50 Outdoor Activities for 2 to 4 Year Olds
Messy Play and Arts and Crafts Outdoors
One thing I love about summer is it’s a chance to get outdoors for messy play and you don't have to worry about paint or pen getting on furniture or walls. Here are some ideas:
1.) Paint rocks and stones
2.) Painting pictures outdoors - Take the easel and paints outdoors and let them paint pictures in the backyard
3.) Have a “pretend cooking session” outdoors - Get them some bowls and items from the kitchen they can mix together. It could be oats, cereal, water, pasta - whatever you have. Let them mix up and cook what they want. Kids really love this.
4.) Sidewalk chalk - kids love chalking on the drive and concrete outdoors. And when they’ve finished the rain can wash it away.
5.) Bubbles - 2 to 4 year olds will love bubbles. They love chasing them, popping them, trying to catch them, watching them and trying to blow them.
6.) Make a mud pie
7.) Paint with pine cones - Go for a walk and collect pine cones. Then have a painting session. Find out more painting with pine cones.
8.) Foot Print Painting - paint with your feet. Put your feet in some paint and walk outdoors on some white paper.
9.) Leave rubbing - a good outdoor activity for 2, 3 and 4 year olds in the autumn. Go and collect some leaves. Then use the leaves to do leave rubbings with crayons and paper.
1.) Paint rocks and stones
2.) Painting pictures outdoors - Take the easel and paints outdoors and let them paint pictures in the backyard
3.) Have a “pretend cooking session” outdoors - Get them some bowls and items from the kitchen they can mix together. It could be oats, cereal, water, pasta - whatever you have. Let them mix up and cook what they want. Kids really love this.
4.) Sidewalk chalk - kids love chalking on the drive and concrete outdoors. And when they’ve finished the rain can wash it away.
5.) Bubbles - 2 to 4 year olds will love bubbles. They love chasing them, popping them, trying to catch them, watching them and trying to blow them.
6.) Make a mud pie
7.) Paint with pine cones - Go for a walk and collect pine cones. Then have a painting session. Find out more painting with pine cones.
8.) Foot Print Painting - paint with your feet. Put your feet in some paint and walk outdoors on some white paper.
9.) Leave rubbing - a good outdoor activity for 2, 3 and 4 year olds in the autumn. Go and collect some leaves. Then use the leaves to do leave rubbings with crayons and paper.
Ball Games
Kids between ages of 2 and 4 love balls and ball games. Here are some ideas:
10.) Soccer shoot out - have a goal set up (it could be two pieces of clothing set a little way apart and get your child to try and score a goal.
11.) Mini-Bowling - you can build some towers with big bricks and then have a bowling game outside to see if you can knock them down. Use a soft big ball. It doesn't have to be towers of bricks, you could use tin cans or empty plastic bottles to knock down.
12.) Throw Ball At / Through a Target - this can be quite simple. You have a basket and kids have to try and throw a ball in it. Or can they throw a ball through a hula hoop. Or use a hoola hoop as a target.
10.) Soccer shoot out - have a goal set up (it could be two pieces of clothing set a little way apart and get your child to try and score a goal.
11.) Mini-Bowling - you can build some towers with big bricks and then have a bowling game outside to see if you can knock them down. Use a soft big ball. It doesn't have to be towers of bricks, you could use tin cans or empty plastic bottles to knock down.
12.) Throw Ball At / Through a Target - this can be quite simple. You have a basket and kids have to try and throw a ball in it. Or can they throw a ball through a hula hoop. Or use a hoola hoop as a target.
walking
It's not a phone but a piece of lego! Walking with a 4 year old who is also "filming" the action.
13.) Go on a child led walk - Children often moan about walking but only it's only because we make them to it our way. Go for a walk anywhere, near your house, in the woods or at the park. But the deal is they get to set the pace and they can lead the way. At least for a while anyway. It can be really interesting to see where they go. They will stop and look at things for a long time on occasion. You might not go very far but you can talk about everything you see and it’s good to get them outside and moving.
14.) Nature trail - go on a nature trail and see what kinds of things you can find and see. A great way to do this is to give little kids a sheet with a picture of things to look out for. They can then tick a box when they have seen it.
15.) Collect Leaves - a great outdoor activity for 2 to 4 year olds in the fall is to collect leaves on a walk. How many different types of leaves of different colors and shapes can you collect. When you take them hope you can use them for sticking and other craft activities too.
16.) Walking Bingo - give young kids a card with pictures of things they have to see on their walk (a bird, a plant, an insect, a tree etc). As they see the objects, you can cross it off on the card.
