Summer is the perfect time for toddlers to explore the great outdoors, soaking up the sun while engaging in activities that offer plenty of learning opportunities.
Outdoor play is crucial for kids, and toddlers especially, giving them the chance to develop essential physical, social, and cognitive skills.
As they run, jump, and explore, they refine their motor skills, while also learning to interact with other children and adults, as well as the beautiful natural world around them.
So make the most of the sunny season with our best outdoor summer activities for toddlers. Each activity is designed to be engaging, safe, and packed with fun, ensuring your little one develops important skills, whilst creating happy memories. From water play to nature scavenger hunts, these activities will keep your preschoolers entertained and active all season long.
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1. Nature Walks
Nature walks are an amazingl way to introduce little ones to the beauty of the natural world. Take a relaxed (as much as it can be with a toddler) stroll through a park, nature reserve, or any green space and allow your child to explore their surroundings at their own pace.
As you walk, point out various plants, trees, insects, and animals, and encourage your toddler to explore and ask questions.
They’ll love spotting bugs, different colors of flowers and plants with interesting textures!
Benefits of nature walks
- Physical activity
- Learning about flowers, plants, animals
- Exposure to vitamin D
- Encourages an appreciation for the natural world
Make it more engaging
To make nature walks even more engaging, why not incorporate a fun sherlock scavenger hunt. Create a simple list of items for your toddler to find, like a pinecone, a feather, a smooth rock, or a yellow flower. You could even add a magnifying glass to take the ‘investigation’ to the next level!

2. Playing at the Playground
Playgrounds are great spaces for toddlers to develop their motor skills and social skills.
These vibrant environments are designed to challenge and engage little ones, helping them build strength, coordination, and confidence as they navigate different bits of equipment.
Climbing structures, slides, and swings all contribute to developing gross motor skills, while interactive elements like sandboxes and play panels help to improve fine motor skills and creativity.
Just as important, playgrounds are also social hubs where toddlers learn to interact with peers, share, take turns, and even build friendships!
Always watch your toddler closely at the playground, especially on a busy day and when they’re exploring new equipment.
To protect against the sun, dress your little one in lightweight, long-sleeved clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and apply high-SPF sunscreen regularly. Encourage regular water breaks to keep your toddler hydrated, especially on hot summer days.
Benefits of playing at the playground
- Improves motor skills
- Muscle strength
- Fitness
- Builds social interaction skills
- It’s great fun!
Make it more engaging
To make playground visits even more engaging, you could bring along toys like balls, bubbles, or a small bucket and shovel for the sandbox. Create mini-challenges for your toddler, such as counting the steps on a ladder or timing how fast they can slide down and run back. You could also invite friends or arrange playdates at the playground to make the day more social and enjoyable, both for your little one and for you!
3. Water Play
Water play is the perfect way to keep little ones cool and entertained during the hot summer months. Items like splash pads, kiddie pools, and water tables provide endless fun. Splash pads are great for keeping the whole family cool (even the grown-ups!), kiddie pools offer a contained space for splashing and playing with water toys, and water tables are great for sensory-rich activities like pouring, scooping, and floating objects.

Benefits of water play
- Water play is a great way to cool down on hot days
- Improves motor skills
- Improves cognitive abilities – especially when discovering what sinks and what floats
Make it more engaging
To make water play even more engaging for toddlers, offer them a variety of toys and activities. Provide water-safe toys like boats, cups, and funnels for them to explore and you could even add different textured items like sponges – they’ll love squeezing out the water.
You could create simple games like toy boat races or a treasure hunts, where they search for objects hidden under the water. If your little one is feeling creative, they’ll love bath crayons. They can draw and color on the bath to their heart’s content and it will easily wash off afterwards!
Finally, add a splash of amazing color to the water using child-safe dyes (like these color tablets, suitable for age 2+) or floating colored balls. Of course, it’s crucial to make sure that water play is supervised closely to make sure your little ones stay safe, especially around deeper water like baths and kiddie pools.
Read Next: Splash-tastic Adventures: 10 Water Activities for Toddlers
4. Gardening
Gardening is a wonderful outdoor activity that allows toddlers to connect with nature while learning about plants and growth. Engaging your little one in simple gardening tasks, such as planting seeds, watering plants, and digging in the soil, is super fun as well as educational.
These hands-on activities help them understand the basics of how plants grow and the care they need to thrive.
Try planting easy-to-grow flowers and plants like sunflowers and herbs. Grab a toddler-friendly gardening set, and get ready to raise a green thumb!

