Spring is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine with your little ones. Not only is it good for your little one's physical health, but it also helps with their cognitive and emotional development.
As a parent, it can be challenging to know what activities are safe and appropriate for babies and toddlers. With half term just around the corner, you might be starting to plan the week. So here’s a list of ten fun and easy outdoor activities that you can do with your kids this spring:
Nature Walk
A simple nature walk around your neighbourhood, or local park can be a great way to introduce your toddler to the great outdoors. Whether your tiny human is in a stroller or up and about on their feet, it can be a brilliant activity for exploring different senses.
Perhaps ask them to collect different textures or pick out different colours. You could even collect leaves and sticks along the walk to do a bit of crafting when you get back home.
Bubbles
Bubbles are a classic outdoor activity. It's one of those things that never gets old and will always create fun for all the family.
Bubbles are usually fairly cheap if you want to buy them at a shop, but you can make your own bubbles with washing up liquid and water. Alternatively, purchase a bubble wand for your little one to chase and pop if you don't want the hassle of making the bubbles.
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Planting
Planting a small garden area with your toddler is a great way to introduce them to nature and allows them to understand where our food comes from.
With toddlers, easy to grow plants such as sunflowers or veggies like peas and beans are a great way to start. This activity is sure to be a messy one, but one that'll be fun and explorative for all the family.
Sensory Baskets
Fill a basket with different items from the garden, such as leaves, pebbles, sticks, mud and flowers and get your toddler to dive in with their hands. This is a brilliant way to introduce them to different textures while also working on their fine motor skill development.
Water play
Now the weather's getting a bit warmer (let's not jinx it), we're able to introduce water to our play activities.
Fill a small pool or plastic tub with water and watch your little ones go wild.
This is the type of activity that doesn't have to be 'all frills' however if you wanted to explore the water theme more, you could introduce food colouring or washing up liquid to create bubbles.
If you want this activity to be more educational, you could play a guessing game if them and ask them to tell you how full the tub is (half full, empty etc.) or ask them to tip out specific amounts of water!
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Sand Play
A sandbox can be a highly beneficial addition to your garden. Your toddler will be able to explore the texture of the sand whilst developing their motor skills.
Adding small toys or a bucket and spade can turn this simple activity into a real brain training activity for your small human.
Picnic
What is it about picnics that makes meal times run so much smoother?
My kids love a picnic tea! For some reason, they eat so much nicer sitting on a blanket rather than at the table.
So pack up some food and head down to the local park to enjoy a nice meal together. If you're stuck for time or don't have a park accessible, just getting out in the garden will excite your toddler for a different type of meal time.
Scavenger Hunt
You might think that a scavenger hunt isn't age appropriate for your toddler, but you could definitely adapt it to make it that way.
If your child has a collection of soft teddies, you could hide them around a particular room (I wouldn't scale up too much further than this) and ask them to find them. You could even make a list and have your toddler tick them off as and when they find them.
Cloud Watching
Lying on a blanket and watching the clouds go by is a simple activity that promotes family bonding in a calm and tranquil way. Talking about the different shapes of the clouds and noting the different colours your toddler sees in the sky is a great way to keep them engaged.
Music
Who said the party has to stay indoors? Take a trip to your garden and grab a portable speaker to play music while you and your little ones dance around. It's a great way to bond and be silly together, and it's a super-cheap half term activity too!
These are just a few examples of the many cheap outdoor activities that you can do with your toddlers this spring. The most important thing is to have fun and make memories together.
Top Tip: Remember to always keep an eye on your little one and protect them from the sun and heat. With a bit of creativity, you can make any outdoor activity fun and exciting for your toddler.
