Parenting

61 Outdoor Activities For Kids

March 17, 2025

Read The Best Outdoor Activity Ideas For Kids, Toddlers And Pre Schoolers

Looking for outdoor activities for kids? Read our list of 61 outdoor activity ideas for kids, outdoor toddler activity ideas and outside activities for pre-schoolers.

The weather is good! So it’s a great opportunity to get everyone outside for some energy-burning exercise, fresh air and creative crafts.

This list includes outdoor activities for kids to keep everyone active, outdoor craft activities to keep everyone creative, and nature outside activities to help everyone engage with nature.

Have fun wherever you are, be it in a park, the great outdoors or your own back garden.

If the weather is bad, read our indoor games for kids.

Fun Outdoor Activities For Kids

Here’s a list of fun outside activities for kids, toddlers and pre-schoolers that are perfect for energy, exploration, and creativity. These are timeless and fun outdoor activities that will be fun for older kids, too.

outside activity ideas for kids toddlers and preschoolers

Tag – A classic game where one child is “it” and chases the others. It’s a great way for kids to run around and stay active.

Hide and Seek – A favourite outdoor game where one child hides while the others seek. It encourages problem-solving and exploration.

Frisbee – Tossing a frisbee back and forth is a fun and easy way to stay active while enjoying the outdoors. You can even create frisbee games with targets or challenges.

Obstacle Course – Set up an obstacle course using items you have at home or in the yard, such as cones, ropes, and chairs. Kids can race through the course and compete for the fastest time.

Water Balloon Fight – On a hot day, a water balloon fight is a great way for kids to cool off and have a blast outdoors. You can organize teams or just let them enjoy a friendly battle.

Biking – Whether it’s a bike ride around the neighbourhood or an adventure on a bike trail, riding bikes is a fun and active outdoor activity for kids.

Flying Kites – On a windy day, take kids outside to fly kites. It’s a fun way to teach them about wind and aerodynamics while having a great time.

Ball Games (Soccer, Basketball, etc.) – A simple game of soccer, basketball, or even just tossing a ball around is a great way to keep kids active and engaged.

Camping in the Backyard – Set up a tent in the backyard, roast marshmallows over a fire pit, and tell stories. It’s a fun way to enjoy the experience of camping close to home.

Treasure Hunt – Create a treasure map or a list of items for kids to find outside. They can search for natural treasures like rocks, flowers, or leaves.

Playground Fun – Visit a local playground where kids can swing, climb, slide, and engage in imaginative play with other children.

Bug Hunt – Equip kids with magnifying glasses and go on a bug hunt. See what critters you can spot—like ants, butterflies, or ladybugs—while learning about them.

Relay Races – Set up a racecourse in the yard with various challenges like hopping, skipping, or running backward. Kids can race against each other or work as teams.

Balloon Tennis – Using balloons and makeshift paddles (like fly swatters or hands), kids can play tennis without worrying about the ball flying away.

Jump Rope – A simple and fun activity that can be done anywhere, jump rope encourages coordination and can be turned into a competition to see who can jump the longest.

Swimming – If you have access to a pool, lake, or beach, swimming is an excellent outdoor activity for kids to have fun and stay cool.

Puddle Jumping – After a rainstorm, put on rubber boots and let kids jump in puddles. It’s messy but fun, and kids love it!

Cloud Watching – Lay back on the grass and watch the clouds. Kids can try to identify shapes or animals in the sky, using their imagination.

Outside Craft Activities For Toddlers

Here are ten outdoor craft activities for kids, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Keep all the mess out of the house and let kids be as creative as you like.

Nature Collages – Go on a nature walk and collect leaves, twigs, flowers, and rocks. Then, let toddlers glue them onto a piece of paper to create their own collage.

Sidewalk Chalk Art – Use sidewalk chalk to let toddlers draw on the driveway or sidewalk. You can also do chalk outlines of their hands or feet for fun prints.

DIY Bird Feeder – Help toddlers make a simple bird feeder using a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and bird seed. Slide the roll onto a string and hang it outside.

Rock Painting – Find smooth rocks and let toddlers paint them with bright colors or simple designs. You can also turn them into little animals or shapes.

Leaf Rubbings – Go for a walk to collect leaves. Place a leaf under a piece of paper and have the toddler colour over the paper with a crayon to make a rubbing of the leaf’s texture.

Mud Painting – Provide a safe spot where toddlers can use mud as paint. They can use sticks or their hands to make designs on large pieces of paper.

Sand Sculptures – Use the sand at a beach or sandbox to create simple shapes and sculptures together.

Nature Paintbrushes – Go on a nature walk and gather twigs, leaves, and grass to create unique “paintbrushes.” Kids can use these natural tools to paint on large sheets of paper.

DIY Wind Chimes – Collect sticks, string, beads, and small bells. Kids can create their own wind chimes by attaching these elements to a stick and hanging them in a tree.

Homemade Kites – Help kids build their own kites using lightweight materials like paper or fabric, sticks for the frame, and string. Once done, fly them outside!

Leaf Printing – Collect a variety of leaves, paint them with bright colors, and press them onto paper to create a beautiful leaf print.

Clay Sculptures – Use air-dry clay or playdough for kids to create sculptures like animals, plants, or whatever sparks their imagination.

