Outdoor Family
Activities  

Make Time for What Matters Most

There's nothing more important than family, and when it comes to kids, the saying, "The days are long, but the years are short," could not be more true. Make time to get outside with your family and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you head out on a lengthy excursion or simply lounge around the backyard staring at the passing clouds, time spent in the great outdoors with your family will always be cherished.  

Creating Family Memories

Nothing beats a big, healthy dose of family, fun, and fresh air. Pack up the kids, get away from your four walls and explore any number of these outdoor activities that will help bring everyone closer together.

Outdoor Activities for Warmer Months

When the weather turns warmer, a whole new world of outdoor activities opens up. Soak up some sun with the ones you love most as you try out a few of these fun outdoor activities for families.

Be Beachcombers

A day at the beach is great fun for every family member. Many outdoor activities are perfect for the beach, such as searching for seashells, examining tide pools, swimming, surfing, or playing beach games like Frisbee, volleyball, and flag football. Building sandcastles, enjoying a picnic, and taking long walks are other great options.

Make Mud Pies

No childhood is truly complete without spending at least some time getting dirty in the backyard. Reserve an afternoon for making mud pies. Fashion pies in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Decorate them with berries, twigs, leaves, and small stones. Hold a Prize Pie contest and award a winner for the most creative or pretty pie.

Try Waterskiing

Waterskiing is an exciting and exhilarating activity to try in the warmer months. If your family members are all of an age where a more extreme sport appeals to them, give it a shot. Even if no one has tried waterskiing before, everyone will still have a blast encouraging each other and laughing at everyone's many tumbles into the waves.

Make a Backyard Slip and Slide

A slip and slide is a fun and inexpensive activity for families to take on during the summer months. Work together to create the slip and slide and then spend the afternoon running and sliding all over the place.

Run Through the Sprinkler

Remember when you were little and summer evenings were all about popsicles and running through a sprinkler? Channel your inner child and run through the backyard sprinklers along with your kids. The kids will get a kick out of watching their parents get soaked and run free; and parents will remember one of the simple pleasures of warm summer months.

Take a Family Bike Ride

Bike rides are economical, environmentally friendly, and great exercise for everyone. Be sure that the bikes are in good repair, have appropriate helmets for everyone, and choose a bike route that even the youngest or most inexperienced member can safely navigate. Biking can also lead to a delicious picnic or other outdoor activities at the end of the ride.

Get Gardening

Gardening is a relaxing and productive outdoor activity for the whole family. Whether the aim is planting flowers or tending vegetables, gardening can be educational for all family members. Children can learn the value of their hard work leading to tasty rewards when they enjoy what they've grown. The produce or flowers from a garden can also be shared with an extended family or neighbors, or even sold at a local farmers' market.

Plan a Family Fishing Day

Pack up the fishing poles, bait, and some snacks, and scout out a local watering hole. Even if you don't catch anything, kids will have fun learning to bait their hook and cast their lines. Should you get lucky and hook something, reel in the big one and capture the image on camera or video. It will make for a lasting memory for sure.

Observe Insects Up Close and Personal

Bugs are a big hit with kids. They love to learn about the creepy crawlers in their world. Check out a book on bugs from the local library and read up on what can be found hiding under logs and rocks. Take a notebook, pencil, and your bug identification book outdoors and see what you can find. When it's time to come inside, follow up this outdoor activity with an extension art activity like bug origami.

Hold Backyard Boat Races

If you live near a small stream or know where to find one, try holding a Family Boat Race Day. Use household items to build small boats and then send them downstream. Watch them race for several yards, marking off a finish line. Celebrate the end of the race by splashing in the stream.

Outdoor Activities Geared for Colder Weather

Just because snow is falling and temperatures are dropping doesn't mean you and your brood have to stay cooped up indoors. Wintertime is genuinely a wonderland! It's so fun your family won't even realize it's downright freezing outside.

Have a S'mores and Bonfire Night

Build a campfire, gather up plenty of blankets, and enjoy s'mores along with one another's company for an evening. Bonfires are an excellent outdoor family activity when done safely. Make sure to build your fire far away from any brush or structures. Always have enough water nearby to put the fire out, and keep it to a manageable size.

Creative Ideas to Try in the Great Outdoors

Nature can spark so much creativity in young minds. These family outdoor activities will inspire the whole gang to get outside and make something amazing together.

Turn Your Sidewalks Into Masterpieces

Colored chalk is inexpensive and can offer hours of creative play for the entire family. Children and their parents can draw game boards, murals, hopscotch, or meaningful pictures on the sidewalk or driveway. Working with chalk is an excellent means for practicing handwriting or alphabet lessons, making this activity as educational as it is fun.

