With summer weather here, it’s the perfect time to get outside and PLAY!
Kids benefit from ample time in the outdoors, especially when they can breathe fresh air and exercise their bodies with lots of movement. The outdoors is also a great place to explore different sensory experiences.
Below you will find more than 30 kid-friendly activities to do outdoors this summer. From using natural materials in games to engineering some epic projects to getting messy while doing art, you are sure to find something on this list that your kids will love.
Note: You’ll find more kid-friendly summer activities on my Summer Activities for Kids page!
Have some fun!
Whether it is a game, challenge, or imaginary project, these activities are just plain fun!
Play a game of frisbee golf from Kids Creative Chaos
Find the hidden ice treasure from Gift of Curiosity
Build a nature fairy house from Red Ted Art
Play a nature-inspired game of tic-tac-toe from Fireflies and Mud Pies
Play sidewalk chalk games from Make and Takes
Epic projects
These activities take a bit more effort (and in some cases, a bit of engineering) to put together, but they promise hours of outdoor fun for your children this summer.
Set up a kiddie car wash from Mom Endeavors
Build and fly your own kite from Premeditated Leftovers
Build a giant bean bag launcher from Preschool Inspirations
Make a giant catapult from Science Sparks
Build a race track using pool noodles from Ramblings from Utopia
Build a life size Angry Birds game from My 4 Misters and Their Sister
Build a pool noodle agility ladder from Wunder-Mom
Outdoor art
Art can be messy, so take the mess outdoors for easier cleanup (and bigger fun, too!).
Paint with your feet from Homegrown Friends
Paint with giant water soakers from I Can Teach My Child
Make beautiful art from natural materials from The Craft Train
Splatter paint from Busy Toddler
Use the power of the sun to make sunprint art from Gift of Curiosity
Fun with sidewalk chalk
These activities put a new spin on using sidewalk chalk to decorate the driveway.
Sidewalk foam paint from The Tip Toe Fairy
Make shadow art with sidewalk chalk from Rhythms of Play
Paint the sidewalk with chalk from Everyday Chaos and Calm
Decorate with DIY spray chalk from Craft Create Cook
Foam soap sidewalk paint from Our Kid Things
Beyond ordinary bubbles
Bubbles are a classic summertime activity. But these activities take bubble blowing to a whole new level!
Make rainbow bubbles from Gift of Curiosity
Blow a multi-colored bubble snake from Gift of Curiosity
Engage your children in bubble STEM challenges from Gift of Curiosity
Messy fun
These projects have the potential to get messy and/or wet, which makes them perfect to do outside.
Get messy with watermelon oobleck sensory play from Gift of Curiosity
Play a game of water balloon baseball from Overstuffed Life
Have a water war with DIY sponge bombs from Overstuffed Life
Make mud pies from Rhythms of Play
Gather loose parts for outdoor play from Fantastic Fun & Learning
Build a mud kitchen from Happy Hooligans
Learning outdoors
Who says learning only happens in a classroom? These activities take learning outdoors in the sunshine.
Outdoor color matching game from NurtureStore
Tree bark rubbings from I Can Teach My Child
Discover what ants like to eat from Gift of Curiosity
Build a stick raft from Kids Craft Room
Oh what a lovely list of things to do this summer! ADORE!! Thank you for including our nature fairy houses.. we have had so much fun with these over the years!!
Great Ideas for fun things to do in the summer! Thanks for including our DIY Spray Chalk! Looking forward to trying some of these!