You loved our post on 8 Simple Play Ideas, so we’re back with more! This time, we’re taking the fun outside. The great outdoors is the ultimate playground, and you don’t need any special gear to turn your backyard, a park, or even a local sidewalk into an adventure zone.
Fresh air, sunshine, and a little bit of imagination—that’s all you need for these no-stress, high-fun activities.
Playtime with a Twist
Measuring Magic with Water and Mud
Give your child an assortment of cups, spoons, bowls, and other containers, then set them loose with water, sand, or mud. This simple activity is pure joy. They get to scoop, pour, and mix, all while getting a little messy. It’s a great way to explore different textures and learn some early science concepts without even trying.
Mud Handprints
This is a fun, messy-but-worth-it activity. Find a nice patch of thick mud, or mix some up in a plate. Smooth it into a flat surface, then have your child press their whole hand into it. The result? A perfect handprint! You can leave the mud to dry in the sun. For a lasting keepsake, you can use plaster of Paris in an aluminum pie tin for a print you can keep forever.
Bubble Solutions
Who doesn’t love bubbles? You can make your own with a simple mix of water, dish detergent, and a tablespoon or two of glycerin. The glycerin helps make the bubbles extra strong. Just let them go wild blowing bubbles with wands, or try making giant bubbles with a string and two sticks!
Simple Games
Frog in the Grass
This game is all about running, giggling, and discovery. Hide four green frogs (or beanbags or plastic toys) in different spots in the grass. Have your child stand far away and close their eyes while you hide the “frogs.” When you yell, “Frog in the grass!”, they must run and find them before they hop away!
Red, Red, Red
This is a fantastic game for one child or a whole group. Have the players stand behind a starting line. The leader calls out a sequence of three colors, for example, “Red, red, red.” If the colors all match, everyone runs, skips, or hops to a distant point and back. If they don’t match (like “Red, red, yellow”), no one moves. You can mix it up with other words too, like “Cat, cat, dog” or “Hand, hand, foot.”
Nature Fun
Leaf Scrunch
On your next autumn walk, collect a big bag of dry, crunchy leaves. When you get home, dump them into a box or laundry basket and let your child go to town! The sound and texture of scrunching leaves is so satisfying. You can even use some of the colorful pieces to make a beautiful fall collage by sticking them onto a piece of clear contact paper.
Nature Bracelet
Before heading outside, wrap a piece of masking tape around your child’s wrist, sticky side up. As you explore, help them attach colorful leaves, interesting flowers, and other small discoveries to their bracelet. It’s like a mini scavenger hunt you can wear! When you’re done, you can snip it off and display it for a little dose of nature on your wall.
Shadow Tracing
Go outside on a sunny day and grab some sidewalk chalk. If your child will stand still long enough, trace their shadow on the sidewalk. Have them change positions, then trace their shadow again. Make a few different tracings, then see if they can fit their own shadow back inside the lines. It’s a fun way to play with light and form.
Adventure Play
Toddler Ball
This is the perfect way to practice those kicking and throwing skills. Use a soft, plastic ball. Show your child how to kick it or throw it, or have them try hitting it with a plastic bat. Once they hit it, you can both pick it up and run to a “base” or a special tree. Make it a game of chase to keep them moving and laughing.
Rope Game
All you need is a long rope or a piece of heavy string. Lay the rope in a zigzag pattern on the grass and see if your child can walk along it. Then, lay it in a straight line like a tightrope. Have your child hold out their arms to balance as they walk. Finally, with the rope still straight, ask them to come up with all the different ways they can go over it—jumping, crawling, hopping, or any other silly way they can think of!
Teddy Swing
Give your child’s favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal a little adventure! Tie a ribbon or a piece of heavy string around the teddy’s waist. Tie the other end to a low tree branch so that the teddy is about two feet off the ground. Your child will have so much fun pushing their teddy to make it swing back and forth.