14.) Nature trail - go on a nature trail and see what kinds of things you can find and see. A great way to do this is to give little kids a sheet with a picture of things to look out for. They can then tick a box when they have seen it.
15.) Collect Leaves - a great outdoor activity for 2 to 4 year olds in the fall is to collect leaves on a walk. How many different types of leaves of different colors and shapes can you collect. When you take them hope you can use them for sticking and other craft activities too.
16.) Walking Bingo - give young kids a card with pictures of things they have to see on their walk (a bird, a plant, an insect, a tree etc). As they see the objects, you can cross it off on the card.
Games
17.) Obstacle Course - Set up an obstacle course in the backyard. This can be really simple and you don't necessarily need equipment. It could be throwing a ball, stepping 5 steps, jumping up and down on the spot 5 times, running to the end or a line, stepping over an obstacle, throwing a ball in a bucket. The imagination is the limit.
If you do have slides, crawl tunnels and other outdoor toys these could be incorporated in the obstacle course too.
18.) Hide and Seek
19.) Treasure Hunts - treasure hunts can be really simple for young children. Hide red objects in the backyard, give them a basket and see how many they can find. They can get a prize at the end if you wish. If it’s Easter you can hide chocolate etc. The younger the child, the easier it should be to find the “treasure”. You can adjust this activity to make it age appropriate.
20.) Play I spy with colors outside - my son loves playing i spy but we use colors. So I spy something blue and the person has to guess which blue thing they can see.
21.) Wellie throwing - take a wellie to a big wide open space and see how far you can throw it. Or make a circle outside marked out with stones or something else. Then stand a little bit away and see if you can throw the wellie in the circle.
22.) Mini-Golf - there are some quite cheap toddler golf sets you can buy. Great for hand and eye co-ordination. Or make your own sets out of cardboard tubes, using books for ramps, food cans for obstacles to go around and cups at the end of each hole. Or you can go and about and play crazy golf on a special course.
23.) Hide the object - instead of playing hide and seek, hide an object in the backyard. Then the kids try and find it. You can make it easier if you need to by giving clues and / or instructions to the kids as to where to find the object. Or shout hotter or colder as they move towards or away from the object.
24.) Balloons - there are lots of games and activities 2 to 4 year olds can play outdoors with balloons. Throw and catch a balloon is one. Try and burst the balloon by sitting on it is another (this is probably best suited to 4 year olds and up). Or what about balloon tap. Throw a balloon in the air and see how long they can keep it in the air by tapping it upwards. If they can count, they can count the number of taps they manage before the balloon falls to the floor.
If you do have slides, crawl tunnels and other outdoor toys these could be incorporated in the obstacle course too.
18.) Hide and Seek
19.) Treasure Hunts - treasure hunts can be really simple for young children. Hide red objects in the backyard, give them a basket and see how many they can find. They can get a prize at the end if you wish. If it’s Easter you can hide chocolate etc. The younger the child, the easier it should be to find the “treasure”. You can adjust this activity to make it age appropriate.
20.) Play I spy with colors outside - my son loves playing i spy but we use colors. So I spy something blue and the person has to guess which blue thing they can see.
21.) Wellie throwing - take a wellie to a big wide open space and see how far you can throw it. Or make a circle outside marked out with stones or something else. Then stand a little bit away and see if you can throw the wellie in the circle.
22.) Mini-Golf - there are some quite cheap toddler golf sets you can buy. Great for hand and eye co-ordination. Or make your own sets out of cardboard tubes, using books for ramps, food cans for obstacles to go around and cups at the end of each hole. Or you can go and about and play crazy golf on a special course.
23.) Hide the object - instead of playing hide and seek, hide an object in the backyard. Then the kids try and find it. You can make it easier if you need to by giving clues and / or instructions to the kids as to where to find the object. Or shout hotter or colder as they move towards or away from the object.
24.) Balloons - there are lots of games and activities 2 to 4 year olds can play outdoors with balloons. Throw and catch a balloon is one. Try and burst the balloon by sitting on it is another (this is probably best suited to 4 year olds and up). Or what about balloon tap. Throw a balloon in the air and see how long they can keep it in the air by tapping it upwards. If they can count, they can count the number of taps they manage before the balloon falls to the floor.
Gardening activities
25.) Plant sunflower seeds - grow a sunflower. Start your seeds of in plastic cups and when they have started to grow transfer them outdoors.
