20 Outdoor Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers (By Season and Skill)

Quick Answer: The best outdoor activities for young children combine physical movement with sensory exploration: nature scavenger hunts, water play, sandbox building, obstacle courses, gardening, and mud kitchens. Aim for 1-3 hours of outdoor play daily. Outdoor time improves physical development, emotional regulation, creativity, and sleep—even in imperfect weather.

Why Outdoor Play Matters for Young Children

Outdoor play isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for healthy development. Research consistently shows that children who spend more time outdoors have better physical health, stronger emotional regulation, improved attention spans, and enhanced creativity.

Benefits of outdoor play:

• Physical development: Running, climbing, and jumping build gross motor skills, strength, and coordination

• Sensory development: Natural environments provide rich sensory experiences (textures, sounds, smells)

• Emotional regulation: Outdoor play reduces stress, anxiety, and challenging behaviors

• Cognitive development: Unstructured outdoor play develops problem-solving and creativity

• Sleep: Physical activity and natural light exposure improve sleep quality

• Immune system: Exposure to outdoor environments strengthens immune function

• Vitamin D: Sunlight exposure supports bone health and mood

The goal isn’t structured activities every time—free play in nature is valuable on its own. But having a repertoire of outdoor activities helps on days when children need direction or inspiration.

Active Play Activities

These activities get children moving and build gross motor skills like running, jumping, climbing, and balancing.

1. Backyard Obstacle Course

Set up a simple course using household items: crawl under a table, jump over pool noodles, balance on a plank, weave around buckets, and toss a ball into a laundry basket.

Why it works: Builds coordination, strength, and problem-solving while feeling like play rather than exercise.

Age adjustments:

• Toddlers (1-2): Simple stepping stones, crawling through tunnels

• Preschoolers (3-5): Add balance challenges, jumping, and timing

2. Bubble Chasing

Blow bubbles and let children chase and pop them. Use giant bubble wands, bubble machines, or homemade solutions for variety.

Why it works: Develops visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills through natural motivation.

3. Ball Games

Simple ball activities work for all ages: rolling back and forth, gentle throwing and catching, kicking, or bouncing.

Why it works: Builds hand-eye coordination, social turn-taking, and fine motor skills.

4. Nature Walks and Hikes

Walk through parks, trails, or even around your neighborhood. Let children set the pace and stop to explore whatever catches their attention.

Why it works: Combines physical activity with curiosity-driven learning about the natural world.

5. Climbing Adventures

Find age-appropriate climbing opportunities: playground structures, small hills, safe trees, or boulders.

Why it works: Builds strength, confidence, and risk assessment skills.

Sensory Play Activities

Outdoor environments offer sensory experiences impossible to replicate indoors. These activities engage touch, sight, sound, and smell.

6. Water Play Station

Set up buckets, cups, funnels, squeeze bottles, and water wheels. Add food coloring, dish soap for bubbles, or floating toys for variety.

Why it works: Water fascinates young children and develops pouring skills, cause-and-effect understanding, and temperature awareness.

Safety note: Always supervise water play. Even shallow water poses drowning risks for young children.

7. Sand and Dirt Digging

A sandbox, dirt patch, or trip to the beach provides endless digging, building, and sensory exploration. Provide shovels, buckets, molds, and trucks.

Why it works: Sand play develops fine motor control, creativity, and understanding of physical properties.

8. Mud Kitchen

Set up an outdoor “kitchen” area with pots, pans, spoons, and bowls. Add water to dirt and let children make mud “soup,” “cake,” and “coffee.”

Why it works: Open-ended imaginative play combined with rich sensory input. Messy play also reduces sensory sensitivities.

Tip: Designate mud play clothes and embrace the mess—a bath fixes everything.

9. Nature Collection Walk

Gather leaves, sticks, rocks, flowers, and pinecones. Sort, arrange, or use them for art projects back home.

Why it works: Develops observation skills, vocabulary (describing what they find), and fine motor skills for picking up small items.

For more sensory activities, see our guide on sensory play ideas for kids.

Nature Exploration Activities

These activities connect children to the natural world and foster environmental awareness.

10. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Create a simple list (with pictures for non-readers): find something red, something soft, something rough, a leaf, a rock, something that makes noise.

Why it works: Combines observation, problem-solving, and physical activity with outdoor exploration.

Tip: Use reusable scavenger hunt cards you can bring on any walk.

11. Bug Safari

Provide magnifying glasses and go hunting for insects. Look under rocks, in grass, on flowers, and near water.

Why it works: Develops focused attention, observation skills, and knowledge about living things.

Extension: Get a bug identification book from the library and learn names of what you find.

12. Birdwatching

Notice birds in your yard or park. Listen for bird songs, watch flight patterns, and try to identify different species.

Why it works: Builds attention, patience, and connection to wildlife.

Age adjustments:

• Toddlers: “Look! A bird! What color is it?”

• Preschoolers: Simple field guides, bird feeders, keeping a “birds we’ve seen” list

13. Gardening

Plant seeds, water plants, pull weeds, and harvest vegetables or flowers. Even a few pots on a patio count.

Why it works: Teaches responsibility, patience, and the connection between effort and results. Children who garden are more likely to eat vegetables.

Easy first plants: Sunflowers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, herbs

Creative Outdoor Activities

Take indoor creative activities outside for new inspiration and freedom from mess concerns.

14. Sidewalk Chalk Art

Draw on driveways, sidewalks, or patios. Create pictures, practice letters, draw hopscotch, or trace body outlines.

Why it works: Develops fine motor skills and creativity with easy cleanup (rain or hose).

15. Outdoor Painting

Set up easels or tape paper to fences. Use regular paints, finger paints, or even water on concrete (disappearing “paintings”).

