Welcome to summer! Check out these 60 outdoor activities and choose the ones that will keep your children smiling all summer long. You can even do this in one of those little inflatable baby pools in the backyard and its just as much fun! Or, you can do like us and just make up your own rules as you go along! This game is played in a large field or backyard. Active Games Play games, like who can keep it going the longest, who can make it go up and down their body or who can jump through it as it rolls down the sidewalk! If your kids are little, try having storytime outside together and reading to them as they lounge on a blanket or in a hammock. Either way, its fun! Let kids know what the boundaries are for the hunt. Have them draw their family! Peel the paper off of an old crayon, set a piece of paper on a leaf or something with an interesting texture, just for demonstration purposes, and rub the crayon over the paper until the texture or shape outline starts to show through. Head to your closest creek, river or lake and look for the flattest rocks. Create a Giant Chalk Art Mosaic Masterpiece Theres an abundance of things to draw in the summer; flowers, animals, insects and plants. All you need is a shallow dish, some sugar water and a few sweet fruit slices. Youll be amazed at just how many geocaches there are out there, hiding in all your favorite places! which signals the players to begin moving toward them. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Skip to footer Never miss a Busy Toddler Newsletter! As the players find "it," one by one, they all crowd into the hiding place and end up packed together like sardines in a can (hence the name of the game). Go for a walk. Everyone else should stand within arms reach of the thrower. Organize a hiking trip with an online sign up. Thats definitely true for one of my favorite past timesreading! ), but when you dont have the time, just set up the tent in the backyard. I've played it several times during my field day at school as well as family parties! Summer is ripe with fun local carnivals and state/county fairs. Making HUGE bubbles was one of my favorite things to do when I was a kid. Make the most out of your watermelon eating experience by having a seed spitting contest while you eat your slice! and most definitely a game! It teaches kids a lot of valuable skills, like logic, reasoning, creativity, strategy, coordination, visual skills, motor skills, concentration and how to be a good loser. Explain to your kids how shadows work with the position of the sun. The thrower tosses the ball straight up into the air. Decide on a safe area at opposite edges of the field for each team to have as their home base. Lots of community pools have awesome water features like slides, lazy rivers, splash areas, wave pools and wading areas for the littlest ones. . If you can, attend a baseball game with your kids. Flowers are everywhere you look during the summer! Paint with water. Making popsicles is even easier, with nothing more involved than throwing a blended concoction in a freezer. However, the twist in grounders is that the other players must stay on the play structure. 4. Essentially, kids take turns throwing their rings to see how many they make on the stick (or designated spot on the ground). All of these involve spending time outside (in nature) with your kids and can be done with less mess than regular crafting. World of Sports 6 The last pair with an intact balloon wins. These little paint-your-own fairy doors are adorable! Plus, biking reduces carbon emissions, eases traffic congestion and eliminates parking problems. See our post on raising butterflies from caterpillars for more info. Dont have a tent? Flip the whole thing over and then add your pizza toppings while it cooks. Pick and press flowers. Watermelon is one of those foods that screams summertime! Fishing is a great activity that the whole family can enjoy and do nearly anywhere theres water! Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Teach them directions and how to use landmarks. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. 