Outdoor Activities That Kids Love

/ Mary, Mother of the Light Academy/

Fall is almost here and the weather is going to start cooling down. Well…here in South Florida, it will cool down by at least…like…a couple degrees.

Kids LOVE being outside and we encourage you to let them enjoy fresh air and sunshine!

In case you need some inspiration, check out the outdoor activity ideas below!

Rock Out:
What kid doesn’t love digging in the dirt?  Amateur geology is fun!  Go for a walk, or a small hike, and check out all the rocks, semi-precious gems, petrified wood and shells you see   along the way. If you’re going to be digging through sand or dirt, don’t forget to bring gloves.  If you’re in it for collecting, bring a pail or some baggies.  The best part about this activity is you can have souvenir of a day with your little.

Liquid Art:
If you live in an area with snow, or a light colored surface, this activity will be a big hit.  Mix some water with food coloring and pour it into spray bottles.  Give it a shake and let you toddler go spray crazy.  This is a great way to get the creative juices flowing AND to explain the colors of the rainbow to your little one (hello, Roy G Biv).  You can even blow their mind by mixing colors and creating new ones! 

Bird Watching:
This is a great option for lowkey days or even when your kids are with their grandparents.  Grab a pair of binoculars and post up at a park or playground.  Watch the sky, watch the trees, watch the bushes and even pay attention to the ground level calling out all the different feathered friends you find.  Observe size, feather color and behaviors. Bring a bird book or be ready to Google! Depending on  your child’s age, you might need to be more descriptive about what they’re actually seeing. 

Nature’s Music:
Step 1) Collect pebbles, rocks, twigs and tiny branches.  Step 2) Take your collection and place in a jar or can and seal it up. Step 3) SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE and let the dance party commence.    

I-Spy:
One of the best ways to keep the outdoors entertaining is to play a game that never goes out of style…I-Spy.  This is a great way to encourage conversation with your toddler and get them to notice things they never noticed before about the outdoors. 

It’s important to make time for your child but even more important that the time you spend together is valuable and educational.  These outdoor activities aren’t just entertaining, they’re educational and prime bonding time material.