Benefits of gardening with toddlers
- Learn basic scientific concepts, like plant life cycles
- Improves understanding of healthy eating
- Encourages a love of nature
- Sensory opportunities with different textures and smells
Make it more engaging
Make gardening more engaging by involving little ones in decorating their garden area with painted rocks or plant markers they’ve created. Encourage them to ask questions and share thoughts about their plants. They’ll love watching them grow!
Read Next: Green Thumbs, Little Fingers: Gardening with Toddlers
5. Sidewalk Chalk Art
Sidewalk chalk art is a fun and creative activity for summer! With a rainbow of vibrant chalk colors, your little one can create pictures, patterns, and even games like hopscotch, on the patio or sidewalk. All you need is a pack of outdoor chalks like this awesome jumbo set!

Benefits of sidewalk chalk art
- Encourages creativity
- Develops motor skills
- Plenty of learning opportunities
Make it more engaging
To make chalk art activities more engaging for your little one, provide different colors and sizes of chalk to inspire different kinds of artwork. You can also use stencils to help them draw specific shapes, letters, or animals. Set up simple games like hopscotch, tic-tac-toe, or drawing a maze for them to navigate. You could even use water to blend and create unique effects with the chalk.
Read Next: How to Create the Perfect Summer Schedule for Your Preschooler
6. Obstacle Courses
Setting up simple obstacle courses in your backyard or at a local park is a great way to keep toddlers active and entertained. They can be tailored to fit the available space and can easily be adapted to suit your child’s age and abilities.
Obstacle courses involve a series of physical challenges that toddlers can navigate, encouraging them to stay healthy and have fun too!
Benefits of obstacle courses
- Improve coordination
- Build muscles
- Develop agility and balance
- Use problem solving skills

What to use
You don’t need a bunch of expensive equipment to create an obstacle course; standard household items work really well! Here are some ideas:
– Tunnels: Use large cardboard boxes or pop-up play tunnels for children to crawl through.
– Balance Beams: Lay a wooden plank or a line of tape on the ground for toddlers to practice their balance.
– Hurdles: Set up small hurdles using pool noodles or low stools for them to jump over.
– Jumping Stations: Place hula hoops on the ground for children to jump in and out of.
– Weaving Paths: Use cones, chairs, or other markers to create a zigzag path that toddlers can weave through.
– Target Throws: Set up buckets or bins for children to throw balls or beanbags into.
– Stepping Stones: Lay out pillows or cushions as stepping stones to jump between.
Make it more engaging
To make the obstacle course even more engaging, time your little one as they complete the course and encourage them to beat their previous times. You can also turn it into a fun relay race if multiple children are giving it a go.
7. Bubble Play
All kids love playing with bubbles, and especially babies and toddlers. Chasing and popping them will keep them entertained for house, providing loads of fun for your little one. Whether you use a bubble pot, bubble machine or bubble wand, you can’t go wrong with this awesome summer activity.

Benefits of playing with bubbles
- Improves motor skills
- Enhances coordination and balance
- Provides sensory experiences
Make it more engaging
To make bubble play even more engaging, you could experiment with different homemade bubble solutions and bubble wands made from household items like straws, string, and pipe cleaners.
8. Picnics
Enjoying meals outdoors is a wonderful way to spend quality time with your toddler while making the most of the summer sun.
Picnics can turn an ordinary meal into a fun adventure, allowing families to connect with nature, and with each other. You can have a picnic at a local park, lake or just in your backyard!

Picnics are a great opportunity to bond with family and friends and learn about the importance of eating a rainbow.
Benefits of picnics with toddlers
- Social interaction
- Spending time in nature
- Learning about healthy eating
Make it more engaging
To make picnics more engaging for toddlers, bring along outdoor toys like balls, frisbees, or bubble wands to keep them entertained before and after enjoying some yummy food. You could pack a small, portable craft kit with crayons, coloring books, or simple nature-themed crafts that they can enjoy on the picnic blanket. If you’re in the park, your little one will love a nature scavenger hunt where they can search for items like leaves, flowers, or rocks. Storytime is also a great addition to any picnic. Take some nature-themed books and encourage your little one to learn about the beautiful natural world around us.
9. Animal Watching
Animal watching is a wonderful activity for toddlers, giving them the chance to observe wildlife in local parks, nature reserves, or even in your own backyard. It encourages your little one to connect with nature and develop empathy for other beings.
There are so many learning opportunities when it comes to wildlife and animal watching. Toddlers can learn about different species, their habitats, behaviors, and what they like to munch!
Make sure your pre-schooler stays safe and doesn’t touch any animals. Give them a pair of binoculars like these from Amazon, and always keep a safe distance.
Benefits of animal watching
- Learn about the natural world
- Encourage a love of animals
Make it more engaging
To make animal watching more engaging for toddlers, turn it into an interactive adventure. Create a simple animal checklist or bingo card with pictures of local wildlife for your little one to spot and mark off.
10. Sand Play
Sand play will always be a hit with toddlers, especially in the summer! Whether at the beach, a sandbox in the backyard, or a local park, playing with sand provides so many opportunities for learning, exploring and having fun!