18 Fun & Easy Outdoor Activities for Kids to Play Outside If seeds remain, then the object of your affection may have reservations about their feelings toward you. To continue playing, kids can go back out to make as many crayon rubbings as they can of different tree trunks, rocks, or anything else they find with an interesting surface. Your kids will find the rocks and then paint them, too. Some of our favorites are sugar snap peas, beets, cherry tomatoes, mint, lettuce, carrots, zucchini, and pumpkins! Try packing a picnic and eating a meal in a whole new location. These fun activities are guaranteed to keep your kids (and you) entertained, learning, and active while outside this summer! When he successfully negotiates the branches, he feels a sense of accomplishment, which in turn boosts his self-confidence.. Set up a course for kids to have a running race. Natural Outdoor Play If you're looking for even more reasons to get the kids outdoors, you're going to love the activities below. Most jumping games were also set to fun rhymes and songs. per adult (price varies by group size) Seine Cruise with Shopping at Vallee Village and Saint Germain des pres-8 hours. If youve got (or want) a lot of butterflies in your area, set up a butterfly feeding station in your yard. Make sure your kids get the chance to experience the thrills and fun of a hula hoop. Next time youre out exploring your favorite local trail (or even going for a walk around your neighborhood), take along a garbage bag and make an effort to clean up any trash or rubbish you find along the way. Freeze some plastic dinosaurs or other small toys or treasures in a giant block of ice. Eat homemade popsicles. If they miss, or if the ball bounces more than once, that player is out (which is a good way to rotate in other kids if there are more than four children playing). Its deliciously messy and gross, so you know the kids will love it! Schedule summer outdoor activities with an online sign up. Heres a great post on everything you need to know to get started playing golf with kids. It's best to show kids how to make one before they begin their hunt. When the thrower catches the ball on its way back down, they yell, "Spud!" Gather around all your neighborhood kids in your backyard pool. Bus Tours. 75 Outdoor Activities for Kids - Free Printable! - Super Healthy Kids Read our, 100 Summer Activities for Kids and Parents, 50 Fun Winter Activities the Whole Family Can Enjoy, 100 Summer Fun Ideas for Kids and Parents, 29 Fun and Physical Outdoor Activities for Kids, The 11 Best Rain Jackets for Kids of 2023, The 20 Best Water Toys That Will Make Your Kids Want to Play Outside All Day, The 44 Best Easter Gifts for Kids That Would Make the Beloved Bunny Proud, The 15 Best Obstacle Courses for Kids of 2023, Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood. Childhood jump rope games seem to have become a lost art. 7. The other team tries to hit the birdie back over the net to the other team before it drops to the ground. 1 Just about any open outdoor space will do for these activities, including parks, schoolyards, playgrounds, backyards, beaches, or meadows. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ring toss is a simple but addictive game that can be played solo or in groups. 18 best summer outdoor toys and games for kids in 2023 - TODAY Best outdoor toy for water play - Zuru bunch o balloons tropical party water slide wipeout: 16, Asda.com. Check your local listing for outdoor concerts, movies or shows. If any player is caught moving when the stoplight turns around, that player is out. Looking for fun summertime activities you can enjoy safely during the COVID-19 pandemic? Spread out a blanket with all the food and let the kids eat as they play with no rushing or nagging at them to sit down and eat. This makes a game out of an art activity and doesn't require too much effort on the part of parents. Have you ever found a 4-leaf clover? 11. To make it easier, we've rounded up 50 mostly free things to do outside as a family to help you find the perfect fit. Going for a boat ride is such a classic summer adventure. Youll be pleasantly surprised just how fun and entertaining being on the water can be for everyone. If a player reaches the stoplight, that person gets to be the stoplight in the next game. Cooking dinner on the grill outside is so much for kids. Divide your group into two teams. Take your sandcastle building to the next level with these sandcastle building tips for kids from a professional! Add some popcorn and peanuts, and itll be a night your kids will never forget! Who can make the fanciest creation? Theyre easy enough to catch with your hands, just be careful not to injure them and let them go gently. Organize a summer play group with an online sign up. If the weather doesn't cooperate, many of these games, such as the dress-up relay race or obstacle course, can be easily transferred indoors to a basement, large living room, community center space, or gymnasium. 20 Outdoor Science Experiments | Backyard Science Activities Simply line up items for kids to navigate over, under, or around. Buy some premade pizza dough (or make your own its easy!) Engineering Activities for Kids. Outdoor Games And Activities 1. Best outdoor toys and garden games for 2023, tried and tested by kids Once the temperature gets warm enough, twilight is the perfect time to chase after these slow flying bugs. Whether youre on the beach or just playing in a sandbox, building a sand castle is so much fun! If "it" senses that a player is on the ground, they yell, "grounders," and then open their eyes to see if they've caught anyone. Activities for Kids (ages 8-12 years old), 40+ Best Indoor Activities from Busy Toddler, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. 