sunny
windy
rainy
cloudyWhich weather words to teach first
Start with the two words your child can see most clearly: sunny and rainy. Add cloudy when those feel easy, and windy last, because wind is easier to feel than to see. Each card above has audio: play a word, do its movement, and let your child copy the movement before the word.
- sunny – stretch your arms up and out like the sun
- rainy – tap your fingers downwards like raindrops
- cloudy – make a round, soft shape above your head
- windy – sway like a tree and blow: “Whoosh!”
One question and one answer
One question covers the whole topic: “What’s the weather like?” The answer is short: “It’s sunny.” or “It’s rainy.” At first, a single word such as “Sunny!” is a great answer; say the full sentence back, so your child hears it every time.
Listen to the short exchange below together. It shows the question, the answer and the action cue that starts the game.
Leo What's the weather like?
Nia It's rainy.
Nia Show me windy.
Leo Whoosh! Windy.
The weather show: let your child lead
Children remember words better when they do something with them. In the weather show, your child is the weather and you are the audience:
- Say “Show me windy!” and let your child sway and blow. Clap and say “Windy!”
- Swap: your child gives the cue, and you perform. Get it wrong on purpose now and then; most children love to correct a grown-up.
- Guessing round: your child acts out a word without speaking, and you ask “Is it rainy?” A nod or “Yes!” is enough.
- Stop after three or four turns, while your child still wants more.
Use the real sky, but don’t force it
Ask “What’s the weather like?” once a day at the same moment, for example when you open the curtains or put on shoes. Look outside together before anyone answers. If the sky is grey and there is no wind, “cloudy” is the right word; if nothing fits, choose a card instead and talk about the picture.
Real weather changes slowly, so on most days you will repeat the same word. That is useful: repetition is how a word sticks.
Common mistakes
These slips are normal at this age. Say the right version back instead of correcting:
- “It’s rain.”: the weather word ends in “-y”: “It’s rainy.”, “It’s sunny.”
- Leaving out “it”: many languages describe the weather without a word like “it”, so “Is sunny.” or just “Sunny.” is common. Answer with the full sentence: “Yes, it’s sunny!”
- Showing all four words on day one: two words a day is plenty; add the others when those come easily.
- Correcting every answer: if your child says the right word with a small slip, smile and say it correctly. The game should stay fun.
What comes next
When your child answers the question without help, connect the weather to clothes: “It’s rainy. Put on your boots!” Later you can talk about the seasons. The articles below take the same words into getting dressed and the seasons.