Become Photographers

Spend the day outdoors, capturing the beauty of nature through a lens. Visit a nature preserve, walk the streets of your city, or find farm life and capture images of what you see. Later, you can develop these pictures and turn them into a beautiful book of memories for all to enjoy.

Build an Outdoor Family Fort

Hunt for the perfect tree, round up some boards, nails, and various supplies, and build a family tree fort. If a tree fort feels too challenging, gather sticks, ropes, sheets, and other supplies, and fashion a ground level hut to hang out in. Building forts is a timeless outdoor activity that will provide families with hours of fun during construction and afterward.

Make Fairy Houses

Fairy houses are fun and whimsical and can be made with just about anything found in nature. Collect leaves, moss, twigs, rocks, and sticks and create fairy houses in your backyard. With some glue and paint, boring old stumps and plain-looking birdhouses can become places of magic and wonder for children... and fairies!

Take a Christmas Lights Tour

Load the family up in the car during the holiday months and drive around the town, gazing upon the Christmas lights displays. Bring along snacks and hot cocoa, and put some classic holiday tunes on the radio. This favorite yearly activity might just become a family tradition over time, and something that your children will remember and cherish for years to come.

Chop Down Your Christmas Tree

Many people enjoy the smells and sights that accompany a living tree being set up indoors. While decorating the Christmas tree is a festive indoor activity families love, chopping it down is just as fun! Head out into the wintry forest, or visit a local tree farm to pick out your perfect Christmas tree.

Spend the Day Sledding

A classic winter activity that families can do outside is sledding. You can look for small hills to take little kids on, or larger hills to race down with older kids. Pack up plenty of warm clothing, hot beverages, and your favorite sled or toboggan, and spend some time racing each other down an icy hill.

Learn How to Ski or Snowboard

If sledding seems like child's play for your adventurous gang, try learning to ski or snowboard. You can rent gear at local ski hills and even take beginner's lessons as a family. Learning to ski or snowboard is an excellent skill to try to learn as a family, so you can spend countless hours enjoying this activity for years to come.

Try Snow Tubing

Snow tubing is another wintertime family activity that requires little more than a hill and the right gear. You'll need a sturdy tube that is designed to withstand the lumps and bumps often associated with ski and sledding hills. Purchase several snow tubes and go down the hill as an entire family.

Build a Snowman or a Snow Fort

When Mother Nature dumps loads of snow into your backyard, use it! Build a cute family of snowmen, all dressed up like the members of your actual family, or create a mega snow fort to play in. Once you build the walls up, take your hot cocoa inside the fort, or use it as a snowball fighting fortress.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Find a list of items to scavenge for and set to your task. Work in teams to see who can complete the scavenger hunt first. Set aside a small prize for the team that makes it through the list first. Celebrate the hunt with a treat, like homemade cocoa in colder months or popsicles in warmer weather.

Meal Plan at the Farmer's Market

Visiting a farmer's market is an educational, seasonal activity that the whole family will reap rewards from. Browse the unique stalls and choose healthy, local ingredients to take home. Once home, divide your family up and have each team create a meal using the items you brought home from the market. You can also check local farms for their berry picking schedules, and go pick bushels of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries to use in delicious dishes and desserts.

Enjoy Some Fun With Bubbles

Kids love bubbles! Find an easy DIY bubble recipe and whip up your own solution. Take your mix outdoors and experiment with various bubble wands, making all sorts of shapes and sizes of bubbles. See who makes the largest one, the longest-lasting one, or the most interesting bubble. What silly things do your bubbles look like as they float away?

Fashion a Homemade Watering Can

Tending to plants is something that the whole family can help with. Kids learn the importance of caring for living things, and recognize how their contributions to the family aid in the common good via simple chores. Make a homemade watering can together. Take your creation outside and water plants in warmer weather.

Hold a Stuffed Animal Parade

Little kids will have a blast creating their very own parade of toys. Dress up an array of favorite stuffed animals or dolls and load them into wagons or other pull toys. Play some catchy, parade-inspired tunes on your phone, and take everyone (toys included) for a spin around the block.

Do Some Rock Painting

Rock painting is an inexpensive outdoor craft that just about anyone can do. All you need are the proper paints, a paint brush, clean stones, and a fun and creative idea in mind. Rocks can be made into animals, contain inspirational messages, or be covered with funky designs. Anything goes in rock painting, and the only rules are to have fun and be creative. Littles Link

Make and Fly Kites

A windy day is no reason to stay indoors. Gather around the kitchen table and create homemade kites in all different colors. Take your flock of kites outside and into an open space. Fly them through the air. See whose kite stays up in the sky the longest! Littles Link

A Rocking Space and Activities to get you and your kids outside

Playing outdoors provides kids with physical activity and fresh air, encourages a love of nature and creativity, and can even help develop problem-solving skills. But the average big square of grass, while great for soccer matches, doesn’t provide much inspiration for little ones looking for adventure. If you have the room, consider adding some connected nooks and crannies designed to pique curiosity and support. 