30 Days of Outdoor Activities for Kids! Kindness rocks are catching on like wildfire these days. Check out this collection of art, STEM, water play, and easy activities for all ages. 25 Clever Outdoor Games for Kids - WeAreTeachers Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood. You can do this activity as a race, timing who gets through the course the quickest, or just for fun. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Reusable Water Balloons, Hamsoo Website by Anchored Design. Have everything ready to go, then slide the crust on the grill for a few minutes. I know, Beach tip: give your kids landmarks to look for wh, Good morning from California! Having a paper boat race is another really fun outdoor activity to do with your kids. Work with your kids to come up with a list of things you could do together to pay if forward. 25 Fun Outdoor Games And Activities For Kids To Stay Active - MomJunction Attend one and try out some of the traditional foods (funnel cake and lemon shake-ups) or the crazy food (fried Snickers bars?!). Making nature art using sun print paper is a great way to teach kids about the sun and shadows. Take turns playing photographer with your phone or camera. Chances are, youll be (unpleasantly) surprised at just how much trash has been discarded. These games help develop motor skills and coordination. Create your own version of the Olympics by having them compete for the gold in their favorite events. Muse d'Orsay. Pop the cooked packets on a plate, open to let out the steam, and let them dive in! When you have a group of kids over for an outdoor birthday party or play date, it's handy to have some activity ideas up your sleeve. Were hoping to set up a kickball game that involves all the kids on our street (plus a few neighboring streets) and even a few parents for the ultimate kickball challenge! Then, the stoplight yells, "red light!" 65 No-Prep, Easy Outdoor Activities For Kids - Paper Heart Family Or make it a game when you get hit youre out, until theres one champion! Then let them have a turn taking the photos! Check out this fun post for some easy and healthy fruit popsicle recipes for kids. Encourage them to look closely and find leaves of varying shapes, sizes, and even leaves that have special features (like tears, bug bite marks, etc.). Play hopscotch. First of all, it will keep your kids busy for a long time. Most of the parks near us have wooded areas, lakes or ponds, hiking trails and a playground, which is always the most attractive feature for my kids and definitely the first thing they want to check out upon arrival. Balloon Stomp is a raucous game that will get kids moving as they try to stomp their way to victory. Let them decorate their bikes or wagon like a float in a parade! You could even have a dog wash if you run out of vehicles! I absolutely love summer because it is filled with fun games, great family activity and more! Whether its a traditional board game (like Monopoly or Life), a fun family card game (like Uno or Go Fish) or something a bit more interactive (charades or Pictionary), games are great outdoor summer activities and the perfect way to enjoy an evening outside. Amazon. Gather up a wagon, stuffed animals, and some pots and pans and have an instant parade. Dont leave your local neighborhood fairies to fend for themselves in this heat. A lot of state parks will even provide fishing gear for the day for free! ), take your kids to check it out. per adult (price varies by group size) Private Photoshoot and shopping Tour 6 hours with Pick up and drop. If you can, take your kids on a canoe trip, a kayak outing or out paddleboarding. Here are our family's top 30 simple outdoor activities for kids you can do in your own backyard, your community, or a nearby park while getting some fresh air. Great memories are made during the summer months, so start checking off this list today! For each round in this tag-based game, each team seeks to "steal" their object ("the bacon") and get it back to their home base without being tagged. Biking with kids is a fun summertime adventure and a great way to get outdoors, explore new areas/trails, create family memories and get in shape. Just remember to clean up all your plastic trash afterward! If youre looking for another activity to do with all those gorgeous summer flowers and green leaves, try making a