Skip to main content

7 awesome outdoor activities for infants and toddlers

Kids playing outdoors means less cleanup and worrying for you. Fortunately, kids under 3 are easily entertained and you can turn pretty much anything into a learning activity with little to no preparation. A spontaneous trip to the park, a scavenger hunt in the backyard, a painting party on your deck — outdoor activities for kids are endless. Here are seven of our favorites you can try, too!

Man setting up a tent for toddler son in backyard
Vadym Pastukh/Shutterstock.com

Explore a sensory box filled with treasure

Sensory boxes are popular with babies. Unfamiliar sensations, new colors, strange smells — babies love to explore it all. Fill a plastic box or any other leakproof container with your choice of material. The most common are sand, kinetic sand, oatmeal, dry pasta, dry beans, and rice. Place the box outside where cleanup is easy.

Fill the box with toy treasures and make a list for your little one to check off. You can create a narrative around the treasures if your little one is developing imaginative play. For younger babies, talk to them about each treasure they unearth. Explain names, colors, shapes, etc.

Gather unconventional materials at the park

Nature and everything in it helps children discover the world around them. Walk, drive, or bike to the park and bring a small basket with you. Explore every nook and cranny in the park, and along the way, place whatever interesting objects your little one finds in the basket. Dried, brown twigs, newly fallen leaves, blades of grass, or acorns — pile them all into your bin.

Pick a place to sit under shade and on a blanket. Take out each item from the basket one by one and examine them closely. Talk about color, size, shape, feel, and other observations. Infants will especially benefit from this activity as they take in new sensations and learn new words.

Paint the day away

If your little one is full of energy and itching to make something with their hands and feet, painting outside is the answer. Lay down a tarp, large sheets of blank paper, and some baby-friendly paint. Watch as your baby creates a stunning work of art.

You might also try some food-based paints made of fruit and vegetable jams, though these might attract some ants when used outside. If you’re concerned about stains, have your baby paint on the grass instead. When they’ve crafted their masterpiece, all you’ll need to do is run the hose.

Cool down with a sprinkler in the summer

For folks with yards and a sprinkler, cooling down is no problem during hot months. Pull out the baby pool and fill with water and toys for instant fun. If your toddler is agile enough to use water shooters and other gadgets, then it’s all the more enjoyable.

If space is limited, a water table or containers full of cool water are also entertaining. Your child will enjoy splashing around no matter if it’s in a pool or with water sheets.

Smiling toddler in backyard pool
Mila Tomsickova Tatyana/Shutterstock.com

Camp out on the lawn

Yearning for those camping trips near remote lakes on a mountainside? With an infant, the lawn may be the next best thing until they’re a little older. Set up a tent right in your yard to give your little one the experience without the hassle of a full-on camping excursion.

Make a day of it and pack lunches, drinks, and toys. Spend the day in your tent reading books, recounting adventures, and eating camp-friendly snacks. Don’t forget the premade s’mores!

Have a picnic

Along the same lines, you can save a trip to the beach by bringing the picnic to your yard. Set up a beach umbrella for shade, lay down a blanket, and spread out the food for a fun picnic. Make classic picnic fare like sandwiches, cut-up fruit, and simple finger food like potato chips and dip.

Bring games you can set up easily or giant bubble wands for endless fun. You can also bring an outdoor speaker for musical entertainment and dance-based games.

Make a ball pit

If you have a kiddie pool but the weather calls for something other than water, transform the pool into a ball pit. It’s easy: Just fill the pool with balls of different sizes, shapes, and colors. This helps develop motor skills for both infants and toddlers. More importantly, it burns lots of energy!

Outdoor activities don’t have to be all-day affairs like a trip to the zoo or a water park. Sometimes, all you need are a few accessories and some energy. Kids playing outdoors is a crucial part of learning, so grab your little one and go even if it’s for something as simple as gathering leaves in your backyard and making a collage out of them.

Editors' Recommendations

NewFolks
Baby play mat ins and outs: What age you should get one and the benefits for baby’s development
Play mats are fun for babies of all ages
Smiling baby on colorful play mat

Play mats are a must-have item for many babies because they can provide endless fun and stimulation for your little one, not to mention allowing them to play on their own. A play mat gives your child a comfortable spot where they can play on their back or their tummy and practice rolling over. It's also a nice place where baby's classic toys are within easy reach for your mini human. 

One benefit a play mat offers is encouragement for your little one to interact with their surroundings. Plus, baby play mats give a fun opportunity for your little one to reach developmental milestones and build the muscles they need to sit up and crawl. If you haven't grabbed one for your tiny tot yet, you'll want to after we tell you all about these fun baby play mats. 

Read more
4-year-old birthday party ideas: 7 low-stress themes your child will love
Throw a preschool party that rocks with these 4-year-old birthday party themes
Boy is excited for his fourth birthday

Congratulations! Your little one is turning 4. This is such an exciting age and so much fun to plan an exciting birthday celebration for. Preschoolers are curious, have a great deal of energy, and love to play. When putting together a fabulous fourth birthday party, you'll need to have an engaging theme, but you also don’t want to overload yourself with added stress. Thankfully, soon-to-be 4-year-olds have a wealth of interests to choose an inviting theme from.

Whether you're hosting at home or holding the party at a venue, the theme sets the tone for the party’s decor, cake, and goodie bags. To avoid giving yourself extra anxiety, pick a theme that’s easy to implement, easy on the budget, and of course, one that kids will be excited about. There are quite a few 4-year-old birthday party ideas that are super fun for the kiddos and low-stress for you.

Read more
7 avocado-based baby food combinations your baby will love
Try these avocado combos for you little one's next meals
Baby in highchair eating avocado puree.

Avocado-based baby food offers a nutritious first step in introducing solid foods to babies. To begin with, avocados are a superfood that contains 20 vitamins and minerals, including folate, potassium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, plus several variants of vitamin B. They're also packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats and contain no cholesterol or sodium. Avocados are very low in saturated fat, too. Babies need omega-3 fatty acids to promote brain and eye development, and avocados are one of the fattiest plant foods that are a great source of oleic acid, an important omega-3 that's also found in olive oil.
Conveniently, avocados are also soft and easy for babies to gum and swallow. They're simple for busy parents and caregivers to mash with a fork or puree in a food processor. Plus, avocados are easy to combine with other healthy foods for simple baby foods. So, which avocado baby foods should you make at home? Here are seven simple recipe ideas for your little one to enjoy that are a snap to make.

Easy, fun-flavored yummy avocado/fruit puree
For a quick avocado baby food meal, puree avocado in a food processor or small blender with a sweet fruit of your choice, and your baby will gobble it up. Here are some fruits that make a tasty combination with avocado:

Read more