Easy Outdoor Activities for Toddlers: 8 Go-To Ideas

Updated December 14, 2024

Spending time outside during the toddler years has a lasting impact on children’s development. These easy outdoor learning activities connect toddlers with nature while developing skills across all learning domains— from motor and cognitive skills to creativity and literacy.

As a developmental therapist working in homes and classrooms, I’m happy to share my favorite outdoor play ideas to support toddler development and nurture a love of the outdoors.

Outdoor Activities for Toddlers

#1 Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts are a classic way to get toddlers moving and exploring. Don’t worry about finding all the items on a checklist. Instead, focus on the sensory experiences.

1. Texture – Seek out different textures and take a moment to touch them. Think about rough tree bark, fluffy dandelions, sharp rocks, pointy pine needles, goopy mud, or wet sand.
2. Colors – Search for an item of every color or see how many things you can find that are the same color. Take time to touch, smell, or listen to what you find.
3. Sounds – Search for different sounds such as rocks splashing, bird songs, buzzing bugs, crunching gravel, scratching sticks, or blowing wind.

Download FREE nature scavenger hunt PDFs.

#2 Painting Nature

1. Paint on logs, branches, pinecones, or pieces of tree bark.
2. Paint directly on trees. Encourage your toddler to reach up high and down low to paint.
3. Use painter’s tape to hang sheets of paper on trees. The bark creates interesting textures in their artwork.

Out of respect for the trees and nature, please use natural, non-toxic paints for this activity. Or skip the paint altogether and dip paintbrushes into water.

#3 Push, Pull, & Drag

Toddlers love feeling strong and capable by moving large or heavy objects. These heavy work play ideas are a great way to build strength and confidence during outdoor time.

1. Wagons
2. Wheelbarrows
3. Push Toys
4. Branches
5. Buckets

You can simply set these items out as invitations to play. You can also create obstacles to move around or draw chalk lines to follow.

Encourage children to transfer stuffed animals, toys, pinecones, or sticks using buckets, wagons, and wheelbarrows.

#4 Wet Chalk Paint

Add water to sidewalk chalk to create more vibrant colors. The water adds a richer sensory experience.

1. Use sidewalk chalk on wet surfaces. You can go out after a rain (or during a rainshower) or wet down the sidewalks before drawing.
2. Offer your toddler a spray bottle to use while they draw with chalk.
3. Dip chalk into a small pan of water before drawing.
4. Create a paint out of sidewalk chalk. Save the last tiny bits of chalk sticks, crush them into a powder, and whisk with water.

#5 Paint & Water

Water play is a versatile and beloved outdoor learning activity. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Painting on Ice – Fill a tray or bin with ice cubes and invite your toddler to color the ice with paints. 
2. Painting on Snow – In wintertime, offer toddlers watercolors in squeeze bottles or spray bottles to paint the snow. You can also use special paint sticks designed for snow painting.
3. Painting the Sidewalk – Fill pails and paint trays with water, and let your toddler use brushes or rollers to paint the sidewalk or walls.

Learn more about water play ideas and benefits.

#6 Take Books Outdoors

Bring a beloved indoor activity outside and let your toddler enjoy the benefits of nature and literacy at once. Here are a few ideas:

1. Stories in Nature – Set up a cozy reading space outdoors on a blanket or use a pop-up tent as a reading nook. Children can enjoy their favorite stories while experiencing nature.
2. Nature-Themed Books – Bring books with outdoor themes—like forest animals, seasons, or gardening—and use them as inspiration for nature walks and outdoor pretend play.

#7 Spraying Water

Toddlers love water play—the more splashing and spilling, the better! You can create a lovely pouring station, pull out the kiddie pool, or hook up a sprinkler. However, these are easy-to-grab ideas:

1. Spray Bottles
2. Sponges
3. Pump Bottles (empty soap or lotion bottles)
4. Squeeze Bottles (empty shampoo or body wash)
5. Bulb Basters

#8 Sensory Table Activities

Take a sensory bin outdoors and fill it with nature objects for a hands-on exploration.

You can use a shallow plastic tote or a traditional water table. Here are some of my favorite nature objects for sensory bins:

Closely supervise children during these experiences. 

Safety During Outdoor Learning Activities

• Always consider what is safe and appropriate for your child.
• Ensure all materials are safe for children to handle, such as paints without harmful chemicals and sharp tools are safe.
• Learn how to create reasonable boundaries for risk-taking play.