crown! Divide your group into teams and decide how many points you will play untilor set a time limit. That said, outdoor games and activities for children don't have to be complicated to be fun. List of outdoor activities for kids. Turn a cardboard box into a giant canvas in this multi-age activity by Mama Smiles. (because you can always just hose them off before they come inside!) Summer is a great time to get to know the local wildlife and continue your nature study. When the people who are "it" call out "Go!" Set up a canvas and let your little ones paint. Then, they go in reverse and replace items at each marker. Legend has it that, if you can blow all the seeds off a dandelion with a single breath, then the person you love will love you back. Once the group knows how to make a crayon rubbing and a table is set up outside with paper and crayons, ask the kids to run around the yard to make crayon rubbings of as many different types of leaves as they can in 10 to 20 minutes. Plant a Garden - Whether in your backyard or just in pots, plant a garden as a family. Everyone loves a good water balloon fight! S Afr J Educ. Set up a course & have a remote control car race, 100. The ideas you have provided along with the how-tos I am sure took much effort. Making a mandala with kids in nature is a delightful, beautiful and easy activity that you can do almost anywhere and at any time. You dont need a super fancy camera to get these shots either! So much fun for the whole family! 5. View an Example. See how many bugs you can find! To save your landscaping, tell them that the leaves must already be lying on the ground. Draw a bunch of boxes and have them draw scenes from their favorite movie or book. Bowling outside is a super fun summertime activity for kids. Theres something truly magical about water for kids and this a great summertime tradition. These are all about pollinators; bees, butterflies, and bugs. Let them taste free samples of fruits, veggies, and baked goods. If a player gets tagged while holding the bacon, the other team gets a point. The game is over if all the players are out before anyone reaches the stoplight or if someone tags the stoplight. Summertime is the best time for finding and picking wildflowers. 36 Best Outdoor Games to Try in 2023 - Play Party Plan While this post will give you all the details and variations for all 100+ outdoor summer activities for kids, if you want a printable checklist version, CLICK HERE and get a free printable PDF of the list! Heres a great tutorial for making fairy houses out of natural materials in your own backyard that will keep your kids entertained for hours. We put together this super fun printable neighborhood scavenger hunt thats 4-pages of things kids of any age can find year-round in your own neighborhood. All you need are 12 small items (stones or shells work great) to serve as hour markers and a large stick. Party on! Just think about it. After three outs, the teams switch sides. Check out these 60 outdoor activities and choose the ones that will keep your children smiling all summer long. Water the plants. Learn how here. 18 fun things to do outside with kids 1. Check out our beginners guide to geocaching with kids for everything you need to know to get started! -Explore a Cave. This game is essentially a reverse version of hide-and-go-seek. Never fear, non-crafty mamas; we have a few nature-inspired crafts and activities that you may not hate! Cavan Images / Digital Vision / Getty Images. And its easy to see why with so many fun and incredible underwater shots! Play hide and seek with flashlights (and partners if you have little ones). Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Make your own binoculars If your little one is going to look closely at the outdoors, they need something to do it with! Use poster board or a giant sheet for a canvas. Take a nap in a hammock or just on a blanket you lay on the grass. He was an ice tea connoisseur and theres something pretty special about tea that was bathed in sunlight and infused with the perfect blend of herbs from our garden. Summer is a fantastic time to watch a parade! Between the laughing, screaming, and popping of balloons, this outdoor game will be one loud and happy party event. For a little extra magic, add some sparkly gemstones, glitter or twinkle lights. The person who is it waits at home base counting to a high number while everyone else hides. Pinterest Facebook Twitter Looking for outdoor games for adults or teens or even outdoor games for kids? Give the kids tools to help them chip away at the ice to get to the treasure. Set up twinkle lights in the yard and jump into the evening. Scavenger hunts can be great fun at parties or with larger groups of kids. Learn about