Playing outside is one of the great joys of childhood. From cloud-watching to jumping in muddy puddles to climbing trees, having fun outside can foster creativity, teamwork, and a love for nature.
It can also keep your little explorers occupied all day, if you plan ahead!
So pack them a picnic filled with tasty snacks, fill their water bottles, and if you’re confronted with the “But what should we do outside?” question, never fear!
Here are five unique and exciting outdoor activities perfect for kids that will get your little ones moving and laughing in the great outdoors:
1. Host a DIY Outdoor Movie Night
Movies are magical, and a fun family bonding activity. And when you add the vast starry skies above, it elevates it to a whole new level.
Set up a private outdoor cinema by using a projector to cast the movie onto a make-shift screen—a sheet hung against a fence of the wall of the house works great.
Create your own luxury cinema experience by adding bean bag chairs and snuggly blankets, and set up a trolley or table as a concession stand, stocked with popcorn, drinks, and their favourite snacks to enhance the experience.
You can even use online templates to print movie tickets and popcorn boxes to make the experience more authentic.
Movie selection is also key—choose one of their favourites, or something new that the whole family can enjoy together.
2. Organize a Backyard Olympics
Getting active is great for everyone, and what better way to bring the whole family together than with a little bit of friendly competition?
Challenge your kids to compete against each other in fun and quirky events like ring toss, pool noodle javelin, the classic egg and spoon race, or an obstacle course.
You could even test their reflexes by seeing who can keep a balloon off the ground the longest!
Make a flameless Olympic “torch” and do your own opening games relay to kick things off. To keep score, use a blackboard or large sheet of paper or card as a scoreboard.
The trick is to keep it simple, fun, and friendly by making sure you focus on good sportsmanship and teamwork.
Consider having medals not just for event winners, but also things like most epic recovery, funniest cheer, or most supportive team member.
3. Plan a Nature Scavenger Hunt
A good scavenger hunt is like a game of hide and go seek, but it’s nature that’s hiding and your children doing the seeking.
Start by creating a checklist or a map with things to find such as specific leaves, rocks, insects, or flowers.
This gives kids a clear direction, and encourages them to explore their surroundings and learn about local wildlife.
Having a set group of items to find transforms a wander through nature into an epic outdoor quest.
You can even inject a little learning into their play by adding things to find out about each item; for instance, “Find the hollow in the tree trunk, what do you think lives inside?”
A scavenger hunt helps children look at familiar spaces with fresh eyes, and creates a sense of excitement and adventure as they explore.
4. Host an Outdoor Art Day
One of the most fun outdoor activities that’s perfect for kids of all ages is hosting an outdoor art day.
That way, you can unleash their creative spirit and encourage them to get artsy, without the worry of paint and glitter adorning the furniture and floor.
Activities like painting rocks, drawing with sidewalk chalk, or creating nature collages using leaves and twigs are fun and easy.
You can also encourage your budding artists to explore their surroundings for colourful flowers or fruits, and crush these into environmentally-friendly paints to experiment with.
Or, raid your spice cupboard for brightly coloured options like turmeric or paprika and mix with a little water. Set up an easel or small spill-proof containers of craft materials to keep everything together.
Once you’ve decided what you’re going to do, choose a shady workspace on the grass, or a flat area that’s easy to clean. You can make it more comfortable by putting down a picnic blanket or beanbag chairs.
Creating art in the open air and sunshine, surrounded by a gentle breeze, colourful delicate blooms, and delightfully tactile leaves and plants is sure to inspire your child’s next masterpiece.
5. Build a Fairy Garden
Creating a fairy wonderland in the garden is a magical outdoor project. Start by selecting a suitable spot in the yard, then gathering your building materials—things like sticks, pebbles, and small plants.
And of course, no fairy house would be complete without lots of soft pillow-y moss.
To add an extra layer of creativity, suggest they draw a picture of their fairy house design to work from, and see if you have any miniature decorations (such as dolls house furniture) that could add to the final effect.
You could also do a seasonal refresh of the fairy house to keep things interesting, like a gold and orange theme for autumn, or a spring flower inspired rebuild when the chill of winter has lifted.
And while they’re quietly constructing, and collecting natural elements, they’ll also be learning more about plants, ecosystems, and how all things in nature live in harmony.
So the next time you need a great outdoor activity to get your kids moving, try one of these captivating ideas.
No matter which fun and engaging outdoor activities perfect for kids you decide to try, you’re sure to have plenty of fun creating treasured memories with your children!
The backyard fairy garden and outdoor art day ideas are especially magical!