Are you looking for outdoor fun for kids? No matter if you’re looking for fun games, outdoor toys, or outdoor ideas for the whole family, getting out the door to get some fresh air is key. Below are some great fun outdoor activities for kids of all ages!
Take a break from the living room and video games and go explore what is waiting outside. Now is the perfect time of year to go on a nature scavenger hunt, play with sidewalk chalk, or spend a few hours at the park and the swing sets.
I love getting outdoors with my children. I love especially going to parks now that it is spring and the weather is (mostly) starting to warm up again. However, outdoor fun for kids can sometimes be short-lived if you go unprepared, especially when your kids are young, like mine. In order to enjoy more fun outside activities and sunshine as a family, I am sharing tricks on how to extend outdoor play for kids. Because, honestly, I want to be at the park longer then I am in the car!
Today’s post is sponsored by Fruitshoot and Linqia but all opinions are my own.
How to Extend Outdoor Fun for Young Kids at Parks
It can be hard on the hot summer days to get the kids out the door, but you have to let them know that they’re missing out on so much fun! It’s important for them to get as much outdoor play time as possible and that can be done with simple outdoor activities.
Everywhere that you look, family fun is waiting. Plus, it’s not only a good time for all, but it’s a great physical activity as well. You can even just sit out and play in the front yard if you really just need to be in an outdoor space.
Some of the best ideas for outdoor games are a simple fun activity like having an obstacle course, squirt gun painting, or setting up water slides for the kids to slip and slide and do all the fun things!
The outdoor arena is not only perfect for water games but also for free things that kids will love! Here are some of our top picks on fun ways to create a play area outside.
1. Avoid nap times.
You should (obviously) avoid going to the park when it is your child’s nap time, or getting close to it. While running at the park will wear your child down even more, you risk the chance of your child falling asleep on the car ride home and ruining their regular (much longer) nap. You also risk fighting your child to leave the park without an epic meltdown and/or having to battle to get them into their car seats. Just don’t do it if at all possible.
2. Bring balls or Frisbees or kites or chalk or ….
Parks are awesome in that you don’t have to have your own backyard swing set. But, when your child gets tired of the same three slides, then whip out a ball (any kind will do) or a Frisbee (or a kite or a fill-in-the-blank) and start a different type of game and activity. Chances are both you and your child will start to have more fun too. (Please, tell me I’m not the only one who gets tired of pushing a child on the swing for 30 minutes!)
3. Pack a snack or a full lunch.
If you are looking to be at the park for a long time, I suggest bringing food. Food keeps your child energized and ready to go back and play some more. A simple snack like a banana, orange, or apple are great because you can just grab them and go. However, if you plan on staying through lunchtime, then I suggest taking the time to pack a full lunch. Besides, picnics are a great way to extend the outdoor fun time at the park. But, I’m going to throw in a caveat to this advice: I have found that sometimes not bringing food has made leaving parks (or other venues) easier, as I remind my children how they are hungry and that we have to leave in order to take care of that.
4. Stay hydrated.
So, even if you forgo bringing food, a drink is so important to have. Running around, in the sun, is hard work, and kids need to stay hydrated. The fun and flavorful Fruitshoot makes staying hydrated easy. Robinson’s Fruitshoot is a real fruit drink with no high fructose corn syrup available in four different flavors, and is found at many gas stations as well as grocery stores. It makes it easy to pick up some on your way to or from the park. With the no-spill top, and easy-grip bottle, I don’t have to worry about soggy children when I get home (or stained seats)! Plus, with purchase of Fruitshoot, there is the option for a free download of an Angry Birds game (which my kids love!), perfect for parents to further extend play time with their kids. Enter the code on the back of your Fruitshoot bottle to play!
5. Go to the bathroom before you leave.
Some parks don’t have bathrooms. Some parks only have port-a-potties. And while many parks have flushing toilets, the condition of these bathrooms may be jarring to certain children, my own included. Don’t cut you trip to the park short because your child refuses to use a big, smelly, gross bathroom at the park (or because they don’t have any facilities). Make sure to have your kids go before you leave. Oh, and make sure you go too.
