Prepping for long summer days ahead? You NEED this list of outdoor activities for kids! Help your toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids kick off outdoor play that will boost lots of learning through fun (while you get to SIP your favorite beverage)! Save this must-have list of 50 outdoor activities for kids.
RELATED: You MUST save these outdoor summer-specific activity lists for toddlers and bigger kids that are sure to beat the heat this summer!
What is the best outdoor activity for kids?
With so many outdoor activity ideas out there – it is so hard to pick a favorite! But I do have a couple of go-to’s that are always a hit with my kids. The ultimate goal of outdoor play is to encourage FUN exploration in the great outdoors!
And did I mention, one of the best parts of outdoor activities for kids, is that there is no mess to clean up inside your house! It’s the ultimate parent hack, a major win-win!
Outdoor play is so important for kids. The best kinds of outdoor activities for kids help to promote:
- Creativity
- Movement
- Imagination
- Independent play
- Sensory awareness
- Social skills
- Endless hours of FUN!
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Easy outdoor activities for kids
Try these simple outdoor activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids for a no-fuss fun time! All of these activities will boost child development and so many other important learning skills right in your own backyard.
Splash the Alphabet
This outdoor activity is not only a classic, but one of my absolute favorites! Add a drop of food coloring into a spray bottle. Pick a letter and squirt it! This is such a good way to practice fine motor skills and build strength in little hands.
Outdoor Chalk Game
I have such great memories with my kids playing this classic game drawn up quickly with some sidewalk chalk! It is like a board game that you can walk on. Whoa. Mind blown, right?!
Bear Soup Sensory Play
You need to try Bear Soup Sensory Play! This simple go-to sensory activity is perfect for some outdoor fun! How will I ever repay these bears for the joy they have brought my children?! They are by far a favorite – and I still catch my eight-year-old playing with them. Bring the bears outside for an outdoor water bin. Bear soup? Don’t mind if I do!
Outdoor Tracks Water Play
Do you know what else I tried? Taking indoor toys outside and it was a HUGE hit. I did this for Outdoor Tracks Water Play. The boys tested the race cars and attempted to have them land in buckets of water. I love this fun activity as one of the best ways to cool off on a hot day! This is one of those fun activities that is great for all kids, but especially older kids (as always, make sure to watch younger kids around water).
Musical Scavenger Hunt
Of course, I couldn’t not mention Musical Scavenger Hunt. A musical outdoor scavenger hunt is a great way to go outside and get moving. Play a favorite song. The object of the game is to simply run and grab something from the color you stop on when the music stops. It is a lot of fun for all ages.
Shapes and Shaving Cream
If you want to add some outdoor math, give Shapes and Shaving Cream a go. I brought out our 3D shapes and made new sculptures. I love how this fun and messy outdoor play idea helps to develop cognitive skills, sensory awareness, and creativity all in one! This is an excellent late morning activity outside before the sun gets too hot. When it warms up, hose everyone (and everything) down to cool off and clean up.
Shaving Cream Pups
If shaving cream is your jam, then try Shaving Cream Pups. This sensory bin is a blast (especially for younger children) as they bury the pups and spray them clean with a water squirt bottle.
Paint the Rocks
Another easy-peasy and breezy (I couldn’t help myself) outdoor art activity is Paint the Rocks. Some days my kids just need to go on a rock treasure hunt. The next step? Simply paint them to inspire creativity. Your kids will love adding these unique and colorful additions to their rock collection!
Nature Murals
If your kid is past shaving cream (although who is?!) and wants some extra sensory fun, give Nature Murals a go. It’s a two-step outdoor activity. First, go on a nature walk and collect natural materials and items outside. Next, glue them on a giant piece of wood or cardboard. A fun way to strengthen small hands, practice gluing, and incorporate creativity.
Pumpkin Balance
One of my all-time favorites for fall is Pumpkin Balance. Can you balance a mini pumpkin on your head? It is more complicated than it looks – but it gave us all a good laugh outside when we needed some fresh air before dinner was ready.
