101 Things to do Outside With Your Kids

Spending time outside is beneficial in so many ways. Outdoor time is linked to lower stress levels and increased creativity and mental clarity. It can help boost the immune system and vitamin D levels, and encourages exercise. A 2019 study suggests that as little as 20 minutes of time spent in nature can reduce stress hormone levels, and that the more time spent in nature, the more profound the effect.

Unstructured outdoor play gives kids opportunities to develop strength and coordination, to interact with peers and practice communication and positive behavioral skills, and to improve sensory skills. Outdoor time also gives children a chance to explore and connect with the natural world around them.

Too many kids today spend huge portions of their days in classrooms or other indoor spaces, with little outdoor play time. Let's try to give our children back their childhood, and make more time for outside play. Let's give them more opportunities to breath fresh air, soak up the sun, and learn to love the natural world around them!

Here are 101 things to do outside with your kids:

1. Take a nature walk
2. Pick blackberries
3. Go apple picking
4. Plant a garden
5. Practice identifying plants
6. Go bird watching
7. Swim in a creek
8. Play on the playground
9. Read a book
10. Make a fairy garden
11. Hang a bird feeder
12. Plant a tree
13. Take a hike
14. Go for a bike ride
15. Build a snowman
16. Go sledding
17. Go camping
18. Go rock hunting
19. Go on a picnic
20. Play in the sprinklers

21. Watch a meteor shower
22. Pick dandelions
23. Look for shells on the beach
24. Visit a farm
25. Walk the dog
26. Visit a farmer's market
27. Collect fall leaves
28. Stomp in rain puddles
29. Build a tree fort
30. Roast marshmallows over a fire
31. Barbeque
32. Camp in the back yard
33. Play in the mud
34. Build a sand castle

35. Make nature art
36. Go roller skating in the park
37. Play in the rain
38. Sleep under the stars
39. Build a fort
40. Go on a scavenger hunt
41. Go ice skating
42. Skip rocks
43. Collect nature treasures for crafts
44. Watch an eclipse
45. Go star gazing
46. Search for four leaf clovers
47. Make a daisy chain
48. Cook over a fire
49. Go canoeing
50. Play with water balloons
51. Visit a zoo or animal sanctuary
52. Fly a kite
53. Forage
54. Go geocaching
55. Hide or hunt for painted rocks
56. Play with remote control cars
57. Play with walkie talkies
58. Watch the sunset
59. Watch the sunrise
60. Go fishing

61. Catch fireflies
62. Play with sidewalk chalk
63. Blow bubbles
64. Play hopscotch
65. Go to a sporting event
66. Hunt for ladybugs
67. Search for animal prints
68. Go to the carnival or fair
69. Make nature prints
70. Have a snowball fight
71. Play frisbee
72. Play catch
73. See a concert in a park
74. Watch a movie on a projector in your yard
75. Hula hoop
76. Visit a splash pad
77. Watch a parade
78. Race toy sail boats in a creek or pond
79. Feed the birds in the park
80. Play hide and seek
81. Go metal detecting
82. Collect leaves for leaf rubbings
83. Make a compost bin
84. Make mud pies
85. Play in fall leaves

86. Make a sundial
87. Play Hide and Seek
88. Play frisbee
89. Take a night hike
90. Catch tadpoles in a creek
91. Set up an easel and paint
92. Hang a tire swing
93. Swim in a pool
94. Build a mentos and soda rocket
95. Eat dinner on the patio
96. Set up a worm farm
97. Rent a paddle boat
98. Play with toy tractors in the dirt or sand
99. Play with vinegar and baking soda
100. Nature journaling
101. Paint pictures with liquid water color paints in squirt guns

What are your family's favorite outdoor activities?

If you enjoyed this post, check out:

-It's Healthy To Let Your Kids Be Bored Sometimes

-6 Reasons to Let Your Kids Play in the Mud

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