forces as you launch water rockets into the sky! All you need to do is to get some paints and paper. To add challenge for older children, task them with finding as many items as they can within one color, such as looking for multiple shades of green or yellow. Water Pistol Painting from messylittlemonster.com: What could be more fun than squirting paint onto a canvas with a water gun? These include tossing balloons at a target rather than each other. Paint the rocks/shells and number them 1-12. Or you can have a sand sculpture competition. Paint them with bright colors, pretty designs and words of peace, love and hope. Kids love competitive games and obstacle courses are a fun way to get them outdoors and active. Here are some tips for teaching kids how to read maps. $1,089.27. No two shirts will be alike and the kids will love wearing their very own creations! 1. 60 Summer Outdoor Activities for Kids Just some sand, add water and a few cups and buckets of various sizes. The four balls closest to the target are scored. Break out the rope jumps this summer, and lets bring these fun games back! Exploring a creek is by far my childrens all-time favorite outdoor activity. Once youve gotten the hang on it, try your luck at disc golf! Choose an area thats unfamiliar to your child, print out (Google maps) or draw a map of the area and teach them how to use the map to get to a certain destination. Making a sundial is a surprisingly easy activity to do with kids. And chances are, theyll eat ALL the food in the car on the way home! Any player who is tagged will freeze. Knowing how to read a map is an important skill for all kids to learn. (For larger groups, assign three or more kids to be "it.") Do they have adaptions that help them stay cool? This is my personal favorite family game. Activities Play Learn Supplies Shop My account Search and hit enter The following list highlights classic, fun games that don't require a lot of components or setup. Another idea includes taking a Frisbee, football or kickball with you and get moving during your visit. Give your children a chance to experience this incredible metamorphosis themselves by finding (or purchasing) caterpillars and watching them change. You dont need much to create a course, just a clever way to get from point A to point Z. Golf is such a fun outdoor activity for the entire family. Drive-in movie theaters are getting harder and harder to come by. Here's an awesome outdoor game for any gathering. Our summertime favorite picks are strawberries, blackberries, peaches, tomatoes, herbs, blueberries, zucchini, watermelons and sunflowers. It also requires mom to do very little. And heres a great post on how to make a pressed wildflower bookmark. Or draw a board with chalk (or in the sand or use sticks) and use rocks or shells as Xs and Os. The kids will love to pretend theyre camping. Here are several options to try. All you need is a few plastic pins (or water bottles! Give your kids one of the greatest gifts ever the gift of giving back! 2. Set up the ping pong table outside, host a diving competition at the pool, try some rhymic gymnastics with ribbons and hoops. Check out these fun activities, which are sure to keep them happy and busy. Easy Outdoor Games and Activities for Kids. The person who is "it" can be on the ground with their eyes open but if they go on the play structure they need to keep them closed. Most kids love performing, so have them put on a show! This game builds on hand-eye coordination, patience, and tenacityand is loads of fun. Katherine Lee is a parenting writer and a former editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazines. Inflatable Ride-On Hop 'n Go Unicorns (Set of 2) $ 49.98. Its going to be epic! If you want to get extra crafty, set up a nature window for bird watching. Make mud pies. If you have access to a pool in the evening, try going for a night swim! Or mix it up and try your hand at putt putt golf winner gets to pick dinner! (Although, you can certainly place specific items with or without clues for your group to find if desired.). JAMA. Kids love building forts. and turns around. Whether thats putting a quarter in a row of meters, buying a snow cone for the family behind you in line or visiting a local animal shelter and spending time with the animals. Place the flowers between sheets of parchment or wax paper and lay a heavy book on top. Take your kids and introduce them to the vendors. I don't know about you, but some of my favorite memories as a kid were made by playing outside! Weve got a great post on how to make a few easy bird feeders for kids with items and ingredients you already have at home. Releasing the butterflies into the wild is a memorable moment they wont soon forget. Join the craze