From building sandcastles and digging tunnels to creating shapes and structures and tipping and pouring, sand play encourages creativity in abundance. Simple tools like shovels, rakes, and scoops help little ones explore and have plenty of summer fun!
Benefits of sand play
- Stimulates senses
- Enhances motor skills
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Encourages creativity
Make it more engaging
To make sand play more engaging for your little one, introduce themed activities like building a “dinosaur dig”, where they find toy dinosaurs hidden in the sand. Spend a day at the beach for the ultimate day of sand play!
11. Flying Kites
Flying kites is a wonderful outdoor summer activity that captures the imaginations of toddlers and teaches them about the power of nature.
Start with a simple, lightweight kite that’s easy to handle. Show your little one how to hold the kite string and let out some line to catch the wind. Encourage your toddler to run with the kite to help it lift off the ground and show them how to control the string to keep the kite steady.
Always watch your toddler closely to ensure they stay safe with their kite – the strings are easily tangled.

Benefits of kite flying
- Opportunity to learn about the power of nature
- Physical activity
- Improves motor skills
- Improves coordination
- Encourages patience
Make it more engaging
To make kite flying more engaging for toddlers, let them personalize their kites with fun decorations or let them choose their favorite colors and designs. Incorporate games like seeing how high the kite can go or navigating it through simple obstacles.
12. Ride-on Toys
Ride-on toys are a fantastic way to keep toddlers active and entertained outdoors in the summertime. Whether they use toy cars, scooters, tricycles, balance bikes or starter bikes with training wheels, ride-on toys are a must for a summer season of fun.
Make sure your little one stays safe by wearing the relevant safety gear, especially with scooters and bikes, like helmets and elbow and knee pads. Smooth and flat surfaces are best for little ones starting out on ride-on toys, and there’ll be plenty of these at local parks!

