Things to do outside with friends at home

The weather is definitely improving, and if you are anything like us, you need to get outside. I feel like we’ve been stuck inside so much lately! So now’s the time to pull out the easy to do outdoor activities, and of course, we’ve got you covered with everything from crafts to STEM depending on your preferences and interest. Plus, we will make sure to keep this outdoor activity resource growing and filled with fun things to do outside all season long.  Are you ready to soak up Vitamin D?

FUN THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE WITH KIDS!

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

When you find extra time on your hands at home but can still get outside at least, you may end up needing a few tricks up your sleeve! We’re here to help. Many schools, camps, and activities are also canceled this season, so we have also shared fun indoor activities too!

Now I want to share some big-time fun outdoor activities for when you aren’t fitting in schoolwork or if you have multiple age groups at home and you need to keep the younger kiddos busy while the older kids work on lessons.

If you have toddlers at home, check out our backyard ideas for easy to set up ideas even if you have a small backyard!

Click here for your FREE nature activities pack!

LET’S GET OUTSIDE!

• Draw something!
• Plant something!
• Explore something!
• Get something wet!
• Build something!
• Grow something!
• The possibilities are endless…

I bet you have most of the supplies you need already. If not, add them to the grocery list. There are even fun FREE printables added in along the way!

Our website is filled with free and easy to use activities for kids. Search a theme, season, or holiday and see what you can find.  Even easier, stop by our SHOP for many “done for you” activity packs for kids like our Nature Pack!

Click on the links below to get started with some of our favorite outdoor activities for kids!

FIZZY SIDEWALK PAINT

Make it fizzy and takes it outside. Fizzing outdoor paint is a fun way to take science outside this year!

PAINTED ROCKS

We love to hunt for painted rocks on our walk every day and we have been finding tons of new ones each week. They really brighten the trail and can create a fun I Spy game for kids.

DIY Sidewalk Chalk

Have you ever wondered if you can make your own outdoor sidewalk chalk? Absolutely! Check out the easy recipe here.

Puffy Sidewalk Paint

This is the best sidewalk paint recipe ever to take outside! Easy to make and washes away just fine! Watch the video.

Birdseed Ornaments

The birds will love this one. Plus, you can also check out our classic cardboard tube bird feeder or a veggie bag bird feeder! Watch the video

Engineer a Water Wall

This water STEM activity is so much fun whether you have a fence, railing, trellis, all you need is a bit of creativity for endless hours of play!

Build an Insect Hotel

We might not be able to go stay in a hotel but you can make one for the bugs in your garden. Read about all the advantages of having a bug hotel in your yard and see how we made ours!

Bee Hotel

Take the learning outdoors and explore the world of bees with a DIY bee hotel. 

Bubble Fun

Bubble science experiments, homemade bubble wands, 3D bubbles! Click on the link to watch the video.

Go On An Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Grab our pack of free scavenger hunts right here. There’s 8 to choose from!

Set Up a Square Foot Jungle

A fun way to take the science lesson into the yard and learn how to observe a small section of the outdoors very carefully.

Make A DIY Kite

A great family project or older sibling/younger sibling project.

Outdoor Science Lab

Do your kiddos love to whip up potions and experiment outside? It’s a great way to move the mess outdoors when the weather is nice.

Erupting Sandbox Volcano 

Yes! You can build a volcano in the sandbox. Super easy and fun for kids.

Make A DIY Solar Oven 

Of course, you will need a very warm and sunny day, but there’s no harm in experimenting!

Build A Toy Zip Line

This is a fun way to explore simple physics outside!

Make Ice Cream In a Bag

Everyone’s favorite and a tasty afternoon treat. No matter how warm it is outside though, you will need winter gloves! See the video!

Create LEGO Sun Prints

You don’t need fancy solar print paper for this activity, we used simple LEGO bricks and construction paper to create these fun sun prints.

Make Rain Prints

For days that aren’t sunny, why not not make a rain painting outdoors. All you need is watercolor pencils, white card stock and a rainy day. On a piece of white card stock, draw a colorful sky by starting at the top and working your way to the bottom. Set your drawing outside on a rainy day and watch what happens to your drawing.

Nature Sensory Bin

Super simple! All you need is a bin or tray and nature items from around the yard. Add plastic bugs or animals for play and storytelling.

Icy Dinosaur Excavation

Icy play is perfect for outdoor fun, and here we added a fun dinosaur theme.

Sand Foam

Shaving cream and play sand make a great messy but fantastic sensory experience for kids! Perfect for things to do outside. See the video.

Fun With Exploding Bags

Hilarious fun with bursting or burping bags and a common chemical reaction.  Outdoor science at its best!

Make A Cloud Viewer

Will the clouds bring rain? Part craft, part Earth Science as you learn about clouds and get outside to find out what types of clouds are in your sky.

Mud Pie Slime

Did you know you can make mud pie slime? Mix it up outside too! Use one of our basic slime recipes (here) and add a small scoop of dirt.

UV Color Changing Slime

If you love slime, you’ll love color-changing slime with UV pigment powder. You can also use UV color-changing beads as an alternative and then enjoy making bracelets too. Take your slime into the sun and see what happens to the color!

Pool Noodle Activities

Over 25 pool noodle ideas from outdoor water play to structure building.  Who would have thought there were so many fun things to do with a pool noodle!

Leakproof Bag Experiment

It’s a classic, and best left for outside experimenting!

31 Days of Outdoor STEM Activities

A fun month-long series that features a week of science, technology, engineering, art, and math all with an outdoor emphasis.

FUN THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE FOR KIDS

Visit our SHOP for more easy ways to play and learn!

SHOP OUR NATURE FUN PACK…

• Nature theme writing prompts make for the start of a fantastic outdoor nature journal.
• Explore nature-themed STEM challenges that encourage your kiddos to use supplies found in nature and natural materials to complete.
• Discover the birds in your backyard, learn how to make different kinds of kid-friendly bird feeders.
• Observe a favorite flower or leaf, and go on a scavenger hunt or two!
• Discover how to set up a one square foot backyard jungle project.
• Explore what it’s like to be a collector and set up your own collection.
• Explore the senses outside.
• Simple leaf science activities with leaves including leaf rubbing, how do leaves breathe, and leaf drawing.
• Start a seed jar and observe how a plant grows even under the ground!
• Build an insect hotel for your garden using natural and found materials.
• Many nature-inspired scavenger hunts to get you moving.
• BONUS: Pine Cone Pack included!