111 Exciting & Simple Outdoor Activities For Kids
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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.
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fun Activities to Encourage Outdoor Play For Kids
- Play With Water Balloons
- Join Drumline
- Host Car Wash
- Host Dog Wash
- Enjoy Outdoor Game Night
- Go Berry Picking
- Attend A Fair
- Attend a Carnival
- Visit the Circus
- Make A DIY Fairy House
- Play Frisbee
- Jump In Puddles On A Rainy Day
- Go Bird Watching
- Create A hotel For Bugs
- Play Different Types Of Tag Like Flashlight Tag
- Attend A concert
- Sell Lemonade
- Go On A Family Bike Ride
- Learn Jump Ropes
- Do A Clean Up Hike
- Plant A Garden
- Watch The Sunset
- Make and Fly a Kite
- Make Pizza
- DIY Suncatchers
- Play Mini Golf
- Try a Rainbow Walk
- Put On A Play
- Build A Sand Castle (or Snow in winter)
- Climb Trees
- Have A Picnic
- Organize Garage Sale
- Take A Hammock Nap
- Learn Hula Hoops
- Visit Farmers Market
- Pick wildflowers
- Host Summer Olympics
- Create Concrete Stepping Stones With Messages
- Make A bird Feeder
- Host A Stargazing Party
- Create a Backyard Tic Tac Toe Board
- Set up An Obstacle course In The Yard
- Build An Outside fort
- Read Books Outside
- Hunt For 4 Leaf Clovers
- Visit The River
- Find A New Playground
- Nature Walk In The Local Park
- Make homemade ice cream For The Whole Family
- Draw With Sidewalk Chalk
- Skip Rocks In The River
- Host Outdoor Movie Night
- Make Giant bubbles
- Hike a Mountain
- Go night Swimming with Glow Sticks
- Visit The Waterpark
- Go Canoeing
- Try Kayaking
- Try Paddle Boarding
- Play Basketball
- Make Dandelion Tea
- Mow the Lawn
- Make A Flower Crown
- Find New Ice Cream Shops
- Learn To Fish
- Play Kickball With Neighborhood Friends
- Race Paper Boats
- Decorate Wagon
- Run Through Sprinkler
- Start A Nature Journal
- Go Camping In The Yard
- Go Camping In the woods
- Go Swimming
- Make Slime
- Make Homemade Play Doh
- Spot animals In The Clouds
- Do A Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Go To A Baseball Game
- Blow Dandelions
- Tie Dye Shirts
- Paint Kindness Rocks
- Try Geocaching
- Learn To Use Map and compass
- Bowl Outside
- Make A Wind Chime
- Make a Whirligig
- Treasure Hunt With Metal Detector
- Raise Butterflies From Caterpillars
- Make A sundial
- Take Underwater Photos
- Create A Treasure Hunt
- Play Bocce Ball
- Have A Remote Control Car Race
- Have A Drone Race
- Have A bug hunt
- Celebrate With Sparklers
- Do Outdoor Painting
- Jump On Trampoline
- Learn To Rollerblade
- Learn To Skateboard
- Play Catch
- Play Beach Volleyball
- Bake Mud Pies In Your Own Backyard
- Enjoy Water Table Activities
- Use Magnifying Glass In The Backyard and Explore
- Make Nature Art With Pine Cones
- Play Red Rover With Friends and Siblings
- Make a treasure Map
- Enjoy Sensory Activities and Water Play
- Go to a water park
- 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.