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Ahh summer! The weather is finally warm enough to spend the whole day outside!
While it can be tempting for some kids to stay inside to avoid the hot weather, make sure your little ones don’t miss out on some summer activities outside!
Playing outdoors has tons of benefits for kids. It can expand their creativity, they’re more physically active, (decreasing the risk of obesity), it reduces stress levels, increases problem solving skills, and more!
Plus playing outdoors and getting that fresh air will have a positive effect on your kids sleep. My kids always sleep really well after they spend lots of time outside.
These are some favorite backyard summer activities for your family and places you can go to enjoy the warm weather.
10 outdoor summer activities for kids
Gardening- You can teach your child about how plants grow by having them tend to a garden or create their own garden. You can get some gardening tools for kids to encourage them to dig in the dirt, help plant, and to water the plants.
My kids both LOVE to dig in the dirt and they also like to pull weeds, (total win-win because they get to do something they love and I don’t have to pull the weeds!). Plus I firmly believe it’s good for kids to get dirty. They need to be around normal dirt and germs to build up a healthy immune system.
Sandbox- We have a sandbox and it is AMAZING. Both my kids love to sit in it and play for hours. They build sandcastles or bring in some sand friendly toys from the house, and it keeps them occupied for a long time!
Water table – This is probably one of the best outside toys because they have tons of possibilities for how you can use them! Besides water, you can fill them with water beads or tapioca beads, (for kids who still put things in their mouths), or bubbles! With bubbles you can set up a washing station and have water friendly toys that your kids can scrub down.
Chalk- Who doesn’t love chalk?! And now they come in so many different colors/textures, (neon, striped, GLITTER). We are a fan of all chalk but especially the glitter ones 🙂
Bubbles- Of course you have to have bubbles because your kids can chase the bubbles, trying to catch them. Another great thing about using bubbles outside is it’s a great opportunity for your kids to blow their own bubbles.
My kids always want to blow bubbles when we’re inside and because they usually end up being spilled, they don’t get to very often. But when we’re outside, I don’t mind if they drip or spill the bubbles.
Go on a scavenger hunt around your yard or neighborhood- You can have your kids look for various nature items, which is not only fun but educational too. You can even add a math element in by asking them to look for a certain number of items, (2 dandelions, 3 acorns, 4 leaves, 5 clovers, etc.).
Baby pools and sprinklers- Perfect for the hottest of days! Let them run through the sprinkler and expend all that energy or splash around in the pool.
Eat popsicles outside- Another perfect outside activity! If they drip all over themselves, who cares?! You can have them run through the sprinkler or hose the sticky mess off. But it’s an awesome way to enjoy the summer and keep cool by having a delicious popsicle.
Go to the beach- Some of my favorite memories are going to the beach with my mom and sister when I was little. So now I make it a point to go to the beach with my kids at least a handful of times every summer
You can spend half a day there easily! Your kids definitely won’t get bored with the endless play opportunities with the sand, water, and seashells.
Don’t forget to use sunscreen and to reapply often if your kids are in the sun for a long time or if they go in the water!
The playground- Beyond having fun, your kids will learn important social skills being around other kids, build strength and agility navigating the different areas of a playground, and boost their confidence.
It’s amazing to see how proud your kids are once they’ve finally mastered something they couldn’t do before, (like climb a challenging ladder, learn to swing by themselves, do the monkey bars alone, and more).
Final thoughts
What’s also nice about many of these summer activities for kids is they can be hands off. That means you can participate when you want, or relax, chill, and enjoy the weather while your kids play!
Long, lazy, hot summer days are my favorite! I love that it stays light for so long and as long as it isn’t torrentially raining, we can stay outside nearly the whole day.
It’s an amazing time to build memories and let your kids explore their senses in a new way.
These outdoor activities will ensure your kids won’t get bored outside this summer!
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