26.) Weeding - You can show young children how to pull out weeds. They might not be very good at it, but they can have a go.
27.) Watering the plants - what young child doesn't like watering the plants with a watering can.
28.) Dig and Explore - Kids love digging in the dirt. If you don't mind, let them dig a hole while you are gardening. Perhaps you can use it to plant something. How deep can they dig. Let them dig where they can in the soil and see what kind of insects they can find.
26.) Weeding - You can show young children how to pull out weeds. They might not be very good at it, but they can have a go.
27.) Watering the plants - what young child doesn't like watering the plants with a watering can.
28.) Dig and Explore - Kids love digging in the dirt. If you don't mind, let them dig a hole while you are gardening. Perhaps you can use it to plant something. How deep can they dig. Let them dig where they can in the soil and see what kind of insects they can find.
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29.) Bug Hunt - this can be done as part of gardening. How many bugs and insects can you find while gardening but it can also can be done as part of a walk, perhaps in the woods.
You can make it a kind of a scavenger hunt and have a card with pictures of bugs on and see how many you tick off. Or take photos of the insects and bugs you can find. |
For Creatives
Not all kids are running around, climbing, jumping types. If you have a calmer, imaginative child consider the following:
29.) Take pictures - kids from around age 3 or 4 love to take pictures. There are some great cameras designed for very young children to use. It’s really interesting to see the kind of photos they like to take.
30.) Play tents - play tents are great for young children. They can use them for all kinds of imaginative play. They are easy to put up and take down. They are perfect to sit in for some shade when the sun gets too hot. Kids can take their books and toys inside to read and play.
31.) Build a train track outdoors - it can be really fun to create a train track in the outside and you can use different objects in your backyard as obstacles and to enhance your train track to.
29.) Take pictures - kids from around age 3 or 4 love to take pictures. There are some great cameras designed for very young children to use. It’s really interesting to see the kind of photos they like to take.
30.) Play tents - play tents are great for young children. They can use them for all kinds of imaginative play. They are easy to put up and take down. They are perfect to sit in for some shade when the sun gets too hot. Kids can take their books and toys inside to read and play.
31.) Build a train track outdoors - it can be really fun to create a train track in the outside and you can use different objects in your backyard as obstacles and to enhance your train track to.
water play
32.) Paint the walls. - a great one for younger children. Get them a bucket of water and a paintbrush and they will have great fun “painting” the walls and the fences outside. Keeps them occupied for hours.
33.) Buckets of water and containers - just giving younger child buckets and containers of water to play with outside can be very entertaining for them. They will enjoy pouring water with smaller containers in between bigger containers.
34.) Inflatable pool - if it’s really hot get the inflatable pool out for hours of paddling and splashing
35.) Bucket of ice - a good activity for the summer especially for the little ones. Give them a bucket of ice and watch them play with the ice and see how it melts.
36.) Toy Car Wash - take all your toy cars outside and have fun washing them in the "car wash". You can use tubs with bubbles in them. And fill up a watering can to wash them off.
37.) Enjoy the rain - don't think that you have to stay indoors just because it's wet and raining. Get outdoors in your waterproofs and wellies and enjoy the rain. Jump in the puddles, run in the rain, twirl your umbrellas, catch raindrops with a container from the sky, see which insects come out and about when it gets wet and lots more.
33.) Buckets of water and containers - just giving younger child buckets and containers of water to play with outside can be very entertaining for them. They will enjoy pouring water with smaller containers in between bigger containers.
34.) Inflatable pool - if it’s really hot get the inflatable pool out for hours of paddling and splashing
35.) Bucket of ice - a good activity for the summer especially for the little ones. Give them a bucket of ice and watch them play with the ice and see how it melts.
36.) Toy Car Wash - take all your toy cars outside and have fun washing them in the "car wash". You can use tubs with bubbles in them. And fill up a watering can to wash them off.
37.) Enjoy the rain - don't think that you have to stay indoors just because it's wet and raining. Get outdoors in your waterproofs and wellies and enjoy the rain. Jump in the puddles, run in the rain, twirl your umbrellas, catch raindrops with a container from the sky, see which insects come out and about when it gets wet and lots more.
Out and about
38.) Running Down Hills - kids of all ages love running up and down hill. Have races. Roll down them too. Smaller hills are fab for younger children and older kids will love the bigger hills.
39.) Feed the ducks
40.) Play poohsticks - Head to a stream and gather up some sticks, stand on a bridge and then have a family competition to see whose stick floats the fastest.