6. Wear tennis shoes.
While sandals are fun and light, they aren’t the best for playing and running in. Get your child a good supportive athletic shoe that will help them land softer, climb better, and run faster, and ultimately avoid any wood chips or plastic pebbles getting stuck between their toes. Outdoor fun isn’t so great with a splinter.
7. Sun Protection.
You don’t want your child to burn in the hot sun, so think about a hat and the clothes your child is wearing and the time of day you are out. If it is high burn times, put on some sunblock. Because, a burn today, will mean less play tomorrow!
8. Invite a friend to join you.
Nothing makes outdoor fun for kids better then having playmates to explore with! Plus, it gives mom and dad someone to talk to.
9. Bring clothes.
Cold kids don’t generally have a lot of fun. Make sure to bring weather-appropriate clothes to the park. Bring jackets if it is windy. Hats and gloves if it is winter-time. Also, you might want to bring an entire extra set of clothes with you. Since young kids are prone to blow outs, accidents, and general mess-making, extra dry, clean clothes can help you stay longer at the park. Also, a blanket is a great idea too!
10. Bring the camera.
Snap some great pictures of your kids playing at the park! I love the pictures we’ve taken of our kids in the baby swings, and sliding down slides, and exploring. They grow up too fast – don’t forget to capture those memories! It will extend outdoor fun indefinitely.
What is your secret to a great day of outdoor fun at the park with your young kids?
P.S. Don’t forget to check out Fruit Shoot on Facebook!
Katy Blevins says
Those Fruit Shoot things look awesome! I need to check those out. Thanks!!
Jessica Azar says
I love this post! Being prepared is so important, especially with a Herd of kids like mine! I have got to get some Fruitshoot for them to try!
Ciara says
Great tips! We managed to get out to the park today- lovely, bright, warmish spring day- makes such a different when it’s possible to get out and about in the fresh air!
Shelly says
We always keep hoola hoops, balls, jump ropes, and frisbees in the back of our van for our park days. Food doesn’t work with my kids because I can’t get them to sit long enough to eat! 🙂
Lucy says
I love the snapshots I take of my kids at the park! They are my favorite pictures of them. My kids however never want to leave the park and I have to drag them off. 🙂
Clare says
Chalk! I saw some chunky sidewalk chalk at the store yesterday and didn’t buy any is we only have grass and deck. Duh! We could have used it at the park!
Yuliya says
Great tips! We love getting outdoors, even if it is just to go on a stroll or walk around the market, I try to get my son outside as often as the weather permits. I only wish that we had parks with swings around us! There are a few parks, but no swings.
Katie Clark says
Great tips! I have to admit, at first when you said “Avoid Nap Times”, I thought you were like “Throw nap times out — just go to the park!” haha
Jenna says
I also keep some wipes and a small first aid kit in our cooler bag to clean up quickly and to deal with minor boo boos. Someone is always getting scraped or bumped, and I don’t want to drag home my happy kids because someone got a sliver.
Katelyn Fagan says
That’s a great idea Jenna! We’ve had to go home to get a simple Band-Aid before, because they think they NEED one to stop crying. Thanks for reminding me to add one to my car/diaper bag.
Katie | The Surly Housewife says
I LOVE the idea of bringing balls, chalk, etc to the park. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before! My secret is snacks and water. And like you, if I know we can just take a short trip to the park, getting home for lunch is an easy out. Lots of great tips!
MandyE says
We like to go to parks that offer different things to do…a hiking trail and a playground…a soccer field and a playground…a pond with ducks to feed and a playground. 🙂 That definitely helps extend our playtime!
Rachel@ {i love} my disorganized life says
These are some really great tips! i’ll have to remember them the next time I take the grand babies to the park.
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