Take it Outside (16 Fun Outdoor Activities for Toddlers)

The nice weather we’ve been having lately has me a bit inspired! There are so many fun things that you can do outside with a toddler. Sometimes I get sick of doing the same old activities (even if my son doesn’t), so I went on a hunt to discover the best of the best. Between my brain and Pinterest, I’ve come up with a list of 16 things to do outdoors with your kiddos! So, lather up in sunscreen, apply the tick repellant, and take it outside!

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1. Bubbles!

At a family gathering recently, my aunt gave my boy a bunch of bubbles. We’ve played with bubbles before, and he always enjoys them, but outside in the sunlight, bubbles are so much better! Clark loves to run through them like a sprinkler, so the bubble wand is a favorite.

2. Yard Dice

I’ve had ideas on yard dice, but have yet to put it to the test! This is definitely one that we will be doing soon. The plan is to roll the dice and perform the predetermined corresponding activities. For example, if we roll a four, we would dance for four minutes. Roll a six and you might do six hops around the yard. I really love this one because it also helps teach kids their numbers, as well as keeps them active. I know this one would definitely get my boy ready for nap time!

3. Water Gun Fight

I remember running around the neighborhood as a kid with my super soaker wreaking havoc on the other kids. It was a blast. With my son only being 2, he won’t be exploring the neighborhood, but we could have a great time with a few water guns. These ones are small enough for little hands, but still pack enough punch to have a good time! The pack of 6 is perfect because I like to place them around the yard so that we can run to them when our original gun runs out of water. It makes things more interesting!

4. Sidewalk Chalk

We LOVE sidewalk chalk in our house. Clark just scribbles away on the sidewalk by our house. Some mornings he wakes up asking to “color outside.” He can easily spend an hour or two with chalk. If I’m being honest, it is one of my favorite outside activities, too! We have a good time with it!

5. Hopscotch

Use that sidewalk chalk to make a hopscotch course! Not only is it fun for both mom and kids, but it’s a good way to get moving. You can check out my post here where I talk about using hopscotch, among other things, to lose weight!

6. Sprinklers or Slip-n-slide!

I will never forget the fun I had as a kid running through a sprinkler. Even better, running through a sprinkler and directly onto a slip-n-slide. Talk about fun! & the palm tree sprinkler is so cute!

7.  Scavenger Hunt

I love a good scavenger hunt. Making one simple enough for a 2-year-old is actually pretty easy – you just have to read the items on the list out loud. A list for an outdoor scavenger hunt might include things like a leaf, a stick, a rock, a flower, etc. If you take it to a park you can usually come up with a longer list. Offer a small prize if your kiddo can find everything! For us, prizes are typically m&m’s or dum-dums.

8. Sandbox

Bring the beach to your home with a small sandbox! We have this one and it is small enough that it doesn’t take up all of the free yard space but big enough for Clark and Nora to play in. You can get sand on Amazon, but I’m all for transparency: this same bag is usually found for less than $10 at a hardware store. There are so many toys that you can purchase to dig and build castles, or take a few matchbox cars outside to roll around in the dirt!

9. Catch Fireflies

My toddler is mesmerized by fireflies! I can remember summer nights as a kid catching them in my yard. Sharing that experience with Clark is awesome! He is a bit of a chicken sometimes when it comes to bugs, but after seeing me with a few, he warms up to them. Put them in a jar to use as a nightlight overnight and release them in the morning.

10. Ice Cube Hunt

I grabbed this one from Crumb Bums, which is no longer an active blog, but has so much good stuff! In a large container, submerge plastic toys in water and freeze. You might try to do it in layers so that there are toys throughout. Then, provide your toddler with toy tools to chip away at the ice. While the sun will do a lot of the work, your child is sure to have a great time working away at it!

11. Bike Ride

It isn’t likely that your toddler could keep up on a bike ride. They do enjoy a good tricycle ride, though! Even though you might have to walk, rather than ride, with them, it is fun to go on a ride around the block for a little one! It’s also a great time to walk the dog!

I like the tricycle below, as it has the handle if your toddler isn’t ready to ride alone. If he/she is, the handle is removable!

12.  Play Ball!

Playing ball is a great way to work on hand-eye coordination. One of my favorites for a toddler is hitting a ball off a tee. Amazon has good tee ball sets for less than $20! We also love kicking a ball back and forth. I know it’s just a matter of time until we can play real kickball!

13. Plant something.

I’m personally really excited to do this with my little guy soon. We will be getting these terracotta pots to plant herbs in this summer! Beforehand, I plan to let Clark paint them as a fun crafty activity. We’ll grow basil, chives, oregano, and mint on our front porch!

14. Baby pool fun!

Since I’m home alone with my kiddos most of the time, I am a little paranoid about bringing them to the pool by myself. I’m sure I could figure it out if I had the guts to, but so far I don’t! Instead, a baby pool in the yard will serve its purpose on a hot day! Clark loves to “swim” in the bathtub, so the baby pool is a step up. Throw in some ball pit balls or fun toys, repeat the sunscreen as needed, and have fun!

15. Color war!

I have yet to try this one, but this colored powder gets great reviews on Amazon. If you aren’t familiar with the concept of a color war, the idea is to sling powder at one another attempting to get the other person covered in the rainbow. Think water fight with colored powder. It is fun and messy but typically comes out of clothes fairly easily.

16. Day Camping!

Make a day of camping in the yard! Set up a tent, have a picnic, read books outside, nap in the tent, do it all! If you want to turn it into a night activity, go for it! This one is sure to provide hours of fun in your own yard!

Do you have any other ideas for toddlers on warm days? I would love to get my son outside more, so please share in the comments!