Top 10 Outdoor Learning Activities
Top 10 Outdoor Learning Activities
“Nature is the best classroom! Outdoor learning enhances curiosity, physical development, and environmental awareness.”
The benefits of outdoor learning are invaluable. When kids explore nature, their curious minds light up with questions. Unstructured outdoor play develops their physical skills and confidence. Most importantly, it cultivates a deep appreciation for the environment.
Embrace the power of outdoor learning with my top 10 outdoor learning activities:
1. Bubble Play
Young children are fascinated by bubbles that float and pop. This encourages infants and toddlers to walk and crawl as they follow the bubbles. Chase the bubbles or just watch them float away.
2. Chalk Drawing
Provide a space for children to draw with chalk outside. Think about various surfaces that you will allow children to draw on such as floors, walls, fences, rocks etc. Cleaning up can be fun too! Use Spray bottles full of water to clean up the chalk drawings.
3. Water Painting
Painting with water can provide hours of fun! Provide your child with a paintbrush and a bucket of water. You can paint anything outside with water! Let your child’s imagination guide the play. What will your child paint? The brick wall, a wood fence, rocks, a chair etc.
4. Digging in The Dirt
Children love to dig! Provide a space for your child to dig in the dirt – whether directly in the ground in a garden or in a flowerpot filled with dirt.
5. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of nature items you want to hunt for such as rocks, sticks, leaves, acorns, pinecones etc. You can do this activity in your own backyard or go on a walk in your neighborhood. Take a magnifying glass with you and a bag to collect all your treasures.
6. Make Mud Pies
Young children love to mix ingredients together and cook! All you need to make mud pies is a table, pot, spoons, dirt and water. Children will add in their own “ingredients” to make their special concoction such as rocks, leaves, sticks etc.
A mud kitchen at Alpha's Discovery Preschool & Daycare
7. Car Wash
Setup a car wash with your child’s riding toys or bikes. Provide some sponges, a bucket of soapy water and bring out the bikes and outdoor riding toys and you have a car wash! It’s a great way to keep outdoor toys clean!
8. Build a Fort
There are so many ways to build a fort! You can use big cardboard boxes, chairs/blankets or even existing outdoor structures like poles and trees. Let your child guide the building process and resist the urge to take over – no matter how much fun you’re having!
9. Sand and Water Play
Fill a container with sand or water. Add toys to add to the play such as cars, dinosaurs, animals or dolls. Add some natural elements such as rocks, sticks, leaves or pinecones. Add in some interesting utensils such as sticks, strainers, spoons, scoopers and spatulas. Sand and water play possibilities are endless depending on what you add to the sand or water! It will be a different experience every time
10. Obstacle Course
Make an obstacle course using various items that children need to climb, crawl, move around or jump in or out of. Things you can use include: hula hoops, pool noodles, boxes, traffic cones, logs or other natural features in the space.
Related Video - Mud Play
Mud kitchens are simple setups with dirt, water, pots, pans, and utensils, where kids can mix, pour, and create all kinds of "meals" and "potions."
This open-ended play fosters language development, motor skills, and social interaction.
