63 Fun Things to Do Outside With Kids

Shila said:  Playing with water on a hot day is the height of outdoor fun! In addition to squirting each other with water toys, kids can also set up target practice with random stacked objects, such a plastic cups.

Shila said:  One of the best ways to encourage outdoor time with kids is to play with sidewalk chalk! Buy some or make your own and use it to trace your shadow, make Picasso art, draw hopscotch, write inspirational messages to neighbors, etc.

Kelly R. said:  On a clear night, take a look up at the stars! SkyView Lite, a free app, lets you point your phone to the sky and identify the stars, constellations, galaxies, satellites and planets that are present. You can even use it in daylight. Download it at the App Store and Google Play.

Shila said:  Encourage your kids to go camping in your backyard - even during the day just for fun! Have them create their own packing list, attempt to pitch their own tent, make camping food, hang out in sleeping bags, etc.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  Our kiddos all enjoy frisbee and it’s so nice to play something without rules and without a winner or loser and ALL ages can play. So simple yet such a lovely way to spend time with your family and possibly neighbors in the cul-de-sac

Shila said:  Using natural ingredients that you can often find in your backyard (or your pantry), kids can make and apply their own face paint. No ingredients? Just use mud! From Mommypotamus

Shila said:  Depending on the season and the climate you live in, turn your thumb green! Gardening is a great outdoor activity for all ages. Some flower seed packets are relatively low cost and fast growing, too. Use a flower pot or reserve a small section in your backyard.

Shila said:  Whether it be for the holidays, to celebrate a particular cause, or for the love of art - wrapping yarn around bare tree branches can be a creative way to spend time outdoors. You'll need plenty of yarn, of course, and an optional glue gun. From HGTV

Shila said:  Go for a neighborhood walk as a family, or encourage your kids (if age appropriate) to go on their own walk around the block for some "free range" time.

Shila said:  Send your kids out to have their own picnic - blanket, basket, picnic foods and all.

Kelly R. said:  Pay your kids a penny per weed to help pull them from the garden or the yard! This is an especially fun activity for toddlers or preschoolers.

Shila said:  If the temperature where you live can get extremely hot and sunny, try and crack an egg on your driveway. Does it begin to cook?

Shila said:  Freeze a plastic tupperware dish full of water overnight mixed together with some small treasures. Take this block of ice outdoors to your kids to slowly chip away at it. Treasures in this "glacier" can include smaller plastic toys or even coins!

Lisa R said:  Kids can make designs on leaves by layering strips of grass, twigs or cut paper on top of the leaves and leaving them out in the sun. You can even use a stencil or a photo printed on transparency paper. It works best if you put a sheet of glass (or place the whole thing in a picture frame) on top your arrangement to keep it flat. Turn it into a science lesson by experimenting with different types of leaves and asking your kids why they think it works.

Jaclyn Keifer said:  In its purest form, a mud kitchen is an outdoor setup for children to pretend to prepare and cook food using any combination of mud, sand and water. In addition to the mud itself, there will be a surface to work on, shelves or cupboard space, and a hob to cook on or oven to bake in. We DIYed one and it gets plenty of use with all of our kids. We keep it new by giving our kiddos our old kitchen ware (think muffin pans, Tupperware, ladles, etc) and they always find something fun to do!