20 Fun + Safe Activities to Do With Your Kid(s) Outside
Me & Bebe having a blast on a see-saw swing - 2/29/24.
It’s no secret that people, particularly kids, no longer spend enough time outside. Granted, there are safety reasons to keep kids at home now that didn’t necessarily exist on a widespread scale 50 years ago. Additionally, the world is becoming increasingly fast-paced, which gives us working parents less time to go out with our children. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Getting out in the sun is going to be beneficial for everyone in your family, including yourself. Admittedly, my own family isn’t generally accustomed to getting out too much. Getting the toddler out of the house can sometimes feel daunting, and my partner and our teenager love just staying home and playing video games for hours on end, so I let it slide a lot of the time.
However, this past weekend, my partner, our two kids, and I all went to Ormond Beach, FL to walk and play on the beach. At first, we weren’t sure whether it would be worth it to go unless we were going to do a whole beach day, but we decided to make a day trip out of it and we had lunch there, too. It turned out to be a fantastic day; one that I’ll remember for sure. Our toddler loved the water and the sand and thoroughly enjoyed getting as messy as possible. Our teenager veered off on her own and came back to us with beautiful shells that she’d found in the sand. I picked out a few shells myself and they’re now sitting on my nightstand, a frequent reminder of our beautiful day at the beach.
Going forward, I would like to insist to my family more often that we should spend quality time together outside of the house and away from the screens. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not an anti-screen person. My family, including the toddler, gets their fair share of screen time every single day, and we usually have a TV running in the background at all times even if we’re not paying attention to it. But I also strongly believe in balance, and without that, then screens can potentially become harmful.
I’ve compiled some ideas for outdoor family time:
For families with little kids, take them to the playground.
Take a long walk through nearby neighborhoods.
Have a picnic. Go ahead and make it a 5-course meal with fancy dishes because why not?
Have a nature scavenger hunt. The rules can be whatever you and your family want them to be, but one idea would be to see who can find the most of a particular item (such as pine cones, acorns, etc.).
If you have a fire pit in your backyard, make s’mores. You could also roast some hotdogs.
Host a BBQ in your backyard or at a nearby park. If you don’t care for parties, you don’t have to invite too many people. Just a couple of friends or close family members.
Spooky night in your backyard - get some flashlights, pitch a tent in your backyard, and exchange some scary ghost stories (depending on what your kid(s) can handle, of course).
Find a scenic hiking trail - even if you have to travel a little to get there. I live in a very suburban area, so finding nature-y hiking trails is a bit of a challenge, but I’m willing to make the drive to a good trail.
Theme park/amusement park - if money is not an issue, this could be a great option. My family and I don’t live too far from Disney, and I cannot wait to take Bebe there for the first time.
Zoo/Aquarium - again, this may cost some money upfront but could make for some awesome memories.
Take your family to a museum - technically this is not outdoors but at least it’s outside of your house. There are some museums that offer free admission or offer designated “free” days. Going to a museum could offer both entertainment and an educational experience for you and your little ones.
Have a pool day - whether you have a pool in your backyard or a community pool nearby, this activity will generally keep kids entertained for hours on end. I remember being obsessed with the pool as a little kid, and those are childhood memories that I hold close. So grab your sunblock and inflatables, and go have a blast.
Go fruit-picking - depending on what’s in season where you live, you and your family can have a day out in the sun picking strawberries, blueberries, citrus fruits, etc. As a result, you’ll have healthy fruit to snack on at home, and you can make delicious pies out of it if you want.
Camping - this activity isn’t for everyone (myself included), but if you’re an outdoorsy type of person who is low-maintenance by nature, camping can be a ton of fun. I prefer the type of camping that includes, indoors, air-conditioning, electricity, internet, etc…
Painting - set up a few old-fashioned canvases outside on your porch/balcony/etc. and get to painting. This might be a little tricky if you have babies/toddlers, so I would say this should be reserved for 5+ year-olds.
Start a garden in your backyard and let your kids help - this is actually something I would love to do, once I own a house. I would love to plant avocados, zucchini, potatoes, etc. Not only will you be growing some of your own food, but it will probably be good for your mental health. There’s something about being in the sun and getting your hands dirty that helps with anxiety and depression - or so I’ve read.
Visit a state park - where I live, we have Wekiwa Springs State Park and De Leon Springs State Park, both of which include hiking trails, bodies of water to swim in, kayaking, canoeing, etc.
For low-key outdoor fun with your little ones, just blow some bubbles.
Chase your toddler(s) around in the backyard. Again, if you’re not looking to do anything elaborate and want to tire out your little ones, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Sidewalk chalk - you and your kids can create art, create obstacle courses, write out positive affirmations for people to read as they walk by, etc. The possibilities are endless.
XOXO, Alexis.