teacher needs this book in their classroom, because it completely removes the overwhelm, the 'Ahh what do I do it's wet play?' and default that can often become watching something on the interactive whiteboard. We know our children need to move more, play more and wet weather will no longer be a reason to prevent this! This is a treasure trove of delightful ways to play that will inspire so many and impact children's wet play times all around the world. Thank you Therese for creating such a much needed resource for schools and our children!” - Ruth Lue-Quee, CEO of My Mummy Teacher / MMT Play, Founder of Play is Learning Campaign