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Outdoor Activity Board – Do you see the sun? Me too. Somewhere between the first day of spring and the last day of school, my heart longs for outdoor activities for the kids. Sure, I’m a child of the 80s. It’s worth opening the garage door and asking the kids to come back by sundown.
But the reality is that days with toddlers and preschoolers aren’t that simple. I remember having small children and wondering how we were going to get to bed.
Outdoor Activity Board
The days felt SO LONG. As much as I enjoyed my time with them, I also needed to get outside and find a way to watch from a folded chair with a book I may or may not be able to read.
Ludo And Snakes & Ladders
Toddlers and preschoolers need a little help finding tools to start outdoor play. But once they do – MAGIC. Here are 50 outdoor activities for kids!
RELATED: If you’ve made it through the whole list of outdoor activities, you might need this list of indoor games to change it up!
I have our list of starter toys for any age or stage. For outdoor activities, these are the best backyard toys we’ve used for years for kids’ outdoor activities. Here are some of my favorites:
Is your child learning how to ride a balance or pedal bike? Here are the best bikes for kids.
Factory Supply Wholesale New Style Outdoor Activity Funny Surfing Equipment Surfboard Paddle Board
It’s so hard to pick a favorite! But I have a few tricks that are always a hit with the kids.
Splash the Alphabet is a favorite and a lot of fun! Add a drop of food coloring to the water bottles.
Choose a letter and pour it! We also have such wonderful memories of playing the chalk game outdoors. It’s like a board game that you can walk around. Ugh. Confused, right?
Another easy and enjoyable (I couldn’t resist) outdoor activity is Paint the Rocks. Some days we have to go rock hunting. Next step, paint them. Or, if you want some sensory play, try Bear Soup Sensory Play. How will I ever repay these bears for the joy they have brought to my children?! They are by far the favorite – and I still catch my eight-year-old playing with them. Take the bears outside for an outdoor water trough. Bear soup? I don’t mind if I do!
Tabletop And Lawn Games For Outdoor Fun (2022)
You know what else I tried? Taking the toys indoors and outside was a HUGE hit. I made this for Outdoor Tracks Water Play. The boys test race cars and try to land in buckets of water. (Always watch small children around water).
Of course, I couldn’t not mention the Musical Scavenger Hunt. A musical scavenger hunt is a great way to get outside and get moving. Play your favorite song. When it stops – run and grab something of the color you stop on. It’s great fun for all ages.
If you want to add some outdoor math, enable Shapes and Shaving Cream. We brought out our 3D shapes and made new sculptures. This is a great late morning activity outside before the sun gets too hot. When it heats up, bring everyone (and everything) down.
If shaving cream is your jam, then try Shaving Cream Pups. This sensory basket is amazing as kids dig in the cubs and spray them with a water bottle.
Giant Tic Tac Toss Yard Game
If your child is past shaving cream (although who is?!) and wants some extra sensory fun, give nature murals a go. It’s a two-step outdoor activity. First, collect the items outside. Next, glue them to a giant piece of wood or cardboard. A fun way to strengthen little hands, practice gluing and engage creativity.
One of my all-time favorites for fall is Pumpkin Balance. Can you balance a mini pumpkin on your head? It’s more complicated than it looks – but it gave us all a good laugh outside when we needed time out before dinner was ready.
Also, I can’t mention pumpkins without including Leaf Painting. I use butcher block from home improvement stores for exterior painting. Draw something that your child enjoys and the rest is up to him. Let your toddler and preschooler mix colors as they paint.
The outdoor play was a huge hit with my toddler, preschooler and big kid. Outdoor activities for children seem to bring all age groups together in collective play. My outdoor supplies are always on hand and ready to give us life. Do you have a favorite outdoor idea?
Diy Sensory Boards For Babies And Toddlers
Bringing toys outside is one of our favorite outdoor activities for long days at home. This is because moving toys to a different environment gives them new life. (like when you have a pile of goodies that your child discovers after months of tossing aside).
The best outdoor activity for kids gets kids moving. Our favorites include activities that encourage balancing, running, jumping or water play. These gross motor activities are fun ideas to do outside.
The right cold weather gear is everything when it comes to playing outside as the temperature drops. Look for clothes that hold more body heat than cotton. Children also need appropriate boots and warm socks to keep their toes and feet warm.
Outdoor activities for kids encourage large muscles in the body. We call these gross motor skills. Being outdoors also inspires creativity and helps physical and mental health. Hit your trail or head to the park with a friend using this list of outdoor activities for kids.
D.i.y. Toddler Activity Board
Days with Gray is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in myI’m pretty sure the dawn of Pinterest was the dawn of the Toddler Busy Board. At least that’s how it is for me. There are so many amazing ideas for busy boards on Pinterest, like Nova’s board or Rowan’s board, and my husband and I were all about jumping on that bandwagon.
They are a great DIY toy perfect for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, parents in their thirties… We made this board almost two years ago and it is still the most played with toy in our house by all the little ones who visit. It’s quite Hansel: it’s very hot right now.
Our busy board is especially unique because of the peek-a-boo learning feature. It takes it up a notch and gives it a little something special (obviously, in my humble opinion).
The list of supplies for a busy board could go on (and on and on). But mostly, they are up to your imagination and what your child would like to play with. My husband and I headed to the hardware store and let our minds wander. Two years later and there is nothing we would change.
Redstone (calgary, Ab)
What makes our board a little different is that the doors open to reveal the photos. We liked the idea of the boards we saw on Pinterest, but we wanted the locks and doors to be functional and have a purpose.
To do this, my husband used two pieces of plywood, one thick and one thin. The dense board is the top layer. In that section, he cut the doors using a router and then attached a thin piece of plywood to the back using screws.
I added photos using double-sided tape as a way to teach our children the names and faces of extended family members. “Go find Grandma!” Watching those little brains work to remember which door and which face is priceless.
Oh let me tell you, the kids just love this board! They (2.5 years and 14 months) love opening doors and twisting the faucet from the hose. Each of them can sit here for “hours” and play (hours in terms of toddlers are 10-20 minutes).
Active Outdoor Recess
We attached a red tip to the rope so they could see the reel turn it around and around.
On the back of the lock is the combination because we are too old to remember it. Sometimes children like it, sometimes they want to turn it on and off to turn it in their hand.
Unlocking the doors has proven to be the best challenge over the years. At 2.5 years old, my son is a professional! At 14 months old, my daughter does her best with unlocked doors to open them. Still very challenging!
Random chain is the best noise maker – we always hear a lot of fun music coming from it!
Outdoor Activities For Kids (of All Ages!)
I love the “maze” the best. After screwing in the back thinner board, my husband carved out a maze with his router and added carriage bolts. The screws don’t come out, but the kids have fun following the trail. So does mom.
Building a toddler busy board is one of the best DIY projects we’ve done and I’m so happy we have it. I can’t imagine ever getting rid of this! Above it is written “future grandchildren”. The added element of being a busy peek-a-boo toddler board makes it just that little bit more special.
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