and make some kindness rocks of your own for the kids to leave in some of their favorite outdoor locations. Scavenger hunts take a bit of prep work, as you'll need to decide on the items to find ahead of time. -Make a Parachute for your toys. Giving them a list of items or objects to find, gives them a purpose and helps keeps their attention. Louvre Museum. Collect and Paint Rocks Myself (and my kids) love this activity for many reasons. Activity # 1: Mummy Relay The kids will get an absolute kick out of this activity. Heres a great post filled with fun and creative ways to play OUTSIDE in the rain! Take advantage of the summer sun and heat to add some fun to your traditional trampoline jumping. Let the fun begin! Try colored stones, shells, glass or beads. Then, use these plants or animals in your list of things for kids to find. Visit a local zoo to learn more about the animals and how they handle the summer heat. One person who is "it" hides and everyone else looks for them. Have an artistic kid? Launching Water Rockets. 100 Fun and Easy Summer Outdoor Activities for Kids You dont need much to play this popular game. The game continues until there is only one player left. You dont need to go away to summer camp to partake in this fun summertime activity. By Katherine Lee Then try the cement (make sure it isn't too hot first). As soon as the ball is released, players begin to run away from the thrower. Privacy policy. DIY Window Paint: Sensory Activity for Kids. They absolutely LOVE it! Weve got a great post all about the incredible benefits of exploring creeks with kids. 2018;320(19):20202028. Most adults have done a crayon rubbing or two as kids themselves. Put the stick in the ground upright and use the items to mark where the shadow is at any given hour. One person is designated as the "stoplight." Heres my summer activities list for toddlers and preschoolers. 2019;116(11):5188-5193. doi:10.1073/pnas.1807504116. Feel free to add shells, sticks, grass or leaves for decorations. Badminton is an easy-to-learn game that kids of all ages can enjoy. Playing Frisbee is a great alternative to traditional pitch and catch. Materials: garden hose, recycled items to make rockets ( see directions) Time Required: 1 hour. Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. If youve never tried to make your own pizza on the BBQ grill, what are you waiting for?! Pillow and blanket forts are great for winter, but get out and try your hand at building a fort outdoors or in the woods. Use towels or sponges to clean all your family vehicles outside and get your cars nice and shiny! What are Some Activities to Do Outside? See our full post on sun prints for more details. Bring a pair of scissors on your walk and snip a few flowers for a bouquet. You dont need any fancy equipment to make an amazing sand creation. Katherine Lee is a parenting writer and a former editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazines. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Reconnecting families through outdoor activities and adventures. Go "fishing." Set up a wading pool with objects and let your little one try to catch them. Set up an obstacle course with items from the dress-up theme. Basic skills will be balancing, climbing, jumping, running, crawling and catching. The people who are "it" will try to tag the players. For a fun activity for a large group of kids or families, Oppenheim loves these inflatable . There are many ways to play with water balloons. and get a free printable PDF of the list! Like jumping rope, hula hooping seems to be another lost art of childhood. These experiments help kids learn about forces and the various laws of science such as gravity, movement, etc. Alternatively, if you don't have rings, you can modify the game by designating an area on the ground where children attempt to throw bean bags or other items. For extra fun, get the whole neighborhood involved. Turn your evening stroll or afternoon hike into a rainbow walk, where kids are tasked with finding one item of every color of the rainbow. All that is required is: The concept and rules are simple: First, draw a large square, about 8 to 10 feet long on each side. Walk barefoot in the grass. Whichever team has the most runs at the end of the game wins. They can only be unfrozen and run again if another player who has not yet been tagged touches them. Who needs a park splash pad when you have a sprinkler at home?! View an Example, Organize a hiking trip with an online sign up. Thank you! Climbing trees is a great way for kids to experience risky play, with great rewards. Best Kids Activities Near Me - Yelp Theyll need to choose their treasure, figure out how/where to hide it, come up with a map and any clues they want to give.