20+ Outdoor Activities for Kids to Boost Their Spirits

With sunny, warm weather finally arriving in Ontario, Canada, my son “Onetime” and I have been spending so much more time outside (Yes!). Both our moods have improved and our energy levels have lifted!

I’m lucky that Onetime loves just being outside, walking around the neighbourhood and yard and exploring and playing. But if your child would rather stay indoors and watch TV, definitely check out today’s roundup of unique and fun outdoor activities for kids!

It never ceases to amaze me how different childhood is today compared to when I was a kid (boy, do I ever sound OLD! LOL).

But seriously – the amount of time that kids today spend inside versus outside has changed dramatically over the last 30 years.

This generation of children is actually being labeled as having something called “Nature Deficit Disorder.” And I have to wonder how that is impacting them NOW as well as in their futures.

There are so many benefits to playing outside for kids’ health (read this post: Health Benefits) and just overall for their sense of well-being.

Last summer, I collected 30 Fun Ways to Avoid Nature Deficit Disorder – and this year, I’m rounding up even more play ideas that just get kids OUTSIDE!

Unique Outdoor Play

Make Recycled Paper: You Clever Monkey – This activity can be done outside, and you can even add a nature-walk to collect flowers/leaves that can be added to the paper.

Simple Outdoor Mud Kitchen: Messy Little Monster – Love this messy and fun sensory activity!

DIY Flying Fish Paper Spinners: One Time Through – Make these spinners in 1 minute and play outside with them for an hour!

Painting with Nature: Left Brain Craft Brain – Go for a walk, collect some interesting natural objects and create some unique art!

Outdoor Rainbow Weaving: Where Imagination Grows – Decorate your backyard fence!

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint: A Little Pinch of Perfect – Spend time painting the driveway, bicycles, or house with this recipe.

How Bubbles Work and 20 Things to Do With Them: Left Brain Craft Brain – Easiest activity in the world – learn the science behind it!

Active Outdoor Play

Wind and Kite Preschool Activities: My Bright Firefly – Learn about weather in a fun, hands-on way with this unit.

Sponge and Water Play Ideas: One Time Through – Get 10+ ideas for outdoor water play!

How to Organize a Sensory Nature Scavenger Hunt: Wonder Baby – Enhance the senses with this fun scavenger hunt.

Rainbow Photo Hunt: Totschooling – An activity guaranteed to get the kids appreciating the beauty of nature.

Learn and Play Outdoors

Sandbox Geography: Books and Giggles – An amazing idea for your backyard sandbox that will get the kids learning about map reading.

Springtime Photo Scavenger Hunt Book: One Time Through – Teach your kids the basics of using a digital camera and create your own “Spring Is…” book.

Make Alphabet Writing Practise Fun: Sparkling Buds – Super simple way to get the kids moving, having fun, and working on writing.

Printable Bird Watch Tally Sheet: Fantastic Fun and Learning – Learn about birds while improving basic math skills.

Backyard Learning Activities: Totschooling – A wonderful collection of learning outdoor activities for little ones.

Earth Friendly Play

Grow a Themed Flower Garden: Share It Science News – Got garden space? Check out these rainbow and butterfly garden ideas.

DIY Underwater Magnifying Glass: One Time Through – Make this magnifying glass with recyclables from home and have a fun afternoon with it at the local pond.

Encouraging Kids to Garden: Mum in the Madhouse – Lots of tips for future gardeners.

Seed Hunting and Collecting for Kids: One Time Through – Wander the neighbourhood or local conservation area to start a cool nature collection.

Hope you enjoy checking out some of these outdoor activities for kids and that you get a nice vitamin D boost too!

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