As an ‘elder millennial’ (gag) I guess my birthday gift to myself this year was eye surgery, so I'm currently rocking an eye patch at night. Big M thinks this is extremely on-brand for a pirate and has been fully supportive. She is, however, personally disappointed I didn't get a unicorn one. Her cousin wears one sometimes. (The bar has been set.)
In between ice packs, the "tunder" and “rumbler” arrived. That's what Big M calls rainstorms- the kind with percussion that produce about equal parts fascination and adrenaline, with a few unpredictable spikes of panic to keep it fun. But they leave puddles. Which are, in this house, one of the greatest things that exist.
Staying inside when it rains was an excellent plan right up until they started forming their own opinions about it. In my house, that happened around age 1.
So, this week: our favorites to help you embrace a damp fall, not just survive it.
In this issue:
✅ The two-piece rain kit that makes outdoor fall play not miserable
✅ Summer toys that work in the rain (plus how to survive being out there with them)
✅ The indoor energy burner starter pack
Psst: Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe HERE → it's free!
💸 The fall rain kit: two things plus boots, and you're set
👉 Quick callback from a few weeks back: morning outdoor light still counts, even on overcast fall days. The cloudy sky is still dramatically brighter than indoors, and the sleep payoff is real. Here's how to actually get out there.
Rain bibs. Waterproof overalls with stirrups under the feet that tuck into boots. This is the everyday layer: quick walk, bike ride, playing in the yard, the park. They keep pants dry without full commitment, and the stirrups help keep things in place,
The full-body suit. This is for when they're going full ham. Wet hikes, active rain, any scenario where a mud pit exists and no one is stopping them. Hood-to-foot, strips off at the door, and the disaster (mostly) stays outside. This one’s not for warmth, but for dryness.
A kids' rain jacket layers over either one depending on how serious things get. Good for the transition weeks when it's not quite cold enough for the full suit but the drizzle is real.
Rain bibs: Kids Rain Bib Pants (~$23)
Full-body suit: Tuffo Muddy Buddy All-in-One (~$30) or JAN & JUL Fleece Lined Rain Suit (~$72) for extra warmth
Rain jacket: JAN & JUL kids' rain jackets ($55)
Rain boots: Top rated classic rain boots or these Insulated Water Resistant Boots ($52) we’re eyeing for this winter
🧘♀️ Your summer gear has a second act.
👉 Ideally, you stand dry on the porch while they play in the puddles. 🤞 Some toddlers have made this illegal. For those cases, here's what helps.
The water table is a mud table now. Skip the plain water, shovel in some dirt, add rain. The rain suit handles the splashback.
The sandbox is better wet. Wet sand actually holds its shape- the sandcastle they've been trying to build all summer finally works in October. Just…let them.
Chalk in the rain is better than regular chalk. Dunk chunky sidewalk chalk in water first and it draws with twice the pigment. (Must be chunky- the skinny ones crumble. Big M discovered this and now it's a whole ritual.)
For when they require your physical presence outside:
Kids' umbrella: something with a character they chose — the move to avoid the umbrella fight where they want to "hold it!!” and you both end up wet.
A collapsible umbrella for you: Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella (~$20-30) — fits in a jacket pocket, survives wind, won't embarrass you.
⚡ The indoor energy burner starter pack
👉 The anchor for much of this: a mini inflatable pool (~$10-20 if you don’t have one already. We actually own the dog one. Works great). It is a vessel. Its job is to contain things. That's really it.
Fill it with balls. You want a lot of them — 200+ for it to feel like anything (~$30 for 200). Yes, they will escape the pool, and yes you will find them under the couch and every other furniture piece, but it’s worth it. Here's how to make cleanup part of it:
Color sort sprint: call a color, race to collect 10 first
Laundry basket basketball: set up baskets at different heights around the room
The toss: everyone grabs a handful and throws them in the air at once. This is going to happen anyway. Might as well be scheduled.
Fill it with kinetic sand or moon sand instead. (~$15-25 for the sand, or here’s a recipe to DIY.) Add some fun gemstones or mini animals to bury. The pool contains the mess. The goal is to walk away for 45 minutes, depending on age.
Big M continues to show off her sand skills “And I can even make a ball!” so the biggest trick is mostly keeping her in one spot. We stay nearby so she can show us her creations.
Also in the rotation:
Pool noodles — hallway obstacle course, floor balance beam, sword fight with rules. These are honestly best found at Dollar Stores during the summer and they do have some in clearance now (vs the $50 pool noodle I saw at a pool supply store last month 🤯), but in a pinch you can find them online at Walmart, Target, etc.
Star projector (~$20-30) — lights off, stars on the ceiling and walls. Makes any indoor game feel like a different planet. Also works during bath time.
K that's all. You're the best and we love you.
-CK "Pirate Pete, iykyk" Fuller (Editor) & the JB Crew 🫡
Quick note: Some links in here may be affiliate links. You know the drill- if you buy something, we might earn a small commission that helps offset the time we spend making JuiceBox. Thank you for supporting this project of ours.