Below you’ll find my best suggestions on how to get your kids outside when they’d rather stay in. These suggestions are suited for kids under age 12. Keep in mind that all kids are different so some of these tips will work with certain kids, while others won’t. Keep trying. Getting your kids into the outdoors is important; you don’t want to give up on this.

10 EASY TIPS:
HOW TO GET YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE 

1. Follow their interests

You may need to do some creative thinking. I promise there is a way to get them outside by drawing on their current interests. Just because you enjoy hiking, biking, or bird watching doesn’t mean they’ll find enjoyment. In fact, ‘dragging’ them outside to partake in activities they don’t enjoy usually has a negative effect and makes them resent going outside. You don’t want that!

Kids will be excited for outdoor adventure if the adventure includes things they love, like fluffy sheep

Instead, think about what your kids like and go from there. If they like a certain sport, then easy, just go out and do that with them. If it’s reading they’re into, maybe you could find outdoor locations similar to their books or read outside at a park. If they like to draw, go use nature as artistic inspiration. If they are mechanically inclined, go out into nature and search out machines on walks or bike rides. Or, go into the forest and start building with them. Build forts and bridges and catapults from fallen logs and rocks. If they like cooking, go pick fresh ingredients. If singing is their bag, take a birdsong course. If you have a house of superheroes, take your nerf guns outside for a neighborhood game.

We sometimes encourage our children to play games outside that they make up from whatever cartoon they’re into. Right now, my five year old goes outside to play cavewoman. She ‘catches birds’ (bubbles) from the air and uses rocks and logs to make caves to live in. When my son was younger, he’d go into the backyard to ‘bend the elements’ and fight invading forces with his ‘earth powers’.

2. Go outside with them

Your kids will want to go outside more if you go play with them. Have fun, let them see you smile and enjoy yourself. Ask them what they’d like to do outside instead of telling them what they’ll be doing.

One strategy which works well for us is the ‘summer bucket list’. At the start of the summer holiday we brainstorm outdoor activity ideas on a piece of Bristol board then tack it on the wall as a reminder.

Another strategy which we’ve found effective is designating a day (or a few days) of the week for ‘family adventures’. Each family member takes turns deciding on the activity and destination. This way, the kids know they’ll get to choose one day and there is more excitement in going outside as a family.

My kids never say no to outdoor adventure if it includes a slushy!

I’m sure that most kids would not turn down your offer to be their outdoor playmate. Just give it a try.

3. Invite friends to play outside

If they don’t want to play with you, then perhaps they’ll get excited about playing with friends outside. Get involved with community outdoor playgroups. Hike it Baby, and Family Nature Clubs are online communities which organize outdoor family activities in cities all through the United States and Canada. Do a google search and see what you find.

Get to know the families with kids in your neighborhood and encourage outdoor meet-ups with the kids. The more parents that you know in your neighborhood, the more comfortable you’ll likely be in allowing your kids out to roam and play.

If allowing your kids to roam free isn’t for you, arrange regular play times and invite friends to join your family on outdoor adventures. Better yet, arrange to go camping and hiking with other families with kids for big outdoor fun. I particularly enjoy this strategy because it gives me much needed adult socializing time as well.

4. Provide safe places to play and explore independently

As mentioned above, there is likely a safety aspect to how much your kids go out and what they do out there. You might be totally okay with sending them out the door and not hearing from them all afternoon. However, I know that there are many of you who don’t even allow your children to play in the fenced backyard unsupervised.

Well, here’s the quick and dirty – your kids need to feel safe to enjoy their time outside and they can’t feel safe if you give off the “you’re-not-safe-outside” vibe. Maybe you need to spend some time exploring your own fears of the outdoors. Or maybe you need to find a place where they can play outside that you do feel they are safe. Do what is needed in the backyard for your fears to be lessened: have the wasp nest removed, fence the pond, or lock up the garden shed. You can find somewhere else that you feel assured of their safe play: a local fenced-in playground, your family ranch, or their schoolyard.

Kids will enjoy themselves more if they feel some freedom from your well-intended watchful gaze. They need to learn to challenge their bodies and take risks. Outside is the best place for this to happen. So, give them the freedom they need to play and explore outdoors.

