Outdoor play activity ideas
These activities have been put together for you as a family to try when outdoors:
- Playing on playground equipment such as swings, climbing frames and merry-go-rounds
- Rough and Tumble play with an adult
- Jump on a space hopper or trampoline
- Funny walks e.g. wriggle like a worm, walk like a crab, soldier or pirate, hop like a frog
- Create different obstacle courses for play that require walking along a line, on stepping
stones, over, under and through objects, hopping, jumping or walking in a crouched position - Place mats or paper on the floor and pretend they are islands surrounded by sharks so your
child has to use them as stepping-stones - Play with balloons – hitting or kicking to another person
- Blow bubbles and get your child to pop them with their pointer finger. Make sure you vary
the height and direction of the bubbles so your child has to reach, jump, crouch and chase
them - Play tug-of-war
- Skipping rope games
- Clapping with a partner games
- Playing tag or stuck in the mud
- Kicking a ball in the back garden or park
- Skateboarding
- Play “What’s the time Mr Wolf?” where the child has to stop quickly and not move
- Hopscotch or jumping on squares in an obstacle course
- Practicing walking along balance beams or stools with supervision
- Organised activities such as swimming, gymnastics, horse riding, surfing, climbing, dance
classes and martial arts such as Tai Chi, Tae Kwon-do, Karate - Going for a walk
- Going for a bike ride
- Scavenger hunt
- Making a den/ fort
- Going for a picnic
- Playing ‘poo sticks’
- Playing beach games at the beach
- Water fight
- Gardening, including watering flowers