How much time did you spend playing outside as a kid—and how does it compare to your own child?

Today, many children spend significantly less time outdoors than their parents did for several reasons:

• Different lifestyles
• Safety concerns
• Access to nature
• Busy family schedules
• The rise of screen-time and indoor play
  

Countless studies have shown that kids who regularly play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious. They have more space to work on developmental skills, from fine and gross motor movement to problem-solving and creativity. Time outside is so important to children's well-being that in recent years, scientists have coined the term nature-deficit disorder.

So let's get your kiddo playing outside as summer approaches! We'll bring the sunscreen, but skip the screens. 

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1. Nature exploration

Little ones are naturally inclined to stop and observe interesting things in the big world around them. This is something to encourage, especially in the warmer months as plants, animals, and people are reinvigorated. You can follow your child’s lead or point out sights and guide the observation. No speck of wonder is too small or mundane to appreciate. You can do this anywhere you go. Noticing and attention are valuable skills. The more you and your child practice, the more you’ll see.

2. Water play

Water offers a range of play options. For little ones, the simplest activities are often the most engaging. Set up a comfortable spot outside, fill a tub with water, and gather a variety of child-safe cups and bottles. Encourage your kiddo to pour water into vessels of different sizes, trying not to spill. In addition to gross and fine motor skills, this is an opportunity to work on comparison and teach your child light vs. heavy and full vs. empty. At the end of the play session, use cups to water thirsty plants.

Image via Twin Mom Refreshed

3. Treasure hunt

Gather a few familiar items from inside (small toys, balls, stuffed animals, etc.) and hide them outside for your child to find. You can introduce the activity by showing them the items you’re hiding and then counting down as they find them and offering a few hints. “You found your bear! Now there are 4 more treasures to find!” The more you play this game, the more you can challenge your child with trickier hiding spots. You can also reverse roles and have them hide treasures for you to find.

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4. Chalk art

Swap markers and crayons with colorful sidewalk chalk and let your kiddo get creative (and work on fine motor skills) outside. Don’t have your own stretch of concrete? Head to a local park to find the perfect canvas.

Chalk art can be completely open-ended, or you can introduce more structured activities, like:

• Playing hopscotch or tic-tac-toe
• Driving toy vehicles downs chalk “roads”
• Drawing outlines of hands, feet, bodies, or shadows
• Practicing letter and number writing

Image via Happy Toddler Playtime

5. Bubbles

No explanation needed here! Bubbles are an easy sensory activity that can be enjoyed almost anywhere and explored in a variety of ways. You can simply fill a bucket with warm water and dish soap and invite your child to splash around and handle bubbles. (This is a great way to get them to wash grubby toys!) Or you can give them a bubble wand or blower and have them chase after and try to catch bubbles.

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6. Leaf rubbings

Take a walk outside with little one and collect leaves of different shapes and sizes. This is an excellent time to introduce new vocabulary words for different types of trees and plants, shapes, textures, and colors. After you’ve gathered a good variety, find a sturdy surface and place a sheet of white paper over a leaf with its veins facing up. Gently rub the colored pencil over the leaf to capture the textures and shapes. This activity takes some dexterity and fine motor skills. Try modeling it for your child first, then let them practice again and again.

Image via Mama.Papa.Bubba

7. Creature safari

Wherever you live, there’s bound to be animal life to observe. You’ll want to guide this activity to keep your child safe from insect bites or unfamiliar animals. Head to your backyard or local park and see how many animals you can find. Pets count, but try looking for wildlife. Carefully turn over rocks or look inside flowerbeds to see if you spot ants, spiderwebs, beetles, and other insects. Look for songbirds in trees or geese in water. Model how to observe these creatures from a safe and respectful distance. Turn rocks back over and leave these pockets of nature as you found them. If you and your child are comfortable, you can make this activity more hands-on, but there’s plenty of wonder in looking without touching.