The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter and the weather is finally and consistently staying beautiful! It is time to get those winter wiggles out and spend some much needed time outdoors with your little ones. You may have some outdoor toys that need to come out of storage, and if your children haven’t seen some of those things in months – they will be entertained for hours. You may also be looking for some more inspiration on fun games or activities to get your little ones outdoors. Take a look at this list, gather inspiration and create some endless outdoor memories for your family this season!
Classic Outdoor Games
There are games that are considered a classic because they are tried and true. They’re fun. They just work. Think of games you played when you were a child with friends or siblings, and introduce them to your children as well. Some of these games and activities require such minimal prep, that you can go outside and simply start the fun! There are SO many classic games that we all enjoyed as children, but here is a short list to get you started:
- Hide & Seek
- Hopscotch
- Tic-Tac-Toe (With chalk or rocks/leaves)
- Red Light, Green Light
- Duck, Duck, Goose
- Jump Rope/Hula Hoop
- Scavenger Hunt
Outdoor Sensory Bins
Sensory bins can be as simple or complex as you would like to make it, and offer so many opportunities for both fun and learning. Fill the bins with a variety of materials, cups, bowls, scoopers, etc. and just let your little ones explore! The best part about sensory bins is there is no right or wrong way to create or use them, so do what works for your family and play on your children’s interests. Here are some examples to help inspire you:
Bird Seed Sensory Bin
Clean the Cars (Toys) Sensory Bin
Pom Pom Water Play
Games To Purchase
If you are looking to invest a little money and add to your outdoor toy collection, there are some really great options available. You can look for something specific to your child’s age group, or find something that can grow with your child. Maybe even invest in a multi-use type of toy that includes items for a few activities. All of these ideas listed below can be found on Amazon, for under $40 – however, use your discretion and look for something that works best for your little ones!
Obstacle Course In A Box
Giant Bubble Wand Kit
Pop & Catch Ball Game
Outdoor Yard Games
DIY Outdoor Games
The beautiful weather may inspire that creativity within you, that was hibernating all winter! With a little bit of inspiration and maybe a few dollars, you really can create a world of DIY fun for your little ones. Here are a few ideas to get you started, but there is a world of possibilities out there.
Human Ring Toss
A great way to utilize some of those pool rings if you have them laying around (or purchase a few from the dollar store). This keeps the kids active, moving and working together! If you have pool rings in two different colors, you can even re-purpose them for some fun games of giant tic-tac-toe!
DIY Lawn Scrabble
Start saving those Amazon or pizza boxes, to use as a cardboard backing for the letters. Have your little ones spell sight words or their name, if they aren’t ready for the full blown game of Scrabble.
Beach Ball Bowling Game
Find a beach ball at the dollar store if you don’t already have one, and re-use some water bottles for the pins. You could even cut up pool noodles to use as bowling pins and have some friendly family competition.
Painted Rock Tic Tac Toe
This DIY activity is a 2-in-1, because you can spend a day painting rocks into two different colors/animals/patterns. Let the rocks dry, and use them for the remainder of the Spring and Summer for endless games of Tic-Tac-Toe!
Enjoy those beautiful days outside with your little ones, Mama! There is so much to do and so many memories to make together.