15 Outdoor Activities for Kids
Discover exciting outdoor activities for kids that encourage exploration, creativity and active play in nature.
Start your 7 day free trial
Explore all activities
Outdoor Activities For Kids
Outdoor activities provide countless benefits for children's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Getting kids outside to play, explore, and learn in natural environments helps them develop essential motor skills, build confidence, and foster a connection with nature. These outdoor activities are specifically designed to take advantage of natural spaces, whether it's a backyard, local park, forest, or beach. Our collection of outdoor activities for kids in 2025 includes nature-based crafts that use materials found outdoors, exploration activities that encourage observation and discovery, and active games that promote physical fitness while having fun in the fresh air.
These outdoor activities are suitable for various settings and seasons, offering opportunities for children to engage with nature year-round. From scavenger hunts and gardening projects to outdoor science experiments and nature art, there's an activity to match every child's interests. By encouraging children to participate in outdoor activities, we help them develop a lifelong appreciation for nature, promote healthy habits, and provide a welcome break from screen time. These outdoor activities support holistic development while creating memorable experiences in the natural world.
Top Outdoor Activities for Kids
Build a Stick and Leaf Fort
What is the activity?
This nature-building challenge helps children create a fort using sticks, leaves, and other natural materials. They can design walls, roofs, and secret entrances to make their own little hideout in the backyard or a park!
Why do this activity?
Fort-building encourages creativity, engineering, and teamwork. It also helps kids connect with nature while practicing problem-solving and design skills.
Find parks near you
Make Nature Art with Flowers and Leaves
What is the activity?
This outdoor art project turns nature into a creative masterpiece! Kids can collect leaves, flowers, and twigs to create patterns, mandalas, or even press flowers into a book to make nature prints.
Why do this activity?
Nature art helps children appreciate the beauty of the outdoors while developing creativity and patience. It's also a fun way to explore different textures and colors in nature!
Make a leaf rubbing
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
What is the activity?
This exploration adventure turns a simple walk into an exciting treasure hunt! Kids can search for specific objects like a feather, a red leaf, a smooth rock, or an animal footprint. You can create a checklist for them to mark off as they go!
Why do this activity?
A scavenger hunt sharpens observation skills, encourages curiosity, and makes outdoor time even more engaging. It's a great way to explore and learn about the world around them!
Free scavenger hunt
Create a DIY Obstacle Course
What is the activity?
This outdoor physical challenge turns the backyard into an exciting adventure course! Kids can crawl under ropes, jump over sticks, balance on logs, and race to the finish line.
Why do this activity?
An obstacle course promotes agility, coordination, and problem-solving. It's a great way to stay active while having tons of fun outdoors!
Make and Fly a Kite
What is the activity?
This wind-powered project involves making a simple kite using paper, sticks, and string, then heading outside to see it soar in the wind!
Why do this activity?
Kite-flying teaches patience, aerodynamics, and the power of wind. Plus, it's an exciting way to experience the joy of watching something they built take flight!
Easy DIY kite tutorial!
Dig for Worms and Learn About Soil
What is the activity?
This nature science exploration is a fun way to discover the tiny creatures that live in the soil! Kids can gently dig in a garden or park to find worms and observe how they move, then learn why worms are important for the earth.
Why do this activity?
Worm-digging teaches about soil health, ecosystems, and how worms help plants grow. It's a great introduction to biology and earth science!
Free soil learning printables
Create a Rock Maze or Mandala
What is the activity?
This stone-arranging project lets children collect and arrange rocks in patterns, spirals, or even a maze. They can use different sizes and colors to make their design stand out.
Why do this activity?
Rock art encourages patience, creativity, and design skills. It also helps them focus and appreciate the natural beauty of stones and outdoor landscapes.
Mandala activities for kids
Track Animal Footprints in the Mud
What is the activity?
This wildlife-tracking adventure involves searching for footprints left by animals in dirt, sand, or mud. Kids can compare the prints to pictures online to identify which creatures have been nearby.
Why do this activity?
Animal tracking encourages curiosity, attention to detail, and a deeper understanding of local wildlife. It's a great way to connect with nature and practice detective skills!
Tracking Activities for kids
Plant a Mini Garden
What is the activity?
This gardening project lets children plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables in a small garden patch or pots. They can learn how to water, care for, and watch their plants grow over time.
Why do this activity?
Growing plants teaches responsibility, patience, and science concepts like photosynthesis and plant life cycles. Plus, it's exciting to see something they planted grow!
Gardening Activities for kids
Go on a Sound Safari
What is the activity?
This listening adventure encourages children to close their eyes and focus on all the different sounds around them—birds chirping, leaves rustling, dogs barking, or cars passing by. They can make a list or draw what they hear!
Why do this activity?
A sound safari builds mindfulness, observation skills, and appreciation for nature. It's a relaxing way to explore the world through sound!
Make a Sun Print with Leaves
What is the activity?
This sun-powered art project uses special sun-print paper or construction paper to create cool leaf prints. Kids place leaves or flowers on the paper, leave it in the sun, and watch the shapes appear!
Why do this activity?
Sun-printing teaches about light exposure, shadows, and art. It's a unique way to explore nature and creativity together!
Get sun print paper here!
Blow Giant Bubbles
What is the activity?
This bubble-blowing adventure lets children create huge bubbles using a homemade bubble mix and giant wands made from sticks and string.
Why do this activity?
Bubble-making is a fun way to explore surface tension and wind direction while enjoying colorful, floating bubbles. It's simple, magical, and always fun!
Make bubble wand tutorial
Nature Bingo
What is the activity?
This outdoor game turns exploring into a fun bingo challenge! Kids get a bingo card with nature items like a butterfly, a pinecone, or a spiderweb and check them off as they find them.
Why do this activity?
Nature bingo promotes observation, outdoor adventure, and excitement about exploring the world around them. It's a fun way to learn while playing!
Nature Bingo Printable
Make a DIY Bird Feeder
What is the activity?
This wildlife-friendly project involves making a feeder using peanut butter, pinecones, or a recycled milk carton to attract birds to the yard.
Why do this activity?
A bird feeder teaches about wildlife, patience, and caring for animals. Plus, children get to watch colorful birds visit their homemade feeder!
Make Bird feeder challenge
Stargazing and Constellation Mapping
What is the activity?
This astronomy adventure involves going outside at night to spot constellations. Kids can use a star map or an app to identify stars and planets in the sky.
Why do this activity?
Stargazing introduces children to space science and inspires curiosity about the universe. It's a magical way to learn about the night sky!
Check out the SkyView app!
Start your 7 day free trial
Hands-on projects, how-to videos, and an awesome community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Mission
To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!
