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The weather is getting warmer, which means it’s time to get outside! I don’t know about you, but I long for spring and summer when we can spend most of our time outdoors. My kids are the happiest and the most content when we are playing outside, especially when we do fun things as a family. As we head into spring and summer, you might be feeling overwhelmed about your kids being out of school AGAIN, or maybe your kids never went back and you’re running out of things to do with them. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Here are 100 kid-friendly outdoor activities to do with your kids this summer.

100 Kid-Friendly Outdoor Activities
- Have a Picnic
- Go to a Park
- Go on a Nature Walk
- Swim in a pool or lake
- Visit a beach
- Plant a fruit or veggie garden – you could also plant an herb garden
- Create a fairy garden – a fairy garden starter kit is a great way to spark creativity
- Go boating – rent a boat or do a sunset cruise
- Explore a new city
- Play i spy – wildlife, insects, or nature
- Draw with sidewalk chalk or sidewalk paint
- Water table play or water sensory bin – check out this blog post all about sensory bins
- Run through a sprinkler – create a rainbow with a hose
- Play in a sandbox – build your own or create one with a sensory bin
- Ride bikes
- Fly Kites
- Blow bubbles
- Play Backyard Games – build your own with these step-by-step directions for Yardzee, Dominoes, Tic-Tac-Toe
- Hula Hoop
- Roller Skate
- Hopscotch
- Outdoor painting/crafts – paint the scenery or use nature to paint (leaves, twigs, flowers, etc)
- Make a bird feeder with pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed
- Have a bonfire and make smores
- Make homemade popsicles and eat them outside
- Have a water balloon fight
- Play wiffle ball or t-ball
- Make mud pies or mud sculptures
- Have a nature photoshoot
- Stargaze
- Make fresh squeezed lemonade and make a lemonade stand
- Find cloud shapes
- Lay in a hammock – read a book
- Camp in the backyard or plan a camping trip
- Paint Rocks
- Try a new sport
- Bowl in the dark – fill 2 liter bottles with glow sticks
- Catch lightning bugs
- Go berry picking at a local farm
- Play flashlight tag
- Play putt putt
- Jump rope – learn a trick
- Play simon says
- Play red light, green light
- Paint flower pots
- Plant flowers
- Make twig frames
- Create a nature journal – draw pictures of things you see outside or collect leaves and flowers to tap into your journal
- ABC scavenger hunt – find something that starts with every letter of the alphabet
- Shaving cream wars
- Skip rocks at a local creek or pond
- Climb a tree
- Go kayaking or canoeing
- Have a trike/bike wash
- Make rain art – smash up old or broken chalk pieces and sprinkle it on the sidewalk. watch what happens
- Create a boat and float it
- Create paper airplanes and fly them on a breezy day
- Design your own obstacle course in the backyard
- Egg drop – make a safe structure for your egg and see how high you can drop it from without breaking
- Dig for worms
- Visit a local farmers market
- Play at a local splash bad or make your own
- Go to the zoo
- Visit a theme park
- Go horseback riding
- Build a sandcastle
- Crayon rubbings – put different objects under your paper, color the paper with a crayon, and see what design the leave behind. you could also put paper on different surfaces to see what it leaves behind
- Build an outdoor fort
- Make a slip n’ slide – use a tarp, dish soap, and garden use.
- Bird watching
- Dance in the rain
- Watch the sunrise or sunset
- Visit somewhere new
- Go to a local festival
- Find four leaf clovers
- Walk a preserve or nature trail
- Go on an eco tour
- Have a backyard movie night
- Play capture the flag
- Organize a neighborhood game
- Host a themed playdate
- Go geocaching
- Visit a local farm
- Go to a petting zoo
- Create a treasure map – hide treasure somewhere in your backyard or that park, create a map and have someone else look for your treasure.
- Have a bike parade – decorate bikes and ride around your neighborhood
- Go shell hunting
- Go for a hike
- Play board games or card games outside
- Have a grill out
- Collect rocks/leaves
- Plant a tree
- Go to an outdoor show or concert
- Go to a carnival or fair
- Read a book under a tree
- Go sightseeing around your town/city
- Have an ice cream or shaved ice date
- Go fishing
- Jump on a trampoline
- Play your own version of survivor
You can print out or write down these ideas and see how many you can fit into your summer, or you could use this as a guide to create your own summer bucket list. Another great way to use it is to create adventure jars. I would create three jars – home adventures, local adventures, vacation adventures. Write each adventure on a slip of paper, fold it up, and drop it into the jar. When your kids are bored or you are trying to plan your week, let your kids pick out of the adventure jar. Wide mouth jars are the best to use for this because your hand fits in and out easily. For a little extra fun, you can grab some chalk markers and let your kids decorate the jars. Make that #101!
There are so many unique ways to make connections with your kids and have a blast this summer. Remember, these years go by quickly and you will never get this summer back. If you use this list, tag us on instagram so we can see all of your adventures and share!
[…] summer approaching, you’re probably looking for fun ways to entertain your kids. Check out 100 Outdoor Activities To Do With Your Kids This Summer and create your ultimate summer bucket […]