Getting outside every day is not just good for your physical health, it’s good for your mental health too. That goes for your toddler too. It’s a stressful time for everyone and while a toddler might not be able to express their anxiety with words, their behavior likely shows it. Toddlers are very perceptive and when the adults are dealing with a lot they feel it too. One way to help ease anxiety and connect with your toddler is through play, specifically playing outside. Step away from the conference calls, the never-ending cycle of loading and unloading the dishwasher and get outside. It doesn’t have to be for a long time – here are some great fun outdoor activities for toddlers to try on these outside breaks!
Outdoor Activities For Toddlers
Bubble Bin
Still one of her favorite activities. Bubbles are soothing for so many.
Paint with Water
Kids LOVE this activity so this is a great activity for families with toddlers and older children.
Car Wash
Year after year my 2 and 3-year-olds love this activity. Have big things like plastic playhouses too? Wash them!
Paint Some Rocks – simple and so much fun.
Mud Soup
Get messy with this super fun and crazy simple activity.
Nature Walk & Count
This is a great whole family activity with older siblings or parents helping with counting and writing.
Outdoor Alphabet Hunt
For toddlers who have no interest in letters (many) try just doing this with colors!
Sensory Ocean with Gelatin
This takes some coordination but it’s SO much fun. Messy, but that’s why you do it outside.
Nature Prints with Playdough
Go on a hunt outside for cool things to press into the dough.
Outdoor Storytime
This is one of my favorite things – the post includes drawing pictures but really just taking a book outside is plenty.
Painting With Nature
Who needs a paintbrush?
Sound Safari
Tap into your child’s sense of hearing and listen to all different things in your neighborhood. If you are unable to leave your property you can do it on a deck or backyard too.
Nature Cuttings
Work on fine motor skills with this fun activity.
Fly Swatter Painting
Hitting isn’t ok unless it’s for a good cause like rad art!
Homemade Bubbles
Did you know that whisks make awesome bubble wands? YEP!
Nature Color Hunt
Find colors in nature. We did it in our little backyard, spring is the best time for this activity.
Nature Smash Painting
This is an amazing sensory art project for kids of all ages but toddlers will love it.
Gelatin Frog Swamp!
Another messy one that brought my toddler endless hours of fun!
More Toddler Activities and Fun Ideas
For even more toddler activities follow me on Instagram and check out my Pinterest!
Gilbert says
I Loved all the cool ideas to play with our grandson