Painted Rocks – Collect smooth stones and have kids paint them with fun designs, animals, or even inspirational words. These can be displayed in the yard or used as garden decorations.

Nature Bracelets – Wrap a piece of masking tape, sticky side out, around the child’s wrist. They can then walk around the yard, collecting small leaves, flowers, or twigs to stick to the tape.

Paper Plate Birds – Using paper plates, markers, feathers, and glue, kids can create bird faces and bodies. Add a popsicle stick as the bird’s “legs” and create a fun bird sculpture.

Outdoor Mosaics – Using colored stones, broken pieces of pottery, or even pieces of glass, kids can create a mosaic on a larger piece of cardboard or wooden surface.

Potato Stamps – Cut potatoes in half then carve into into different shapes (hearts, stars, etc.), dip them in paint, and stamp them onto paper for cool patterns. A good one to do outside as it can get messy!

Homemade Birdhouses – Kids can build and decorate birdhouses using wooden craft kits or natural materials like twigs and pinecones. Once finished, they can hang them in the yard and watch for birds.

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Craft – Create a list of items to find (e.g., pinecone, smooth rock, yellow flower), and then after collecting everything, use the items to make a nature-inspired craft.

Sensory Bottles – Fill small bottles with water, glitter, and small natural elements like leaves or tiny flowers. Seal the bottle tightly, and let toddlers shake it up.

Tie-Dye – Using plain white shirts or fabric, teach kids how to do tie-dye with fabric dye or markers. This is a colourful and fun way to create wearable art! A good one for older kids, it’s also a good outdoor craft activity as the potential for mess is huge!

Paper Plate Sun Catchers – Cut out a centre circle from a paper plate, then help toddlers stick colourful tissue paper pieces on the edges. Hang them on a window to catch the sunlight – this is a good craft to bring the outdoors in.

Door Wreaths – Cut out a centre from a paper plate to make a wreath shape. Go outside and collect leaves and flowers. Stick them on the plate to make a seasonal wreath.

Outdoor Nature Activities For Kids

Love the great outdoors and nature? The following activities help kids love the outdoors, help kids develop an appreciation for nature, and keep everyone active.

Nature Scavenger Hunt – Create a list of items for kids to find outdoors, such as a pinecone, a feather, a certain type of flower, or a smooth rock. This encourages exploration and observation.

Nature Hide And Seek – Pick a natural item such as a flower or rock, and hide it in the garden. Challenge kids to find it first.

Bug Hunt – Equip kids with magnifying glasses and let them explore the garden or a park looking for insects. They can observe ants, butterflies, ladybugs, and more. You can even create a simple bug identification chart.

Leaf Collecting & Identification – Go on a walk to collect different types of leaves.

Leaf Identification – Once home, use a leaf identification guide or app to help kids learn about the different species.

Bird Watching – Grab a pair of binoculars and a simple bird guidebook, then take kids outside to watch and identify local birds. You can even keep a birdwatching journal to record the types of birds they see.

Building a Fort or Shelter – Use sticks, branches, and leaves to build an outdoor fort or hideaway. It encourages creativity, teamwork, and a connection to nature.

Nature Walk & Photography – Take a walk through a local park or nature reserve and encourage kids to take photos of interesting plants, trees, or wildlife they find. They can later make a scrapbook or digital album.

Planting a Garden – Whether it’s flowers, vegetables, or herbs, involve kids in planting a garden. Let them help with digging, planting seeds, and watering the plants as they grow.

Cloud Watching – Lay down on a blanket and watch the clouds go by. Encourage kids to use their imagination by finding shapes or animals in the clouds.

Nature Art – Collect natural materials like leaves, flowers, and twigs, and then use them to create art. They can make a nature collage or arrange them into a beautiful design on the ground.

Outdoor Obstacle Course – Set up an obstacle course in the yard using natural items like logs, branches, or rocks. Kids can crawl under branches, hop over rocks, and balance on logs to build strength and agility.

Nature Journaling – Encourage kids to bring a notebook and write or draw what they see during a nature walk. They can sketch trees, flowers, or animals, and note how they feel or what they learned.

Fishing – If you’re near a lake or stream, introduce kids to fishing. They can learn patience and enjoy the calmness of nature while trying to catch fish.

Puddle Jumping – After a rainstorm, put on rubber boots and go outside to jump in puddles. It’s a simple and fun way for kids to enjoy the outdoors while getting a little wet!

Stargazing – On a clear night, lie back and look at the stars. You can teach kids about constellations or simply enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

Nature Bingo – Create bingo cards with pictures of things found in nature (like a squirrel, a bird, a pine tree, etc.). Kids can search for those items on a walk, marking them off as they find them.

Stream or Pond Exploration – If you’re near a stream or pond, provide kids with a small net or container to scoop up water and explore what’s inside. They can find tadpoles, small fish, or other water creatures. Stay safe in the water!

Collecting Seeds or Pinecones – Take a walk to collect different seeds or pinecones. These can be used later for crafting or just for study to learn about how plants reproduce.

Dandelion Wishes – Pick dandelions and let the kids blow the seeds off while making a wish. An old favourite that’s simple but fun.

Wildflower Picking – Visit a meadow or field and let kids pick wildflowers. Teach them about the flowers and how to properly care for them in a vase or use them for crafting.