What are the best outdoor activities for kids? Check out this list of activities for kids to try outside this summer. The list is broken into four categories: art activities, STEM ideas, water and ice play, and general easy ideas for outdoor play. Find outdoor activities you and your kids will love (and that are easy to set up) to keep kids playing.
What are the best outdoor activities for kids?
The warmer weather begins, the days get shorter, and it’s time for kids to get outside for play.
Hallelujah.
If I’m being honest, and that’s always the goal, I’m mostly excited for play messes to head to the backyard – bring on all the warm weather. If you’re looking for the best outdoor activities for kids (kids of all ages from toddlers to tweens) – this is The List for you.
RELATED: Looking for some structure this summer? Try my free Summer Camp at Home program for simple pre-planned fun for families.
Are there outdoor activities that work for multi-age families?
Yes. 100% yes.
We put a lot of stock into targeted searches like “best outdoor activities for toddlers” or “what can preschoolers play this summer?” but the truth is: summertime play is often multi-age play.
Big kids are home from schools. Preschools are on break. The whole family is ready for play outside.
The beauty of great outdoor activities is that they work for a broad range of kids. Most every activity on this list is for toddlers to tweens and everything in between (ooh that rhymes! I didn’t even plan it like that).
RELATED: Do you need to refresh some of your outdoor toys? Have a look at the best outdoor toys for kids from 1-12 years old.
What are some activities to do outside?
This post is massive: it’s 50+ activities designed to get kids outside and playing.
My parameters for activities to make my list was easy play, doable ideas, and invitations to keep playing. Activities can be a catalyst to more play: it can jump start kids into having fun outside and get them playing.
I took this list of 50+ activities and broke it down into four groups:
- Arts & crafts
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
- Water & ice play
- Easy ideas
These activities are the absolute best from the web – no need to search Pinterest during your break time. I did it all for you.
15+ Arts and Crafts Activities
Frozen Paint
I always have a tray of this in my freezer for those moments that we need to reset our days. It’s a clutch move on a summer day.
Bubble Painting
The perfect project for outdoor days when you need an easy win for the kids. The prints are so cool and make an impressive final product.
Outdoor Toy Paint
This is one of those wow-moment activities. My kids were stunned the first time I let them paint their toys – now it’s a summer staple.
Graffiti Art For Kids
Grab some squirt bottles from the dollar store and mix up some paint and water to create this gigantic outdoor mural. Let them explore different spray strengths by changing the nozzle while at the same time building up some grip strength.
Outdoor Name Art
Kids love their name, they love giant letters, they love painting. Put it together and you have a recipe for a long-lasting activity.
Ball Painting
Grab some paint and ball – this easy to set-up process art activity is perfect for outdoor play.
Puffy Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a staple of outdoor fun and this puffy paint takes it to a whole new level! It’s so cool, easy to make, and quick to clean up.
Water Balloon Painting
Kids love water balloons and getting to use them in this outdoor art activity is a surefire hit. Plus, when they’re done, they can use the water balloons to rinse off. A two for one!
Tape Resist Art
Tape resist projects are my kids’ jam right now so it was no surprise that my oldest had a blast with this.
Shadow Sidewalk Chalk Art
A great hands-on STEAM project for kids on a sunny day. Using chalk paint and the sun, kids will create these fun and beautiful shadow prints.
Giant Nail Salon
This is the cutest giant art activity for kids of all ages. This is such a fun activity idea for kids of all ages.
Giant Window Painting
Such an easy outdoor activity that your kids will love! Painting on windows is such a fun feeling and a great twist from standard “white paper painting.”
Flower Petal Sun Catcher
These are BEAUTIFUL! Make a bunch and hang them around your house for a bit of the outdoors indoors.
10+ Outdoor STEM Activities
Engineering with Mud Bricks
A great STEM activity with one of kid’s favorite things…mud! It’s an ooey, gooey, messy, dirty, and all the things’ kids love activity.
Make A Teleidoscope
Did you know that a teleidoscope is just a kaleidoscope that is open at the end? This activity gives you the option to make either and let me tell you they are super cool and your kids will love it.
Science Table
Take this classic experiment up a notch by going outside and making it gigantic. You won’t regret it.
Bubble Snake Blower
These bubble snake blowers are so easy to make, literally take less than a minute to build, and are super fun for all ages.
