The weather is warming, the trees are starting to bud, and the first flowers of spring are beginning to bloom. Outdoor spring activities for toddlers can help your little ones learn, have fun, develop a love of nature and get plenty of exercise.
Now is the time to get outside and enjoy this beautiful season with your young, energetic kids. A warm spring day is a perfect opportunity to allow your little ones to explore the great outdoors. When you plan activities for spring, your preschooler can explore the great outdoors, build confidence and expand their creativity.
The Best Outdoor Spring Activities With Preschoolers
Chalk and Bubbles
Outdoor Picnic
Feed the Ducks
Go On a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Outdoor Picnic
Play an Outdoor Game
Ride a Bike
Splash And Play in Water
Plant Flowers
Go For a Hike
It may seem easy to sit your toddler or preschooler in front of a TV or tablet, but there’s a whole big world out there for them to explore! Too much screen time can also lead to developmental issues. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ages two to five only spend about an hour a day in front of a screen.
In case you’re not sure how to get your young kids outside, active and enjoying the beautiful spring weather, here are seven outdoor activities that everyone can enjoy together.
1. Play With Chalk and Bubbles
These classic activities are a tried and true way to keep your toddler or preschooler happy. Both activities are inexpensive, easy and require very little cleanup afterward.
Buy some colorful chalk and allow your little one to create sidewalk or driveway artwork. You can keep their display intact until the spring showers come to wash their pictures away.
While some younger kids may need help blowing bubbles, your little ones will love chasing stray bubbles caught by the wind and trying to pop them. Expect lots of excited cheers each time you blow the bubbles their way. Or, save your breath and invest in a bubble machine.
2. Have an Outdoor Picnic
Instead of eating inside, let your kids take their lunch al fresco. All you need for a great picnic is a blanket and some food. If you have a yard, you won’t even have to go anywhere special to enjoy this low-maintenance activity. You can even let the kids help pack the picnic lunch and use it as an opportunity to help them explore healthy food choice.
3. Feed the Ducks
Do your little ones love animals? Take some thawed frozen peas, uncooked oats or lettuce (avoid bread) down to a nearby duck pond, and let your preschooler or toddler throw pieces to the birds. They’ll love interacting with these funny creatures! Just be sure to heed any signs about feeding local wildlife.
4. Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
There’s so much to do and see as your young child explores a lovely spring day. Encourage their powers of observation by creating a nature scavenger hunt. Make a list of things they can find outdoors, such as:
- Clouds
- Squirrels
- Bugs
- Dandelions
- Puddles
- Rocks
- And more easily found objects
You can then help your little ones check each item off the list as they find them!
5. Create a Nature-Inspired Craft
As you set your little ones loose outside, encourage them to seek out and collect small items found in nature that catch their eye. From leaves and flowers to twigs and stones, they’re bound to come home with quite a collection. Then, help them glue their nature items onto a piece of colorful construction paper for a nature-inspired collage.
You can also buy inexpensive picture frames at your local craft store and decorate these.
6. Play an Outdoor Game
Games are an essential part of learning for young kids. Toddlers and preschoolers alike learn teamwork, cooperation and patience when they play with other kids. Whether it’s a good old-fashioned game of tag, kickball or catch, these games are easy for young children to learn and play on their own. Plus, they provide hours of entertainment.
Here are some outdoor game ideas for toddlers:
7. Ride a Bike
The toddler and preschool years are the perfect time to introduce your child to a bike with training wheels. Your little one can have fun wheeling around, get comfortable on a bike and build confidence for when they are old enough to ride without the training wheels. This is also the perfect opportunity to teach your child safety rules such as staying off the road and wearing a helmet.
8. Splash and Play in the Water
With supervision, water play is a fun and exciting way to enjoy outside time. Throw some water toys in a shallow pool for your child to explore, or set up a sprinkler they can run through. On rainy days, you can grab your rain jackets and boots to jump in puddles.
9. Plant Flowers
Let your little one assist you in the garden for a fun learning opportunity. If your child enjoys playing in the dirt, they will love helping you dig holes, plant flowers and water them. You can also help them plant seeds in flower pots so they can watch how they gradually grow into plants.
7. Go for a Hike
Depending on where you live, chances are you won’t have to go far to find a nearby hiking trail. From city parks to state parks, your toddler or preschooler will love running ahead as you explore the outdoors together. Just be sure you and your little one have comfortable walking shoes for your adventure and that you pick a trail appropriate for their capabilities.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors With Your Preschooler at Kampgrounds of America
Spring is a fantastic time for outdoor activities and making memories with your little ones. KOA offers fun camping locations across North America where you can embark on spring family adventures. With exciting recreational activities, convenient amenities and various ways to stay, KOA makes it easy for you and your family to enjoy spring activities in the great outdoors. Reserve a stay at KOA to start your spring adventures.
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