You might also want to consider ensuring they know some basic outdoor safety stuff too. Like, for example, how to react to meeting strange people and animals when out playing, what plants they can touch, eat, and play with and which to avoid, and what to do if they find themselves lost.

5. Use outdoor toy rotation strategies

Have you heard of toy rotation or busy bags? The idea is simple: kids are more eager to play with toys they can’t always access. So, for example, you might have 3 outdoor toy buckets into which such things as bubbles, balls, kites, skipping ropes, skateboards, badminton, and water guns are placed into. Then only have one bucket available to your kids at a time.

When buckets are replaced there will be some excitement for the ‘new’ toys and this will entice them to go play. Some families might rotate these activity tubs daily, weekly, or whenever the kids ask for a new bucket.

A few rotating outdoor play buckets we have are Megablocks (which are a surprising hit for all ages), the baby pool and water toys, and fort building materials. Here’s a long list of many more outdoor activity buckets and how we use the outdoor rotation technique.

6. Make an outdoor activity jar

This idea works well for kids who have a hard time making decisions or who need some initial guidance in their play. You could fill a jar with pieces of paper each listing an outdoor play idea. They choose an idea and head out. Have the kids help come up with the outdoor play ideas. If you want this jar to be successful without your involvement, then make the ideas easy to act on. For example, go to the park for 15 minutes (assuming your kids are allowed to go alone), water the plants, build an airport in the sandbox, set up a water gun shooting range, pick a dandelion bouquet. Some other ideas might include sidewalk chalk, bubbles, balls, Frisbees, and water tables.

To get you and your kids started, I’ve created a simple list of outdoor activities that you can put into your own activity jar. Click, confirm, download, print, cut, and play:) 

Taking a look at this list of outdoor activities and themed outdoor buckets might give you some additional ideas for your activity jar.

7. Get them interested in outdoor games and sports

Take some initiative and try out new things. Rent a canoe for a day. Try geocaching, plan a ski vacation, or go on a guided bird-watching walk.

Also keep your eye out for used outdoor gear like badminton rackets, croquette and bocce ball games, slack lines, skateboards, roller skates, and kites. You can ask to swap these items with other family and friends. For our kids, new and novel toys and games will usually get them excited to go outside and try out new things.

If you don’t have the time to get your kids trying new outdoor activities, then find someone who can. Perhaps a grandparent would love to regularly take the kids out fishing or to the farm. You could register your kids in Scouts, Girl Guides, outdoor clubs, and sports leagues.

8. Make outdoor play part of the daily routine

Do you have a regular daily routine? If so, where can you add more outdoor time to that schedule? If it seems like there is no room to add more outdoor play then you need to evaluate your priorities.

For me, it was very important that my children take more responsibility at home. So, I had them be responsible for making their lunches every day. After 3 months of kid lunch making it occurred to me they were using prime outdoor play time for this task. While I wanted them to be more independent, I wanted them to be outside more. I offered them a choice. They could play outside and I would make their lunches or they could come inside after school. However, making their lunch would then be their responsibility if they chose to come inside. Both kids have been eager to take me up on this offer. They get an extra 30 – 60 minutes of outdoor play while I have a quiet kitchen to myself to prepare dinner and their lunches.

Perhaps you need to consider mandating outdoor time before they partake in specific indoor activities such as screen time. This isn’t something we do, but I have heard of families who have success with this system or similar outdoor reward points arrangements.

9. Do everyday activities outside

This one is simple, yet, so effective. If you have a balcony, patio, or backyard use it to do homework, eat meals, do crafts, read books, and play games. If the weather is nice and your kids sit down at the table, consider if they could do the same activity outside.

If patio furniture or a formal outdoor living space is holding you back, don’t let it. Find some shade and throw down a blanket and a few pillows.

To make these outdoor activities easier, have an outdoor blanket easily accessible. When you see your kids sit down at the table to play or the couch to read, remind them of the outdoor option.

I even try to do my computer work and reading outdoors when the weather is cooperating. I find the kids rarely stay in if I’m out. They’ll haul out their homework or games or start something outside if I’m there already. We also try to eat all our meals outside. Summer is short where I live and I like to take advantage of every precious patio minute.

10. Hide the remote!

When all strategies fail, sometimes you just need to hide the remote. If the temptation to veg in front of the TV isn’t available, then outdoor pursuits might seem more enticing… for the whole family.

• Introducing new activities and routines to kids can be a challenge. Adults, too, can be resistant to change. Don’t give up. Get your kids outside every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes more than the previous day… eventually, heading out the door as a family will seem regular and expected. You’ll soon figure out what each person enjoys and how everyone can be motivated to enjoy more outdoor family adventures.

