Here are 10 Amazing Outdoor Activities for Toddlers. These activities are full of age appropriate activities to empower your child’s gross motor, fine motor, sensory, language, social and emotional, and cognitive development.
The first 5 years of a child’s life are fundamentally important. Early child development sets the foundation to shape your child’s health, growth, lifelong learning, behavior, and life. This is why it’s important to give your little ones opportunity to explore and grow up in an environment in which they are able to reach their full potential in life.
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10 Outdoor Activities for Toddlers
1. Nature Walk
The first outdoor activity on the list is the nature walk. Take a nature walk with your little one and name everything you both see, hear, and touch. This will increase your child’s receptive, expressive, and responsiveness to language skills. Whether you take a nature walk in your backyard or at the park, this activity opens a great opportunity for your little ones language and your little ones knowledge of the natural world.
2. Scavenger Hunt
The next amazing outdoor activity are scavenger hunts. My daughter just turned 14 months, and whether we’re at the park, grocery shopping or at home, I ask her questions. For instance, naming objects and talking about how they look, feel, and smell. Scavenger hunts are a fantastic way to boost your little ones language and cognitive development. I have linked this site because they have so many amazing ideas for scavenger hunts for kids. Check out this link to get your free printable. 30+ Free Printable Scavenger Hunts for Kids
3. Outdoor Art
Another fun outdoor activity to do with your little one is by having art outdoors. I suggest investing in white butcher paper and some washable paints. Set the butcher paper on the ground, secure it with masking tape, provide paints, crayon, markers. Just let your little one explore and have a fun time getting messy. You won’t need to worry about messy paint indoors but most importantly your little one will have an opportunity to explore his/her environment in increasingly focused ways to learn about people, things, materials, and events.
4. Picnic
This activity is always my favorite to do with Evelyn. A child’s social and emotional development is also important. Social and emotional development is how children begin to understand who they are, how they are feeling and develop close relationships with peers and family member. Therefore, picnics provide valuable time for family bonding. Pack a picnic blanket and a snack and head out to the park and just enjoy your time outdoors with your family.
5. Chasing Bubbles
Chasing bubbles will get your little one running, crawling, and jumping while trying to catch and pop the bubbles. This will help strengthen your toddlers muscles and develop gross motor skills. So, next time your toddler is full of energy take them outdoors and blow some bubbles.
6. Ball Play
Another gross motor activity to do outdoors is ball play. At this age, your little one is learning to Manipulate objects, using one or more body parts, with stability but limited coordination. Take your toddler outdoors and have some fun with throwing, kicking, and catching balls. This will help and support your child’s gross motor manipulative skills.
7. Water Play
Spring is here and soon Summer will arrive. So, why not take water play outdoors and enjoy the sunshine with a cup of iced latte while your little one is having a blast playing with water. Toy Wash / Water Play activity. Water play helps your toddler to develop and strengthen gross and fine motor skills.
8. Sand Play
If you are worried about your little one eating sand I highly suggest making edible “sand”. Playing with sand is another activity that will help and strengthen your child’s gross and fine motor skills.
9. Gardening
Spring Gardening with your little one will provide an amazing opportunity for their physical, cognitive, and language development. Let your little one help you clean your garden, removing weeds and dead leaves. Plant flowers and vegetables. Watering the garden.
10. Make a Nature Bin
Nature Sensory Bin Outdoor Explore and Discover I love how this family went outdoors and collected nature objects. This activity is a great opportunity for language. Also, allowing the child to observe, explore, and investigate objects.
In conclusion, the experiences children have in early childhood shape the brain and the child’s capacity to learn. Make spring and summer fun for your little ones with these amazing outdoor activities to help and support your toddler’s development.
I hope you find something new to try. Enjoy!
Tag me on Instagram @deeyahnuh_ if you did one of these activities, I would love to see the fun.
