Fun Ideas For Kids At Nearby Park Or At Your Backyard
We know there’s nothing like seeing your kids excited and having fun! Whether it’s enjoying the outdoors at a nearby park, or playing in your own backyard, there are so many activities to choose from.
From making mud pies to digging through the dirt, to arts and crafts projects and chasing butterflies, here we’re giving you some of our favorite ideas on how to make the most out of any outdoor space.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or just want to get creative with your little ones when you have the chance, these exciting activities will be sure to keep your children entertained for hours. From building forts and playing in nature to making works of art with paints and markers, these fun ideas will turn any outdoor space into an adventure!
Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Kids
We all have a responsibility to provide our kids with opportunities to learn, grow and explore. And thanks to access to outdoor play, there’s no better way to do just that!
Outdoor play activities help to build essential physical skills, such as coordination, agility, balance and dexterity. It also helps to improve core strength and cardiovascular health by raising activity levels. Plus, it can be a great way for kids to stay cool on hot summer days.
At the same time, playing outdoors encourages problem-solving skills—like traversing difficult terrain—as well as fostering creativity and imagination through nature exploration. These are all invaluable lessons that kids take with them into adulthood.
So don’t let the opportunity pass you by—find some fun activities for your little ones at your backyard or nearby park! Your kids will thank you for it later!
Choose a Space at Home or Nearby Park
Whether you have a small backyard or access to a nearby park, there are plenty of ways to keep your kids busy and entertained! First, choose a spot for your activities—whether a grassy area at your park or an open space in your backyard.
With the space at the ready, here are some fun ideas for outside fun:
- Drawing with chalk
- Making a fairy garden
- Painting with water
- Playing hopscotch
- Hunting for bugs
- Making mud pies
- Having a water fight!
- Building a fort with blankets and chairs
- Flying kites
- Racing toy cars.
Give your kids free rein to explore and have fun in the great outdoors – it’s sure to be an adventure! Whether it’s exploring grassy hills or hopping on one foot from stone to stone, they’ll be sure to love it. You can be more creative with encouraging them for an outdoor craft creating and admiring.
Creative and Colorful Activities
We know how hard it can be to keep kids entertained these days! That’s why we’ve put together a list of creative and colorful activities that you can do with your little ones in your own backyard or nearby park.
Color Scavenger Hunt
This activity is perfect for preschoolers and encourages them to get out into nature and explore. Make a list of items they can find with corresponding colors – like a purple flower, a red leaf, or a yellow bird – then let them go on the hunt around the park. Not only are they having fun and being active, but they’re learning about nature too!
Mixing Colored Water
This is a great multi-sensory activity that encourages problem solving while helping them learn about colors. All you need are two buckets filled with water, plus some food coloring in different shades. Let them mix the different colors together and see what fun combinations they come up with! Your child will love watching the water change color and creating something new.
Color Sort & Posting Box
This is an easy and fun way for toddlers to learn about color sorting, as well as exercise their fine motor skills. You’ll need pieces of colored paper—or pieces of fabric if you want to do something eco-friendly—then cut holes in the top of an empty box or container for them to sort into. Kids will love trying to find the right color before posting their paper inside!
No matter which activity you choose, your little ones are sure to have lots of fun while learning something new.
DIY Games for the Backyard
We know it may feel like your kids have done it all, but here’s one thing you can try: DIY games for the backyard! We love the idea of getting creative with items you already have at home and in your backyard. From traditional board games to obstacle courses, there are tons of possibilities to make your yard a playground.
Here are some ideas that don’t require much effort at all:
- Giant Jenga: Grab a few 2x4s or 2x6s and paint them in fun colors (if you’d like). Stack them in an alternating pattern and voilà, you have an afternoon activity for the kids!
- Connect Four: This classic game can be made on a giant scale using PVC pipes. All you need is a miter saw and some pipe glue to get creative with your design.
- Obstacle Course: Find a few hula hoops for this one. Have the kids time each other as they navigate through the obstacles!
- Fort Building: Using some old sheets and furniture from around the house, have the kids build a fort of their own! After they complete their creation give them flashlights or books to enjoy while they hang out in their masterpieces.
So grab those supplies and get started—it doesn’t take much to turn your backyard or nearby park into an awesome playground for the kids!
Low Cost Hands-on Activities
We can all agree that kids activities don’t have to be expensive to be fun! For instance, homemade playdough is an easy, low cost activity and can be made with ingredients found in any pantry. It’s also a great sensory activity that’s sure to keep your little ones entertained for hours – and the best part? You can customize the colors to create something even more exciting!
Another example of an inexpensive hand-on activity? Cardboard Laptops! This is a great way to get kids tech savvy while discovering their creative side. All it takes is a cardboard box, some markers and scissors. The possibilities are limitless – and it’s all up to your child’s imagination!
Last, but certainly not least, salt dough hand prints are another fun activity that won’t break the bank. Just mix together flour, salt and water – and you’ll have your own clay-like material! Let your little ones have fun by making their own shapes or handprints with this homemade dough. Get creative by adding colors or glitter for an extra special effect.
Simple Nature Exploration Activities
We love spending time outdoors and in nature with our kids! Not only is it beneficial for their physical health, it’s also full of mental health benefits like reducing stress, improving concentration and providing an outlet for creativity.
So what are some simple nature exploration activities we can do with our toddlers?
Outdoor Games and Activities
There are tons of fun outdoor games and activities that your kids will love – no matter the weather! Whether they’re in the backyard or at a nearby park, they can run around, do a scavenger hunt or even go on a bug-catching adventure.
Nature Crafts Ideas
Making crafts from things found in nature is a great way to keep your little ones busy. With over 900 ideas available online, you’re sure to find something fun for them to build or create. There’s everything from fairy houses made out of sticks and leaves to transforming small stones into unique art pieces.
Fairy Garden Creation
Decorating a garden with fairies or other magical creatures is an enjoyable activity that really brings out your toddler’s imagination. Simply select a spot in your backyard, get creative with some small plants and decorations – maybe even make little fairy furniture out of twigs – then watch as they invent all sorts of stories while playing in their own magical garden!
Conclusion
Kids don’t have to go far to find something fun to do. Whether you’re at a nearby park or in your own backyard, there are plenty of great activities for kids to enjoy. From treasure hunts to snow cone makers, there’s a little something for everyone. Plus, with these activities, your kids can have fun while learning something new.
So head out to the park or stay in your backyard and explore the endless possibilities. Not only will your kids be entertained, they’ll be learning, growing and having a great time. So don’t forget to look up what activities are near your area and get out there and explore!