 Family space is important too. Make sure you have family space near their yes space so they can be joyfully observed while your own space to rejuvenate a little too.

Let me be the first to tell you– It’s not how big your outdoor space is, it’s how you use it that matters. 😉 Whether you want to eat meals outside, have an area where your kids can play, or grow some fresh herbs and vegetables, here are our tips for creating a family friendly outdoor space.

PERFECT DAY TRIP IDEAS
FOR ADVENTUROUS FAMILIES

Pack up the kids, load everyone into the car and take off on the open road! These outdoor adventures might take up an entire day, but the smiles you get will be worth the effort.

Head Out to a Favorite Hiking Trail

A family hike, whether for an hour or a full day, is a fun activity and great exercise. Investigate different nature trails and parks for hiking routes. Learn where local and regional scenic spots such as waterfalls, overlooks, hidden groves, or colorful cliffs may be located, so you can hike to them and enjoy your own corner of the planet.

Take a Tour of the Local Playgrounds

A trip to a single local playground can become predictable and boring after just a few visits. Switch things up and spend the day on a playground adventure. Scout out several playgrounds within an hour from home and hit up as many as you can. Pack lunch for the family and know that everybody will be falling asleep early that night.

Hang Out at a Local Festival

Outdoor festivals can provide great family fun. Hot-air balloon festivals, state and county fairs, sandcastle building competitions, organized nature walks, fireworks shows, kite flying festivals, and more are all superb options for the family to enjoy. No matter where you live, there are bound to be a few events held during the year.

Attend an Air Show

Attending an air show is a thrilling way to spend time outdoors. Do a simple internet search to discover when and where air shows will be performing near you. Warning: this activity can get loud, so prep your family, and bring noise-canceling headphones if you think that will help make the experience more enjoyable.

Go on a Geocaching Adventure

Geocaching is an especially entertaining activity for older children and teens. Geocaching is like a giant, local treasure hunt where GPS devices are used to track down a hidden geocache. To add an extra layer of challenge to the activity, give your family a set time limit and see if you can crack the codes before time runs out.

Take a Canoe Trip

Canoe trips can be lengthy jaunts down winding rivers, but for families looking for a perfect summer mesh of activity and relaxation, canoe trips are a prime family outing. Be sure to block out the entire day, as many river trips can take several hours to complete.

Do a Ropes or Adventure Course Challenge

If your family isn't scared of heights, see if you can all work together to make it through a ropes course challenge. Test your balance, courage, and family spirit by sidestepping, jumping, and tiptoeing across platforms high up in the air.

Peaceful Outdoor Activities to Slow Everyone Down

Sometimes you really should stop and smell the roses. Not every outdoor activity has to be packed with adventure and physical exertion. These outdoor family activity ideas are simple ways to bond with your brood outdoors. My favorite is floating or tubing in a natural spring or river!!!

Be a Family of Birdwatchers

Birdwatching is an easy and entertaining activity that all family members can participate in. Pick up a field guide from a local bookstore or library and see how many bird species you can find in your neighborhood, or even just in the backyard. Keep a running list of the birds you spot, adding to the master list whenever you go on a birdwatching adventure.

Go Stargazing

During warmer weather, head into the clear night with your family and spend some time gazing up at the stars. Bring a blanket, a telescope, a flashlight, and a guide book to the stars. Locate familiar constellations and discover more about the vast galaxy above.

Watch the Clouds Go by

There is so much beauty and wonder in the world around you, and sometimes you simply have to stop and notice all that surrounds you every day. Go outside with a large blanket. Lie down with your loved ones and watch the clouds pass by. Discuss what they look like and what they remind you of. Many of the ideas that your kids come up with will have you giggling through the entire afternoon.

Have a Family Picnic

Pick a warm, sunny day to hold a family picnic. Pack up a blanket and all of your family's favorite picnic snacks and head outdoors for lunch. You can take your meal to a park, a river bed, or simply set up a spot in your backyard to eat. Spread out in the grass and dine alfresco.

Go Hammocking

Pack up some hammocks and find a grove of trees to attach them to. Once the hammocks are all secure, spend some time reading, relaxing, and talking as you sway back and forth.

Swing in a Tree Swing

Don't let the large trees in your yard stand lonely. Let them be the showcase for a family tree swing. Once the tree swing is up, take turns gliding through the air, warm wind at your face. Nothing beats a good tree swing.

Read a Book Under a Draping Tree

Kids love hearing a good story, and you don't have to reserve books for bedtime only. On a nice afternoon, tuck a classic book and a large blanket under your arm, and go find a shady tree to spread out under. The kids will be completely relaxed as they lie back in the breeze while listening to you read stories in nature.

