Fun Outdoor Activities for Toddlers
Spring is here and it’s time to get your toddler back outside!
Some of these ideas you have probably already used with your toddler, but I tried to come up with new ways for you and your toddler to play with common items. Make a box of outdoor goodies up to take with you wherever you go outside- bubbles, chalk, etc. But think outside the box when it comes time to use them and keep your toddler busy and engaged outdoors while enjoying the fresh air.
Sidewalk Chalk– Instead of just setting down a box of chalk beside your child for them to free draw (although this has it’s merit too) get involved in the process. Draw half of something- a simple cat head or a triangle for instance and encourage your child to finish your drawing. Draw in different colored circles or shapes scattered around the concrete, call out colors/shapes, have your child run, hop, or twirl to it- a great learning game.
Hide and Seek- Even if it just you and your little one this classic game will surely bring squeals of delight and wear the little buggers out!
Hula Hoop– They are not just for spinning on your hips. Hang one from a tree and take turns tossing a ball through it. Place several on the ground and jump across them in hopscotch fashion. See how far you can roll them across the yard.
Car Wash– When the temperatures warm up it’s the perfect time to cool down in the hose. Rather than just letting the hose run, give them a purpose. Hand your child a bucket of soapy water, a sponge, and let them wash their cars, tricycles or bikes (if they get really into it you might be able to sneak your lawn furniture through their carwash-bonus!).
Bug Hunt- All you need for this awesome activity is a jar with a couple holes cut in the top, with a stick and a few leaves tossed inside. Most little ones are naturally drawn to creepy crawlers.
Gardening– Let them help you in your garden or give them their own little plot of dirt, and a few tot sized tools. They will have a ball even if nothing pops up.
Hide it, Find it- Hide small rubber bugs, balls, cars, or any other small object you like around the yard. Like an Easter Egg hunt it will give them a reason to explore and discover.
Scavenger Hunt– Provide your child with a basket, then you can either draw a list of items for them to find or call out an object. Ask for general objects like- something green, or more specific like a stick shaped like a Y.
Lawn Picnic– Toss a blanket on the ground and serve your little one finger foods that are easy to eat. Point out birds and bugs, then lay on your back and look at the clouds when you are done.
Mudpies– One option is to just let them dig in the dirt, or you could add some old pots and pans to a low shelf and give them a whole kitchen to create their “recipes” in. Leaves, sticks, dirt, sand, acorns- let them mix it up. Just toss them in the bath when done.
Play Ball– Yes a good old fashioned playground ball, this is a must for summer time. Tossing in the air, kicking, weaving in and out of obstacles, bouncing on the head, the possibilities are endless
You can never go wrong with sidewalk chalk. All kids love it.
Getting kids outdoors can require some creativity. We used to love sidewalk chalk and hula hooping.
BUBBLES! 🙂 We spend so much time outdoors! We stay stocked in bubbles and sidewalk chalk.
The car wash idea has always been my favorite. My kids can spend so much time washing their bikes and toy cars.
These are all great ideas. My son always loved to use sidewalk chalk on the driveway.
Great list. My kids and I are going to plant a garden over the summer.
These activities are bringing back memories. My daughter used to spend hours trying to hula hoop as long as possible.
All so much fun! My toddler has been into dirt lately. All he wants to do is drive cars in dirt, put it in a bucket! Haha I need to go get more Chalk. He loves that and bubbles too!
My kids love to be outside. The little ones love to hunt for bugs!
These are great suggestions. They make me miss the days when my kids were toddlers!
It’s so important to get toddlers outdoors so they can expend some of that energy that they have bottled up. These are some great tips for doing so.
My daughter is 8 so not a toddler any more but she still enjoys this list of things to to. Bella really loves sidewalk chalk the most. My deck and front door is usually found with pretty colorful pictures and hopscotch sketches.
All these are great list of ideas. The little one in the picture looks so cute. My girls are very much interested in outdoor activities. Gardening, ‘Hide & Seek’ and Play Ball are our most favorite and funful outdoor activities.
We like to do the scavenger hunts. Nature hunts we call them here because we usually do them w/things the kids recognize outside. We have woods behind our house, but recently a tree cracked and fell over too close for comfort, so we’re sticking just to the yard these days. 😉
My kids love sidewalk chalk and jumping on our trampoline.
Many a summer day would be spent colouring sidewalks in chalk and blowing bubbles 🙂