Leaf Painting
I also can’t mention pumpkins without including Leaf Painting. I use butcher paper from home improvement stores for a great outdoor painting idea. Draw something your child enjoys, and the rest is up to them. Allow your toddler and preschooler to explore different colors and mix as they paint.
What will your kids DO this summer?
Take the guesswork out of your days with the Summertime Bundle.
- Startup Guide creates your summer routine.
- Activity cards have easy activities.
- The PDF calendar puts your plan in place.
50 outdoor ideas for kids
If you don’t have it in you to set up an activity for your kids, I got you too! Here is a quick list of the absolute easiest ways to get kids playing outside.
- Add food coloring to water bins.
- Add mud and get messy.
- Add old pots and pans to the water play.
- Add water (here is a list of 35 water games).
- There’s no better place than outside time to bust out the BUBBLES!
- Bike ride.
- Bring an indoor toy outside!
- Bring boxes outside to make a fort.
- Bring racetracks outside – add water!
- Collect leaves.
- Construct something out of pieces of wood.
- Draw from shadows.
- Explore funnels and different-sized containers.
- Freeze water in a muffin tin.
- Gather sticks.
- Hang a hammock.
- Have a yard sale.
- Hide plastic Easter eggs (even when it is past Easter).
- Host a neighborhood paper airplane sale.
- Bring out a bucket of sidewalk chalk for open-ended creativity.
- Listen for birds.
- Make a catapult.
- Toss some simple supplies into a bin for outdoor sensory play.
- Make a mud kitchen with simple tools to create mud pies.
- Make a nature wand.
- Make an obstacle course with chalk.
- Make a water sensory bin.
- Make liquid chalk to squirt on the driveway.
- Make rock pathways.
- Outdoor color hunt.
- Paint rocks outside.
- Paint with water and a paint roller on the driveway.
- Play tug-of-war.
- Play with sand.
- Play with shaving cream.
- Practice pedaling on a tricycle.
- Relay races on the driveway.
- Roll logs.
- See if magnetic tiles stick to your garage door.
- Play with reusable water balloons.
- Stick nature to contact paper.
- Throw balls through a hula hoop.
- Tie sheets to trees to make a shaded reading area.
- Transport items in a wheelbarrow.
- Transport pine cones with toy trucks.
- Try pushing sticks into the ground.
- Try roller skating.
- Turn on the hose.
- Set up a water table for endless fun.
- Use hula hoops.
RELATED: If you’ve run through the entire outdoor activities list, maybe you’ll need this list of indoor games to switch it up!
Supplies
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If you’re looking to dive into sensory play in the outdoors, these are the best outdoor sensory supplies you will want to make life easier!
For fun outdoor activities, these are the best backyard toys I’ve used for years for outdoor activities for kids of all ages. Here are some of my favorites:
- Balance bike
- Bike helmet
- Kid’s wheelbarrow
- Rocket Copters – a HUGE hit with my boys
- Sidewalk chalk
- Squirt bottles
- Walkie talkies
Is your child learning how to ride a balance or pedal bike? Here are the best bikes for kids.
RELATED: Looking for more outdoor toys? Here’s my go-to outdoor toy list!
Outside play has been a massive hit for my toddler, preschooler, and big kid. Outdoor activities for kids seem to bring all age groups together in a collective way. My outdoor supplies are always on hand and ready to give us life. What are your favorite outdoor summer activities?
More outdoor play ideas
- Water Balloon Games
- Outdoor Sensory Play Supplies
- 27 Types of Outdoor Toys for Kids
- 35 Winning Water Games for Kids
Frequently Asked Questions
Bringing inside toys outside is one of our favorite ways to inspire outdoor activities and play for long days at home. Moving toys in a different environment gives them new life.
The best outdoor activity for kids gets children moving. Physical activity is so important, and those warmer months are such a good time to get your kids moving with some fun outdoor games! Our favorites include activities that encourage balancing, running, hopping, or water play.
Outdoor games and activities encourage social skills, gross motor skills, and exploration. Being outdoors also inspires creativity, an appreciation for nature, and helps both physical and mental health. Go to your driveway, or head to your local park with a friend using this list of outdoor activities for kids.