Make Time for What Matters Most

There's nothing more important than family, and when it comes to kids, the saying, "The days are long, but the years are short," could not be more true. Make time to get outside with your family and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you head out on a lengthy excursion or simply lounge around the backyard staring at the passing clouds, time spent in the great outdoors with your family will always be cherished.

FOREST & BACKYARD NATURE PLAY GEAR

HOW TO MAKE FOREST FREEPLAY HAPPEN

I’m someone who loves to be outside. In fact, as soon as the Finger Lakes weather is warm enough, we spend more time outdoors than in. Being in the woods gives me the added benefits of natural shade which is about five to ten degrees cooler than the open air. I just love that. The breezes in the woods and sounds from the leaves and wild life are so relaxing. 

MY FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TIP-
GO OUTSIDE WITH THEM

BUT EVEN WITH 50+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH RECREATION, I NEED TO GEAR UP AND GRAB MY BACKPACK. 

Gear the Kids up For Outdoor Fun 

Today, I’m going to share our family’s nature explorer packs and explain how you can make your own. Nature explorer packs are a fantastic way to get children excited about their time outside. The packs encourage exploration and appreciation of nature. Nature packs are hands-on science in your own backyard. 

DIY NATURE EXPLORER PACK:

First, you will need a backpack. Any old pack will do. Once you have the pack, fill it with nature-related goodness! I am going to share some of the items that we carry in our explorer packs. I don’t want you to think that I make my children carry all of these things at the same time. Instead, I rotate items to keep life interesting. I pick and choose which items to put in their nature explorer packs depending on the season, their interests, and what we are learning about that week. Also, be sure to include a ziplock baggie so your little naturalist can collect specimens to bring home for crafts and further exploration!

Every little naturalist needs binoculars! My children have these Tasco binoculars. I like that these binoculars are small, lightweight, and durable. I also like that the eyepiece has a rubber rim because all moms know that kids run around with these on their face until they crash into something, am I right? My kids have had these for at least two years now and they have held up very well over time.

A photo of Hope and Jack using their binoculars to see baby herons!

My children love this Melissa and Doug Sunny Patch Happy Giddy Bug House. It usually resides on our deck during the summertime. After dinner outside, the kids will run around in the backyard trying to catch dragonflies and moths in this bug house, so that they can then study their behavior. We’ve also brought this bug house and butterfly nets on hikes.

They caught something!

This Melissa and Doug Happy Giddy Bug Net provides endless entertainment for children. My kids use it to catch butterflies, dragonflies, and moths. They also use it to catch frogs, toads, and minnows!

Once you catch all those critters, you need to study them! Children love to explore their environment and this magnifying glass allows them to do just that. It’s affordable and perfect for little hands. My children love to examine bugs and dirt up close and personal. 

My little poppies each have a Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera. They have had them for over a year and the cameras have held up very well, especially considering the fact they have been dropped countless times. The cameras are easy to use and provide hours of entertainment for children. My kids love to take their cameras on hikes, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.

Every budding naturalist needs a journal. This small, hardcover journal is filled with blank pages and is perfect for note-taking, sketches, and other observation. Even though this notebook is heavier than a soft-covered journal, I like the hardcover because it holds up better over time.

Brandon is obsessed with this military compass, which we received as a gift. I know very little about compasses, folks, so I’m not going to tell you very much about this except to say that my son adores it and there is no way this thing will break any time soon!

Fun with Nature: Take Along Guide by Mel Boring, Diane Burns, and Leslie Dendy This Fun with Nature: Take Along Guides are a fantastic resource for children.

This book is a compilation of six popular nature books: 

Caterpillars,

Bugs, and Butterflies; 

Frogs, Toads, and Turtles; 

Snakes, Salamanders, and Lizards; 

Rabbits, Squirrels, and Chipmunks; 

Tracks, Scats, and Signs;

Trees, Leaves, and Bark.

These books contains a little bit of information about a lot of different topics and is the perfect way to introduce your young naturalist to the wonders of nature. This book is a bit heavy so it might be better suited for a parent’s backpack if the child is very young.

Ultimate List: 110 Fun Things for Do in Your Own Backyard

Looking for fun things to do outside in your backyard? I’m sharing 110 ideas for interactive outdoor play for kids of all ages. From playing with ice to exploring nature, there are endless possibilities for fun. And the best part is, you don’t even have to leave home.

DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION

DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION

Classic Outdoor Activities

• Cloud Watching

• Stargazing

• Climbing Trees

• Digging Holes

• Picking Flowers

• Jumping in Leaf Piles

• Making Snow Angels

• Having a Picnic

Scavenger Hunt Activities

• Nature Scavenger Hunt – find templates here

• Sound Scavenger Hunt – buzzing bees, singing birds, splashing water, driving cars

• Mushroom Scavenger Hunt

• Nighttime Shadow Hunt – Take flashlights outdoors and explore shadows.

• Texture Scavenger Hunt

• Monochrome Scavenger Hunt – How many blue (or green, or brown, or white) things can you find?

• Bug Scavenger Hunt – Look for bugs plus their tracks, homes, and sounds.

• Bird Scavenger Hunt – Look for birds plus their homes, feathers, tracks, and sounds.

• Rainbow Scavenger Hunt – Find an object for each color of the rainbow.

• Missing Toy Hunt – Hide some toys and encourage your child to search and find them.

Creative Scavenger Hunt Ideas

READ MORE

Loose Parts Activities

• MilkCrates

• Cardboard boxes

• Buckets

• Pinecones

• Nuts + Seeds

• Stacking Stones

Ultimate Loose Parts Material List

READ MORE

Kiddie Pool Activities

• Giant Sensory Table – Prop a kiddie pool up on crates or cinderblocks for a sensory table children can stand at.

• Bubble Bath – Add bubble bath to your kiddie pool.

• Paint Prints – Place a sheet of paper in bottom of an empty pool for larger than life painting.

• Glowstick Stargaze – Add glowsticks to a kiddie pool during a dusk or evening swim.

• Plastic Egg Surprises – Plastic eggs float in water. Hide small treasures inside and add them to the pool with scoops.

• Obstacle Course – Make an obstacle course with a kiddie pool station.

• Pool Noodle Ball Pit – Cut up foam pool noodles for a DIY ball pit.

Unexpected Kiddie Pool Ideas

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Water Play Activities

• Spray + Squeeze Bottles – Give empty spray and squeeze bottles (hair spray, non-toxic cleaners, sauce bottles, shampoo bottles, etc.) a second life.

• Water Bucket Relay – Try to quickly carry cups of water from one bucket to fill a line of buckets.

• Sponge Walk – Line up soaking wet sponges, loofahs, and washcloths for a balance-testing walk.

• Water Paint with Rollers – Use paint trays and paint rollers to paint the sidewalks, fences, playhouses, and more with water.

• Splash Patterns – Dip sponges, splash falls, and washcloths into water and toss them to the ground. Explore the different patterns they make. Explore the splash patterns made by squeezing, dripping, and smashing them.

• Water the Flowers – Using watering cans or spray bottles, walk around the yard to water flowers, bushes, and trees.

• Puddle Walk – Head outside after (or during!) a rainstorm to take a stroll through the puddles.

• Pour Station – Place a variety of bottles, cups, bowls, funnels, tubes, and scoops into a large, low bin or an empty kiddie pool.

Ultimate Water Play Guide

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Ice Play Activities

• Hot + Cold Sensory Bins – Explore water temperatures with a warm water bin and an icy cold bin.

• Nature Ice Cubes – Collect items from the backyard in an ice cube tray, then freeze. Add to a sensory bin later.

• Fizzy Ice Cubes – Freeze baking soda in water. Explore what happens when you spray or brush the cubes with a white vinegar/water mixture.

• Melting Ice Drawings – Draw on the sidewalks with melting ice.

• Frozen Nature Collages – In colder weather, freeze nature objects in colorful pans of water.

• Shaved Ice Sensory Bin

• Snow Cone Pretend Play – Create a snow cone prop box using ice cream scoops, paper cups, and squeeze bottles of colored water. Make some shaved iceand pretend to run a snow cone stand

• Frozen Sponges – Explore the textures of frozen sponges as they slowly melt.

• Ice Cube Building Blocks – Freeze ice in blocks to build with.

• Frozen Nature Soup – Add nature items from the backyard to a bucket of icy water. Make sure you have a large spoon to stir with.

100 Ice Play Activities

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Book Activities

• Book Seek + Find – Hide books around the yard to find and read.

• Nature Books – Read your favorite nature books and connect the stories to backyard play.

• Bug + Insect Books – Inspire a bug scavenger hunt or pretend play using these favorite bug and insect book list:

• Bee Books

• Spider Books

• Dragonfly Books

• Ant Books

• Butterfly Books

• DIY Book with Outdoor Photos – Take photos of your favorite backyard adventures or discoveries and put them in a photo album.

Imaginative Activities

• Block Play – Take blocks outdoors

• Forts – Build forts with sheets, tarps, or even use a pop-up tent.

