Are you looking for some outdoor activities for toddlers that are also a fun way to learn?The preschool years should be filled with fun play that also helps your child learn. So, if you have had enough screen time, here’s 20 of the Best Outdoor Activities for Toddlers to get you and your little one active outside and having fun and maybe even jumping in a few muddy puddles!
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Play is an important way for toddlers to learn. Getting outdoors enhances that learning experience as they are immersed in nature. These outdoor activities for toddlers will keep them happy and amused for hours of fun learning.
Outdoor Activities For Toddlers
#1. Get Creative
If the day is not too windy just pack up the paints and drawing pads and head outside for an outdoor painting session. Hang each painting on the clothesline to dry and you will also be creating your very own outdoor art gallery!
Why not invite friends and family over to view the masterpieces. And best of all there will be no mess indoors to clean up!
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#2. Play Hide and Seek
This is a really fun outdoor activity for toddlers. Although children of all ages love to play hide and seek! You could be on first and count to 20 to give them time to hide! Take your time finding them as they will be delighted if they think they have outsmarted you!
#3. Go to the playground
A trip to the playground is always great fun even if you have play equipment in your garden. It is also outdoor activities for toddlers to meet and interact with other children. And if you have older children, they will be happy to come along too.
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#4. Obstacle Course
Create a simple obstacle course for your toddler to complete. Have a look in the shed for things they can use.
- A paddling pool filled with plastic balls makes a great homemade ball pool.
- A fishing net can be used to pick up small objects and move them from one place to another.
- Use a soup ladle to transfer water between containers.
- Place a hula hoop on the ground and get them to throw soft toys into it.
- Throw in some simple jumping and skipping sections and your little and not so little ones will be amused for hours.
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#5. Play Outdoor Ball Games
Set up goals in the garden or park and let your little one practice kicking the ball past you! Or place a bucket or plastic basin on the ground and see if they can throw a soft ball into it. Get them to move further away each time!
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#6. Jumping in Puddles
Who doesn’t love jumping in puddles? Put on the wellies and rain gear and out you go. They can always go in the bath afterwards.
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#7. Take a Trip to the Beach
Pack up the buckets and spades and head off to the beach. Build sandcastles, take turns burying each other or go paddling.
You could also have a look in any rock pools and see what treasures you can find. Or collect shells or pebbles to use for arts and crafts projects when you get home.
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#8. Catch Some Critters
Go on a bug hunt with your toddler and see how many different insects you can find. If you are struggling to find them just search under a stone, pot or piece of wood and you are bound to find plenty!
Download our free bug scavenger hunt sheet to use.
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#9. Go on a picnic
Pack a simple picnic and head off to your favourite park or bench and enjoy eating outdoors.
You could even just spread a blanket in the back garden and eat your lunch or tea outdoors for a change.
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#10. Windy Day Activities
A kite is great but small children will find it difficult to use, instead blow up a balloon, add string, and watch how it moves in the wind and struggles to get free!
Add some rice to another balloon so see how this alters the movement. Or buy a pinwheel and see how quickly it turns in the wind.
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#11. Organise a Treasure Hunt
Decide what your treasure is going to be…leaves, chestnuts, stones or shells from the beach and go hunting for it. Here’s some tips on setting up a treasure hunt, and a fun treasure hunt for kids
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#12. Chalk Designs
Invest in some pavement chalk as this is generally larger and more manageable for younger kids and let them create masterpieces on the footpaths. Don’t worry about the mess – it will wash away in the next rain shower!
If your child is learning to count you could draw a hopscotch grid and teach them how to play.
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#13. Create a Pretend Outdoor Picnic
If you have some old plastic or even durable paper plates, let your child create a pretend meal for you from things found in the garden.
You could have mud pancakes with grass or flower decorations. This is also a good way to teach them what is ok to eat and what plants are dangerous.
Invite some teddies or cuddly toys along to your fun outdoor feast!
#14. Blow Bubbles
Use wands of different sizes to create bubbles for your children to catch and chase. Don’t worry if you run out of mixture we have a recipe for making your own bubble mixture.
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#15. Elastics
I remember this game from my childhood.
- Buy a long piece of elastic from your local haberdashery and sew it at one end, or get an older child to create a long loom band elastic.
- Place the ends around the feet of two garden chairs facing each other and let your little one jump over the elastic.
- Depending on their height you can start with the elastic resting on the ground and raise the level each time.
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#16. Cloud Watching
Check out what shapes you can see in the clouds. If it is dry you could both lie down looking up at the sky and check out what shapes you can see in the clouds. Or if the day is windy have cloud races, you can each pick a cloud and see whose goes fastest!
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#18. Go Rockpooling
Get out the fishing nets and head off to discover underwater mini-beasts. Even if you don’t catch any, it will be fun trying. And you may spot sea anemones or sea snails along the way.
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#17. Create a Den
Help your child to create a den using blankets and cushions. This can be created by simply hanging a blanket over a garden table or pegging a blanket onto the clothes line so your little one can hide underneath or behind it.
Or if you have a tent put it up and let them bring their favourite toy out to play in it.
#19. Go Goldpanning
Buy some inexpensive “jewels” add them to some sand / mud in a basin and add water. Give your child an old sieve and let them dig about in the mixture and discover the jewels.
#20. Visit a Pet Farm
Take a visit to your local pet farm. Meet the animals and if you are lucky, get to feed them. Teach your child a little about each animal and spend time enjoying the outdoor facilities too.
Does your toddler have a favourite outdoor activity? Let us know in the comments box below.
About the Author: Michelle