Watermelon Science
Adding watermelon to this classic experiment ups the fun factor and is great for an outdoor science day.
Op-Art Pinwheels
Take a classic spring/summer decoration and make it your own by adding cool patterns and designs. The included template is perfect for know where to color so it turns out right.
Ice Boat Racing
Another great use for ice! This is such a simple way to introduce the concept of liquids and solids while also having a fun sensory experience. Add in a race at the end and you’ve got a winner.
Outdoor Potions
Making something “giant” is my go-to in the summer. A potion station is the most requested activity at my house. From toddlers to tweens, kids love making potions.
Ice Cream In A Bag
Best activity ever. Yes, it really works but be warned though: once your kids know you can “make” ice cream this quickly, they’ll be asking for it all the time.
Pipe Cleaner Bubble Wands
These DIY bubble wands are quick, easy, and customizable so your child can experiment with different shapes and sizes. My kids absolutely love doing this.
10+ Water and Ice Ideas
Sponge Targets
This is an easy backyard game that is just as fun for adults as it is for the toddler crowd. We bust this out for backyard BBQs all summer long.
Water Balloon Pinatas
What a fantastic twist on water balloons! Can you just imagine how much fun this would be at an outdoor party?
Pouring Station
An absolute activity GOAT. This will always be my go-to outdoor activity for toddlers: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Frozen Dinosaur Eggs
I love the mix of science and sensory play with these dinosaur eggs. Like many ice activities, you will need to do a little pre activity prep, but it’s worth it!
Pom Pom Water Play
Did you know that pom poms can get wet and come out just fine on the other side? Once I learned this, I immediately set up this activity for preschooler because wet pom poms are one of the coolest sensory textures out there.
Sponge Water Bombs
Oh, this is perfect for all ages this summer! Grab some dollar store sponges and you are good to go.
Ice Table
Need a quick activity to beat the summer heat? This is it! Add in a little water and you’ve got the sensory table of your toddler’s dreams.
Metallic Water Table
Not only is this fun and engaging for kids to play with this summer, it is also visually stunning and so inviting to kids. And don’t worry: nothing stains little hands.
Clean the Cars
If I only could do one outdoor activity, this might be the one. It’s simple, fun, and something kids can be successful at.
Wash The Rocks
Do you have a child who loves rocks? This washing station is the perfect activity them after they find their “special” rocks, and before they place them in their beloved “must keep forever” rock pile.
Easy Outdoor Activities
Animal World Sensory Bin
Not a fan of sand? Try this: throw in some dirt from your yard to create a magical little world for your child’s little animals.
Dinosaur Mud Play
If your kids love playing in the mud, this is perfect for a bit more of a structured experience yet still “muddy” enough for them.
Mud Kitchen Food
If you have a mud kitchen, these pieces of “food” are such a fun add on for kids. Bonus – you don’t have to worry about cleaning them up before coming back in house like you would plastic toy food.
Oobleck Baking Station
This is one of our favorite ways to play with oobleck – the famed cornstarch and water mixture.
Chocolate Oobleck
Regular Oobleck is a 12/10 activity at our house. Chocolate Oobleck is a 20/10 activity. It’s amazing, taste safe, uses only 3 ingredients, and will create a new world of play for you child. Throw in some of your favorite animal toys and you’ll have an ooey, gooey, activity ready to go.
Shaving Cream Clouds
One would never think that a can of shaving cream could be this much of a fun! These shaving cream “clouds” are perfect for smearing and globing together on a warm day. Side note: make sure your kids don’t rub their eyes while doing this activity. Shaving cream does not feel good in kid’s eyes…not that I would know.
Construction Site Small World
May I suggest that you consider turning your sand table into a dirt box this season? So many options for play!
Nature Name Collages
These always turn out so beautiful. This activity helps build grip strength, scientific observations of leaves and petals, and letter recognition. It’s a winner.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
Tv schedule says
This is a great list of outdoor activities for kids! I’m excited to try some of them out with my son!
Norma says
lI love your activities thank so much
Danielle says
Thank you so much for all of these ideas! Sometimes we get a little stuck on what to do while playing outside (other than throwing our landscaping rocks into the grass, LOL!), especially right now with the parks closed. I can’t wait to try out several of these activities that I think our little one will love! Thanks for sharing!