Ideas for keeping the rain off in the park with a tarp?

[Grasses]

I have v small kids and I'm trying to get them outside in lockdown even on very wet days.

There's a deserted car park near us where they do some balance bike practice but it's very grim in the wet. I wanted something basic to retreat to; dream would be one of those gazebos but I don't want to get shouted at (even though I've never seen anyone there) and also can't peg down on concrete.

What's a super basic portable version of that? Two adults holding a big tarp up over our heads? God I miss playgroups

Have you ever heard of an umbrella?!

Hands will be freezing with an umbrella even with gloves on. What about a pop up gazebo? Or a beach tent? I have a waterproof one of those!

A cheap, pop up, 2 man tent would work. You could also buy a 3x3m tarp, some guys, pegs and a pole if you want to be a bit more creative - there are lots of YouTube videos showing different ways to put one up.

How about one of these den kits? Pack away into a bag!
thedenkitco.com/collections/den-kits

You mean for you whilst you watch, or for the kids as well?

Pop up beach tent probably, but it will be a PITA to put up and put down etc. I wouldn’t bother, just keep moving is better in the cold and wet.

Massive fishing umbrella?

Brolly or a big coat and hood.

Golfing umbrella and gloves.
or
Decent coat and gloves

How do you envisage wrangling 2dc, their bikes, and a tarp plus whatever you are going to fix it with ?

For me and dh if he comes or possibly my mum (in our bubble but ECV) could help but at a large distance , so has to still be very much outside .. big enough for my 3 kids

Beach tents seem to require sitting down and squashing in and I can never quite get up again

Googling your suggestions led me to this fishing umbrella which looks pretty good www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carp-Sea-Fishing-Umbrella-with-Top-Tilt-and-Zipped-Sides-Brolly-Shelter-/312229768881?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Sort of tent like but not permanent enough to get in trouble .. ? I guess I'd be standing and holding it unless I can find something to tie it to.

Waterproof coat, trousers and wellies. Maybe a broad-brimmed hat.

Aren't there some kinds of pods designed to save football mums from hypothermia? Not sure if they actually get used in real life though

Loitering in the cold while supervising children is definitely one of those things that you don't get warned about before having children!

We have an emergency shelter for hiking that could help... but I’d feel like an idiot in one in a park. Like this:
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/rab-4-6-person-shelter-D1112049.html

😂 imagining myself flapping around in that orange thing while passers by call the police

Ooh do you mean those little things that look like toilet tents but with a front window? They look AMAZING but surely can't be as good as they look? Would also double for camping trips if I could cover the window up

The issue surely is that anything genuinely useful like tarp will need either securing somehow (too ‘permanent’ looking, car park = hard standing so no tent pegs) or be a PITA to transport and assemble/disassemble? That fishing shelter looks good, but really what you want is a pepwrly waterproof long, long coat with a hood, a hat with a brim, rechargeable hand warmers and a flask of something hot. Or the willingness to jog whilst they bike ...

Yes exactly. But the problem is not me; I have waterproof clothes and don't mind being wet anyway. I want somewhere they can stop for a rest or a snack for five minutes without the rain on their faces, then keep going. They do have waterproof clothes it's just a bit miserable.

Then you want that hiking shelter. It’s exactly what we use it for on the hills. Or find a local bus stop