Why it works: Being outside reduces mess stress and offers new subjects to paint (flowers, trees, sky).

16. Nature Art

Create art from found materials: leaf prints, rock painting, stick sculptures, flower pressing, or nature mandalas arranged on the ground.

Why it works: Combines creativity with nature connection and requires no special supplies.

17. Music and Movement

Bring instruments outside (or make them from sticks, pots, and containers). Dance, march, and make noise without indoor volume concerns.

Why it works: Physical movement combined with creative expression. Being outside allows for louder, bigger movements.

Seasonal Outdoor Activities

Different seasons offer unique outdoor opportunities.

Spring Activities

• Puddle jumping (rain boots required)

• Planting seeds and bulbs

• Bug hunting as insects emerge

• Bird watching during migration

• Collecting wildflowers

Summer Activities

• Water play (sprinklers, water tables, kiddie pools)

• Berry picking

• Camping in the backyard

• Nighttime firefly catching

• Early morning nature walks (beat the heat)

Fall Activities

• Leaf collection and art

• Apple picking

• Pumpkin patch visits

• Acorn and pinecone hunting

• Crunchy leaf jumping

Winter Activities

• Snow play (building, digging, tracking)

• Ice exploration (frozen puddles, icicles)

• Bird feeding stations

• Indoor “nature” when weather is extreme (bring nature in)

• Bundle up and go anyway (there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing)

Getting Started with Reluctant Outdoor Children

Some children resist outdoor play, especially if they’re not used to it.

Start Small

Begin with 10-15 minutes outside, then gradually extend. Success builds momentum.

Follow Their Interests

If your child loves trucks, bring trucks outside. If they love art, do art outside. Transition familiar activities to outdoor settings.

Be Present

Young children are more willing to explore when a trusted adult is engaged (not on their phone). Your presence provides security.

Make It Routine

Regular outdoor time at predictable times (after breakfast, before dinner) becomes expected rather than negotiated.

Dress for Comfort

Uncomfortable children don’t enjoy outdoor play. Invest in good rain boots, warm layers, sun hats, and weather-appropriate clothing.

How Much Outdoor Time Do Children Need?

Research and pediatric recommendations suggest:

• Toddlers (1-3 years): 60-180 minutes of physical activity daily, including outdoor play

• Preschoolers (3-5 years): At least 180 minutes of physical activity daily, including 60 minutes of energetic play

This doesn’t need to happen all at once. Multiple shorter outdoor sessions work well.

Making Outdoor Time Happen

• Morning: 15-30 minutes before or after breakfast

• Midday: Outdoor play during peak energy hours

• Evening: Family walk or backyard play before dinner

The key is consistency. Children who go outside daily, regardless of weather, develop stronger outdoor habits.

Safety Essentials for Outdoor Play

Supervision

Young children need active supervision outdoors. Stay within arm’s reach near water, heights, or unfamiliar areas.

Sun Protection

• Sunscreen (SPF 30+, reapply every 2 hours)

• Sun hats with brims

• Seek shade during peak hours (10 AM – 4 PM)

• Protective clothing for extended exposure

Weather Awareness

• Hydrate frequently in heat

• Layer clothing in cold

• Come inside during lightning

• Check playground equipment temperature in summer (hot metal burns)

Environmental Hazards

• Teach children not to eat plants, berries, or mushrooms

• Check for ticks after outdoor play in grassy or wooded areas

• Be aware of stinging insects (bees, wasps)

• Know local hazards (poison ivy, wildlife)

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t have a backyard?

Parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, and even parking lots offer outdoor play opportunities. Nature walks, library outdoor spaces, and apartment balconies count too. Get creative with your available spaces.

How do I get my child outside when they only want screens?

Make outdoor time non-negotiable before screen time: “After we play outside, you can watch one show.” Start with activities connected to their interests. If they love dinosaurs, go on a “dinosaur dig” in the sandbox.

Is outdoor play safe in hot/cold weather?

Yes, with appropriate preparation. In heat: morning or evening play, shade, hydration, and sunscreen. In cold: layers, proper gear, and shorter sessions with warm-up breaks. Children can safely play in most weather conditions with the right clothing and supervision.

What age can children play outside unsupervised?

This depends on the child, environment, and local factors. Most experts suggest direct supervision until age 5-6, with gradual independence in safe, enclosed spaces. For young toddlers and preschoolers, active supervision is essential.

My child is scared of bugs/dirt/grass. What should I do?

Start with gradual exposure without pressure. Let them observe from a distance before touching. Model comfort with nature yourself. Some children need time and repeated positive experiences to overcome outdoor sensitivities.

How can outdoor play support my child’s development?

Outdoor play supports every developmental domain: physical (running, climbing), cognitive (problem-solving, creativity), social-emotional (cooperation, emotional regulation), and language (new vocabulary, conversation). For more on toddler development, see our comprehensive guide.

What if it rains?

Play in the rain! Proper rain gear (boots, jackets) transforms rainy days into adventures. Puddle jumping, watching raindrops, and experiencing weather directly teaches science naturally.

Making Outdoor Play a Lifelong Habit

The outdoor habits you establish in early childhood create patterns that last. Children who regularly play outside become adults who value nature, physical activity, and time away from screens.

You don’t need elaborate equipment or perfect weather. A walk around the block, digging in dirt, or simply sitting on the grass watching clouds all count. What matters is consistent time in natural environments.

Get outside today—even for 15 minutes. Your child’s body, brain, and emotional wellbeing will thank you.

For more activities that support your child’s development, explore our guides on sensory play ideas, mindfulness activities for kids, and fine motor skill activities. And for app-based learning that complements outdoor play, check out the Kokotree app—designed specifically for toddlers and preschoolers.