111 Exciting & Simple Outdoor Activities For Kids

Outdoor activities your kids can enjoy that are easy and require very little set up! Get your kids outside and in nature with these fun outdoor activities.

When kids get outside, they usually have a great time. There are numerous interesting things to do out in the fresh air, whether it’s riding around the block, walking the dog, or looking for fascinating pebbles.

Children will sometimes leap at the chance to play outside and will spontaneously come up with active activities. They may also want some motivation and support to get started.

Keep this list of outdoor activities for older kids on available so they may try something new every day. Even better, these outdoor play ideas aren’t only for the summer or your own garden / backyard. Many of these are available all year for kids to enjoy wherever they are.

This post may contain affiliate links. Full privacy policy and disclosure here.

fun Activities to Encourage Outdoor Play For Kids

1. Play With Water Balloons
2. Join Drumline
3. Host Car Wash
4. Host Dog Wash
5. Enjoy Outdoor Game Night
6. Go Berry Picking
7. Attend A Fair
8. Attend a Carnival
9. Visit the Circus
10. Make A DIY Fairy House
11. Play Frisbee
12. Jump In Puddles On A Rainy Day
13. Go Bird Watching
14. Create A hotel For Bugs
15. Play Different Types Of Tag Like Flashlight Tag
16. Attend A concert
17. Sell Lemonade
18. Go On A Family Bike Ride
19. Learn Jump Ropes
20. Do A Clean Up Hike
21. Plant A Garden
22. Watch The Sunset
23. Make and Fly a Kite
24. Make Pizza
25. DIY Suncatchers
26. Play Mini Golf
27. Try a Rainbow Walk
28. Put On A Play
29. Build A Sand Castle (or Snow in winter)
30. Climb Trees
31. Have A Picnic
32. Organize Garage Sale
33. Take A Hammock Nap
34. Learn Hula Hoops
35. Visit Farmers Market
36. Pick wildflowers
37. Host Summer Olympics
38. Create Concrete Stepping Stones With Messages
39. Make A bird Feeder
40. Host A Stargazing Party
41. Create a Backyard Tic Tac Toe Board
42. Set up An Obstacle course In The Yard
43. Build An Outside fort
44. Read Books Outside
45. Hunt For 4 Leaf Clovers
46. Visit The River
47. Find A New Playground
48. Nature Walk In The Local Park
49. Make homemade ice cream For The Whole Family
50. Draw With Sidewalk Chalk
51. Skip Rocks In The River
52. Host Outdoor Movie Night
53. Make Giant bubbles
54. Hike a Mountain
55. Go night Swimming with Glow Sticks
56. Visit The Waterpark
57. Go Canoeing
58. Try Kayaking
59. Try Paddle Boarding
60. Play Basketball
61. Make Dandelion Tea
62. Mow the Lawn
63. Make A Flower Crown
64. Find New Ice Cream Shops
65. Learn To Fish
66. Play Kickball With Neighborhood Friends
67. Race Paper Boats
68. Decorate Wagon
69. Run Through Sprinkler
70. Start A Nature Journal
71. Go Camping In The Yard
72. Go Camping In the woods
73. Go Swimming
74. Make Slime
75. Make Homemade Play Doh
76. Spot animals In The Clouds
77. Do A Nature Scavenger Hunt
78. Go To A Baseball Game
79. Blow Dandelions
80. Tie Dye Shirts
81. Paint Kindness Rocks
82. Try Geocaching
83. Learn To Use Map and compass
84. Bowl Outside
85. Make A Wind Chime
86. Make a Whirligig
87. Treasure Hunt With Metal Detector
88. Raise Butterflies From Caterpillars
89. Make A sundial
90. Take Underwater Photos
91. Create A Treasure Hunt
92. Play Bocce Ball
93. Have A Remote Control Car Race
94. Have A Drone Race
95. Have A bug hunt
96. Celebrate With Sparklers
97. Do Outdoor Painting
98. Jump On Trampoline
99. Learn To Rollerblade
100. Learn To Skateboard
101. Play Catch
102. Play Beach Volleyball
103. Bake Mud Pies In Your Own Backyard
104. Enjoy Water Table Activities
105. Use Magnifying Glass In The Backyard and Explore
106. Make Nature Art With Pine Cones
107. Play Red Rover With Friends and Siblings
108. Make a treasure Map
109. Enjoy Sensory Activities and Water Play
110. Go to a water park
111. Sign up for summer camp

Whatever activity your kids choose to do whether it’s a simple walk to the local library or learning some new ball games or backyard games, the important thing is that they enjoy their favorite outdoor activities as much as they can when the weather permits.

Don’t forget that kids of all ages can play in the rain, in fact it’s a great opportunity for all family members to enjoy some outside summer rains together.

See also: Top Mother And Teenage Son Activities

Why It’s Important For Kids To Play Outside

Today’s children spend an average of seven hours a day in front of electronic devices such as televisions, tablets, laptop computers, and cell phones. There’s no doubting what the statistics show: today’s kids are foregoing vigorous, outside play in favour of a more sedentary lifestyle, which has serious health and well-being ramifications.

If you’re like most parents, you’re well aware that your children spend more time watching television than playing outside.

Most parents believe that they want their children to be physically fit, well-rounded, self-reliant, and compassionate. What if we told you that the greatest approach to teach your children these values is to encourage them to spend more time outside?

Encouraging children to spend more time outside and away from technology not only benefits their physical health, but also their emotional and mental health. There’s no doubting the benefits of playing outdoor activities and getting away from the screen and into the sunshine, whether it’s a trip to a nature-inspired park or a trek through the woods with their family.

Benefits Of Outdoor Play

According to research, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. It is dependent on what children do when they are outside. It also depends on where the children go to play.

However, when youngsters play outside, they can gain a variety of benefits, including:

increased activity levels and greater freedom to run, jump, and climb; lower chance of myopia, or nearsightedness; increased exposure to bright light, which improves health and mental function; higher activity levels and greater freedom to run, jump, and climb;

Enhanced opportunities to learn social skills, overcome fears, and develop a lifelong connection with nature; reduced stress levels, better moods, and improved concentration; more naturally-attuned sleep rhythms; and improved opportunities to learn social skills, overcome fears, and develop a lifelong connection with nature.

See also: Self Esteem Games For Kids And Confidence Boosting Activities

Simple Outdoor Activities For Kids Bottom Line

There are a lot of strategies and simple outdoor activities to get kids outside and active. Use this list of creative ideas as a jumping off point to get kids outside. You can also challenge them to create their own fun, new active outside activities.

Next time your kids say I’m bored, let them go on outdoor adventures and enjoy some physical activities that get their bodies moving. Don’t forget to sign up your kids for summer camp as that is also a wonderful way to get kids to play outside and enjoy nature trains with a group of friends.

Whether it’s winter or summer, I hope this list of activities has sparked some ideas in your head on how your own kids can enjoy their time outside.

See also: 22 Fun Father Daughter Activities For Toddlers