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5 Outdoor Activities for Toddlers

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If you’re a parent of a toddler, chances are that your days are always filled with energy! Toddlers come loaded with energy and ideas, and sometimes it can be tough to find activities for them. Outdoor activities in particular can provide an escape from the everyday routine and outdoor fun!

Not only do they offer fun opportunities for exploring new environments, but they also give kids the chance to burn off their extra steam. From creative playtime in nature to backyard scavenger hunts, there are so many wonderful outdoor activities that are sure to keep your little one engaged (and may even tire them out enough for a peaceful nap!).

Read on for five of our favorite outdoor activities for toddlers and preschoolers!

Whether the summer is upon us or not, the outdoors opens up a new world of possibilities for having fun and learning with your toddler. Outdoor activities for kids can be as simple as you would like them to be.

But as we all know, little ones have lots of energy and often short attention spans! So, here are five fun ideas to keep your toddler (and older kids) busy outside! Put these simple toddler activities in your back pocket!

A father and son walk hand and hand on an outdoor path.

Easy Outdoor Activities for Toddlers

#1 – Sensory Bins

Kids love sensory play! Sensory bins are a simple activity to put together. Plus, sensory bins are accessible and educational activities for toddlers, starting as young as 18 months.

Gather 2-3 small storage bins and fill them with water, sand, or rice. Supply them with kitchen utensils, measuring cups, funnels, and small bowls.

Children-playing-in-a-sensory-bin

Your toddler will love playing with new textures and learning how to pour, stir, and mix. For extra fun, let your toddler add some of his own toys into the sensory bins.

Action figures make a great addition to a rice bin! On a hot day, a few cups of ice will make the water table sensory bin even more extraordinary!  Water play brings these outdoor activities to a whole new level!

#2 – Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

There is so much to discover about nature and science outside, even in your own backyard. Prepare a picture list of items for your toddler to gather around your yard.

This could include a leaf, a piece of bark, a rock, a flower, a blade of grass, and more. Give her a reward when she finds all the items, and save them to use in an art project later! Go on a color hunt or try a listening walk!

A-young-boy-finger-painting

#3 – Finger Painting

Finger painting is a great activity to do outdoors in the summertime. Use a long piece of butcher paper or a deconstructed cardboard box as a canvas.

Inspire your child’s artistic side with bright paint, a variety of brushes, and even pieces of nature. Bonus: wash him off with the hose when he’s finished!

#4 – Outdoor Picnic

An outdoor picnic is a great way to liven up lunchtime. Let your toddler help you pick out a simple meal and carry it outside in baskets. Eating is way more fun when you’re on the ground.

Finish off with a cold popsicle, and you don’t have to worry about making a sticky mess! 

Toddlers-playing-with-chalk-outside

​​​​​​​#5 – Make a Simple Mud Kitchen

Let your toddler play in the mud with a pretend outdoor mud kitchen. Use materials you have on hand to create a makeshift kitchen – a toddler-size table (that you don’t mind making a mess on) or a few wooden crates work great.

Toddlers-playing-in-the-mud

Gather a couple of old pots and utensils and use a small bin as a sink. Add a bucket of water and let your toddler become a Mud Cake Master Chef! 

​​​​​​​There are so many fun ways to keep your toddler entertained with outdoor play. With a bit of creativity and patience (plus access to a water hose), you and your little one will make lasting memories. Check out the following post for more outdoor activities for preschoolers and toddlers!

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