41.) Playground - it's obvious, but don't forget the playground. Make it interesting by going to different playgrounds and not just attending the same one. You may be missing out on a great playground that's not far from your doorstep.
42.) Boats - young children may enjoy watching the boats but also going on them. There are boat trips along rivers and out on the sea if you are near some water. 2 to 4 year olds can also go on pedalos on lakes with adults.
43.) Trains and buses - another fun activity for young children is to spot trains and buses and also travel on one. It's exciting if you don't do it all the time already.
44.) Farms - young children love looking at young animals. Look to see if there are any local petting farms near you where they can get close to the animals and maybe have a go at feeding them.
45.) Throw stones in the water - if there is a body of water near you, kids love throwing stones in there. How far can they throw a stone. Which stone makes the biggest splash? How many stones can they throw in there at once?
46.) Visit the skatepark - 2, 3 and 4 year olds are too young to use the skatepark when it is busy. However, my sons used to love watching the big kids on their skateboards and scooters. And when it was quiet (generally on a weekday) we used to go and have a go at some of the smaller ramps. They can just walk up the small ones or take their scooter. Obviously it's a good idea to be very careful and have a helmet and safety gear.
47.) Have a picnic breakfast or dinner in the park - picnics are generally for lunch time but make it a bit different one day and have a picnic at a different time of the day. A picnic breakfast gets you out and about early in the day. A picnic dinner is a great way to end the day and have fun outside.
39.) Feed the ducks
40.) Play poohsticks - Head to a stream and gather up some sticks, stand on a bridge and then have a family competition to see whose stick floats the fastest.
41.) Playground - it's obvious, but don't forget the playground. Make it interesting by going to different playgrounds and not just attending the same one. You may be missing out on a great playground that's not far from your doorstep.
42.) Boats - young children may enjoy watching the boats but also going on them. There are boat trips along rivers and out on the sea if you are near some water. 2 to 4 year olds can also go on pedalos on lakes with adults.
43.) Trains and buses - another fun activity for young children is to spot trains and buses and also travel on one. It's exciting if you don't do it all the time already.
44.) Farms - young children love looking at young animals. Look to see if there are any local petting farms near you where they can get close to the animals and maybe have a go at feeding them.
45.) Throw stones in the water - if there is a body of water near you, kids love throwing stones in there. How far can they throw a stone. Which stone makes the biggest splash? How many stones can they throw in there at once?
46.) Visit the skatepark - 2, 3 and 4 year olds are too young to use the skatepark when it is busy. However, my sons used to love watching the big kids on their skateboards and scooters. And when it was quiet (generally on a weekday) we used to go and have a go at some of the smaller ramps. They can just walk up the small ones or take their scooter. Obviously it's a good idea to be very careful and have a helmet and safety gear.
47.) Have a picnic breakfast or dinner in the park - picnics are generally for lunch time but make it a bit different one day and have a picnic at a different time of the day. A picnic breakfast gets you out and about early in the day. A picnic dinner is a great way to end the day and have fun outside.
In the Winter
Being outside doesn't just have to be in the summer. It's a good idea to have outdoor activities for 2 to 4 year olds to do in the winter months especially if you want to wear them out.
48.) Sledging - for younger 2 year olds, you can pull them around on a sledge. As they get older they may want to have a go on a slede on small slopes independently.
49.) Water table - a water table doesn't have to be just for the summer months. Keep it outside in the winter and watch the water freeze over. Dress kids warmly and they can enjoy touching and feeling the ice. It's also great when water tables fill up with snow for fun snow play outdoors.
50.) Ice skating - you can get ice skates for younger children with double runners so they can easily glide on the ice. There are often many outdoor ice skating rinks that pop up around Christmas time, so this is a good time to see what is available in your area. Some ice skate rinks provide ride ons that little ones can sit on while you push them around which can be fun for adults and children.
48.) Sledging - for younger 2 year olds, you can pull them around on a sledge. As they get older they may want to have a go on a slede on small slopes independently.
49.) Water table - a water table doesn't have to be just for the summer months. Keep it outside in the winter and watch the water freeze over. Dress kids warmly and they can enjoy touching and feeling the ice. It's also great when water tables fill up with snow for fun snow play outdoors.
50.) Ice skating - you can get ice skates for younger children with double runners so they can easily glide on the ice. There are often many outdoor ice skating rinks that pop up around Christmas time, so this is a good time to see what is available in your area. Some ice skate rinks provide ride ons that little ones can sit on while you push them around which can be fun for adults and children.