Benefits of ride-on toys
- Improves motor skills
- Helps strengthen muscles
- Enhances coordination
- Promotes fitness
- Gives toddlers a sense of independence
- And freedom!
Make it more engaging
Set up obstacle courses or simple races to give your little one a challenge! If they’re ready for it, of couse. We love these little cones for creating different ‘obstacles’!
13. Nature Crafts
Nature crafts are a wonderful way for little ones to connect with the outdoors while being creative and practicing sustainability! Simply collect natural materials like leaves, sticks, and stones and use them to create unique art. There are endless options when it comes to nature crafts. Make sure you have some toddler-safe glue to hand, and either let your little one’s imagination run wild, or guide them with ideas. They could create a smiley face on a leaf using little stones and pebbles, make a pressed flower greetings card for family or friends or make a stick person with the help of some string!
Benefits of nature crafts
- Develops an appreciation of nature
- More sustainable than traditional crafts
- Allows toddlers to be creative and curious!
Make it more engaging
Here are a few more nature craft ideas to make it even more fun!
- Leaf Rubbings
Place leaves under a sheet of paper and have your toddler use crayons to rub over the paper, revealing the texture and patterns of the leaves underneath.
- Stick Art
Use small sticks to create pictures or shapes. Toddlers can arrange sticks on a piece of cardboard or construction paper to form designs like stars, houses, or animals. Simply glue the sticks in place or tape them down.
- Stone Painting
Collect smooth stones and let your child paint them with non-toxic, washable paint. They’re a great way to jazz up your backyard and get your little ones interested in gardening!
14. Mini Sports
Introducing toddlers to simple sports like soccer and t-ball is a fantastic way to keep them active and develop their physical and social skills. Sports aren’t just fun – they lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and teamwork!
Starting with basic versions of popular sports is a great place to start.
- Soccer
Set up small goals and use a lightweight, toddler-sized soccer ball. Encourage your child to kick the ball towards the goal, practicing dribbling and shooting.
- T-Ball
Use a t-ball set with a stand, bat, and soft balls designed for young children. Teach your toddler how to hit the ball off the tee and run to a base, making sure to keep the instructions simple and supportive.
- Basketball
Grab a simple basketball set for toddlers and encourage your little one to throw the ball at the net. Practice throwing and catching first if needed, and have fun!
Benefits of mini sports
Engaging in mini sports offers so many benefits for toddlers:
- Playing sports helps children learn to work with others, developing important social skills
- Improve gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and overall physical fitness.
- Playing sports can boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem as they achieve new skills and reach milestones
Make it more engaging
Celebrate your little one’s efforts with enthusiastic cheers and mini rewards, like stickers, to keep them motivated and excited about playing!
15. Mud Play
Mud play is a delightful (if messy) activity that lets toddlers explore their creativity. Activities like creating mud kitchens or making mud pies will always be a hit! And science has proven that spending time outdoors is crucial to toddlers’ physical, social and emotional skills… in case having fun wasn’t enough…
Mud play can take many forms, from simply digging in the mud in the backyard to setting up a mud kitchen where toddlers can “cook” with mud. Provide plenty of tools and containers, such as old pots, pans, spoons, and molds, to encourage creativity. Toddlers can mix mud with water, make mud pies, and even create muddy masterpieces with natural items like leaves, flowers, and sticks.
Read Next: Nature’s Playground: Unveiling the Science Behind Outdoor Play
Benefits of mud play
- Sensory experiences
- Encourages creativity
- Encourages a connection with nature
Make it more engaging
To make mud play more engaging, you could create a “mud bakery” where your toddler can make pretend mud cakes and cookies using molds, cookie cutters, and natural decorations like flowers and leaves. Or you could set up a “construction site” with toy trucks and diggers to move and shape the mud.
16. Camping in the Backyard
Camping in the backyard is a wonderful way to introduce toddlers to the joys of camping without leaving home. Setting up a tent and cooking some s’mores creates a sense of adventure and is a great way to bond as a family!
Start by choosing a flat, grassy area in your backyard to set up a tent. Involve your toddler in the process by letting them help with simple tasks like handing you tent stakes or arranging sleeping bags – keep them away from anything too sharp, of course! Once the tent is up, create a cozy campsite with pillows, blankets, and maybe even a few of your child’s favorite toys.
Benefits of camping
- Adds a sense of adventure
- It’s a great way to bond as a family
- Encourages a connection with nature
Make it more engaging
A picnic dinner will be a huge hit, as will toasted marshmallows and s’mores, even if you make them in the kitchen and bring them outside! Add story time and do some stargazing for a magical experience your toddler will love.
17. Exploring Local Trails
Exploring local trails is a great way to introduce toddlers to the joys of hiking and exploring nature. Age-appropriate hiking trails offer a safe and manageable way for young children to experience the outdoors!
When choosing hiking trails for toddlers, look for short, flat, and well-maintained paths. Many parks and nature reserves have designated family-friendly trails that are perfect for little ones.

Make sure you dress your toddler in comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. A small backpack can be used to carry essentials like water, snacks, sunscreen, and a first aid kit. Don’t expect to go too far with little ones – they’ll probably get tired easily! You could always consider taking a toddler carrier if you’d like to go a bit further. And make sure you take regular breaks for snacks, drinks and wildlife watching!
Of course, the main thing is to stay safe. So make sure your toddler has plenty of sunscreen on and a wide hat. Teach your little one the importance of not walking off without you, and not touching strange plants or bugs!
Benefits of hiking with toddlers
Hiking provides a range of benefits for toddlers:
- Hiking helps improve balance, coordination, and gross motor skills
- Spending time in nature reduces stress and improves mood
- Creates a sense of adventure and wonder
- Opportunities to learn about the natural world
Make it more engaging
To make hiking more engaging for toddlers, turn it into an adventure by creating a simple nature scavenger hunt with items like specific leaves, rocks, or insects to find. You could also get a pair of toddler-size binoculars for bird watching or a mini magnifying glass to inspect interesting plants and insects up close!
18. Bird Watching
Bird watching is a fun and educational activity that toddlers can easily enjoy. It encourages observation, patience, and an appreciation for wildlife and the beautiful world around us.
Start by choosing a quiet, natural area like a park, garden, or nature reserve where birds are commonly found. Encourage your little one to sit or stand quietly and look for birds in trees, bushes, or on the ground. Teach them to use their senses to observe the birds, such as listening for bird calls and watching for movement.
Benefits of bird watching with toddlers
- Improves patience and curiosity
- Enhances their observational skills and knowledge of wildlife
Make it more engaging
Give your toddler a pair of toddler-size binoculars and a sheet with varieties of birds on it to tick off as they spot them!
Conclusion
Summer is about fun. Spending time outdoors with your toddler makes for a magical summer season that will bring your family closer. From playing in the sand and splashing in the pool to toddler hikes and nature scavenger hunts, summer provides endless opportunities for learning, exploring and being creative.
Let’s soak up the sun, make memories, and ignite a lifelong love for the great outdoors in our little ones. So grab your gear, and let’s go outside!