• Pot + Pan Band

• Chalk Lines (or cities) + Toy Cars – Use chalk to create a landscape for toy cars to zoom through.

• Pretend Play as Explorer – Get your map, flashlight, binoculars, and walking stick to explore through the yard.

• Pretend Play as Scientist – Gather your magnifying glass, specimen jars, and tweezers to collect samples.

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Art Activities

• Painting Nature – Paint on branches, rocks, large leaves, or pinecones.

• Squirt Gun Painting

• Bead + Stick Sculptures – Place sticks into the ground and stack beads on the small branches.

• Play Dough + Nature Sculptures – Decorate play dough sculptures with seeds, stones, twigs, leaves, and more.

• Nature Weaving – Wrap rubber bands around pieces of cardboard. Collect leaves, twigs, and flowers to weave through the bands.

• Mud Art – Use mud to paint or create mud sculptures

• Yarn + Ribbon Wrapping – Wrap branches or even tree trunks with layers of colorful yarn and ribbons.

• Paint with Nature – Make all-natural paint using berries, dandelions, or chlorophyll from leaves.

• Nature Photos – Use a camera or a phone to take photos of interesting discoveries in your backyard.

• Paint on Snow – Use paintbrushes or even spray bottles to paint on the snow.

• Sidewalk Chalk + Water – Enhance normal sidewalk chalk art with water. Your child will be delighted to see how bright the colors are. They can either dip the chalk into water or wet the sidewalk before drawing.

• Fly Swatter Painting – Set out paint on trays and hang a sheet up for your child to explore. Don’t want the mess of paint? Hang up a bright, solid color sheet and use water.

Sensory Activities

• Mud Kitchen

• Barefoot Walk – Talk about the different textures you feel while you walk.

• Nature Sensory Jars

• Explore with Binoculars & Magnifying Glasses

• No Sandbox? – Make a wet + dry sand sensory table with a plastic bin.

Plant Activities

• Flower Dissection

• Flowers + Play Dough

• Mud Pie Decorating

• Seed or Dry Bean Sorting

• Pinecone Painting

• Bark Rubbings

• Gardening Pretend Play – Use faux flowers if you don’t have real ones!

• Plant for Pollinators – Check out this resource to find what plants are tastiest for your local pollinators.

• Name Your Favorite Plant or Tree

• Wildflower Garden – Pick up packets of wildflower seeds to plant. Take a couple moments (or more!) each week to talk about the differences between the plants as they grow.

• Bee Feeder – We have to protect our favorite buzzing pollinators. You can fill a low pie pan with marbles and a small amount of water. Bees and other bugs can land on the marbles and have a drink.

Dozens of Hands-On Plant Activities

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Gross Motor Activities

• Cardboard Box Chariot – Attach cord or rope to a cardboard box and create a chariot for your child’s favorite stuffed animals or dolls.

• Balloon Swatters – Use fly swatters and balloons to create a fun game. Keep the balloons in the air or use the swatters to knock balloons into goals or from point A to point B.

• Stick Obstacle Course – Place sticks in a line or a ladder shape for a challenging obstacle.

• Bean Bag Dodgeball – Don’t hurt each other, but a little danger/challenge is fun. You can absolutely swap for lightweight balls.

• DIY Paper Kites – Decorate a sheet of printer paper (the kite) and staple on ribbon or party streamers. Take them outdoors and run until they catch some air and lift.

• Have a Race

• The Ground is Lava – Use lawn furniture, placemats, paper plates, or kickball bases to set up an obstacle course. Can you get from the porch to the playset without touching the ground?

• Bedsheet Parachute – Use a bedsheet to make a parachute. Add balls, balloons, or stuffed animals on top for an extra challenge. Hot day? Make those balloons water balloons.

• Hopscotch

• Laundry Basket Bean Bag Toss

• Tug-of-War

• Giant Dice – Use a square cardboard box to create a movement game. Each side can have a different dance move or activity to do when that side lands up.

• Car Watching Game – Keep an eye on the cars that pass and make a rule for each type of vehicle. Run a lap when you see a blue car, honk when a truck passes, or say a silly word when there is a delivery vehicle.

• Sidewalk Walk, No Cracks – It’s a pretty chill activity, but don’t you dare step on the cracks.

Low-Cost Outdoor Toys

• Bubbles

• Sprinkler

• Squirt Guns for water battles, target shooting, and painting

• Frisbees

• Hula Hoops for tossing, spinning, and obstacles courses

• Sidewalk Chalk

• Beach Ball

• Splash Balls

• Water Balloons

Want to venture outside the backyard? Explore

A Incredible Family’s 20 Inexpensive Kids Outing Ideas.