Good news! I’m going to show you how outdoor activities for 1 year olds and older toddlers can be created with simple activities that create a fun learning environment.
After years in the public school classroom and now years of being a mom to three amazing children. Plus, starting to homeschool.
I’ve had some experience coming up with simple outdoor play ideas. The really good news is that they never need be very complicated with much set up or materials needed.
And, the things I love most about all of these activity ideas is that they can be easily modified to meet the needs of older or younger kids.
My children range from 8 years old to 2 years old and they all love these activities.
The Different Types of Outdoor Play You Can Expect:
**clickable links so you can get where you need faster**
Fine Motor Skills Outdoor Activities
Sensory Play Outdoor Activities
Gross Motor Skills Outdoor Activities
I chose each of these categories for a reason and I’ll go into a little more specifics at the beginning of each section.
Fine Motor Skills Outdoor Activities for 1 Year Olds & Up
Fine motor skills are a perfect skill for one year olds and older toddlers to work on.
When toddlers work on developing fine motor skills they are teaching their brain to connect small muscle movements such as fingers, little hands, eyes and tongue.
These skills are very important because they are also the same ones that enable your child to do things like eating, writing, manipulating objects and getting dressed.
Outdoor activity play is a great way to turn learning into a fun experience for little hands.
Here are our favorites:
Bucket Of Water
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
Start by having one bucket half way full of water and the other bucket empty.
Then, direct your young children(child) to fully submerge the sponge into the bucket full of water. Then tell them to drain the sponge out into the empty bucket.
Or you could use a small cup and have them fill up the cup by dipping it into the bucket full of water and trying to transfer the water into the second bucket.
Transferring is also a great way to work on fine motor skills.
You can’t go wrong! You got this mama!
Popping Bubbles
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
Could there be any easier outdoor activities for 1 year olds?! Nope!
Literally just blow bubbles for them and have them pop the bubbles.
This seems so simple but they are using fine motor skills to point their fingers and then hand-eye coordination to pop the targeted bubble.
And, if you’re feeling extra fancy, get a bubble wand like this one! Your child could even hold it and dip it back into the bubble container. This gives them even more opportunity for fine motor skill practice and some independence.
Elevated Chalk Art
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
You have options here. If you feel best fit you can draw shapes, number or letters with the chalk.
Then ask your toddler to use the spray bottle/squeeze bottle to erase what you drew.
For example: Can you erase the cirlce. Then you point to the circle so they know where to aim.
They may intially need help manuevering the spray bottle. If so, it may be best to start with the squirt bottle since it’s easier to get water to come out.
Or
You can have them draw a picture with the chalk and then also have them erase it with the water.
Like I said, plenty of chances to modify!
One Ingredient Paint
Materials Needed:
- Hefty paint brush
- water
Instructions:
This is probably the lowest prep activity you can get. Make sure you have a concrete surface.
Then give your toddler the big, hefty paint brush. Tell them to dip it in water and then paint on the driveway or sidewalk! (If you don’t have either of these available you can use construction paper outside.)
You have no mess paint and an easy water play learning experience for your one year old!
Or
If you want to add some color. We use these bath paints on a rubbermaid lid. It’s a great way to add a little color to the paint without adding any of the mess because it’s literally soap!
Ice Play
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
The night before you plan to do this fill each tray of ice with a small toy and then fill up with water. Put it in the freezer so it can freeze overnight.
When you are ready for the fun activity, pop out the ice cubes from the frozen ice tray and fill the spray bottle with warm bottle (to help the ice melt faster.)
Take them outside place them on the ground and tell your toddler to melt the ice by spraying it with the spray bottle full of warm water.
You can also use the squeeze bottle here if the spray bottle is too hard to manuever.
Their objective is to set the toy free!
For an added experience you can add food coloring into the water after you put it in the ice cube tray to make each ice cube a different color.
So, you can teach color recognition while playing with ice!
Modification idea for ice play….
Fill balloons with water. Maybe just two or three. Let them freeze over night. Then the next day you can cut the balloon off and you’re left with a balloon shapped ice.
Have your child use a toy hammer to try and crack the ice!
Both options are so much fun!
Nature Collage
Materials:
- Piece of Clear Contact Paper
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Grass
Instructions:
Take your toddler into the great outdoors. Wether it be a local hiking trail, around your neighborhood or just in your own back yard.
Tell them you are trying to collect things from nature like: flowers, grass, leaves, etc.
Then when you get back to your house you can turn them into a collage using your clear contact paper!
Pull the two pieces a part and on the sticky side help your toddler place all of their collections onto the paper. When you have added your whole collections put the other side against the sticky side.
Beautiful! Now you made a unique nature collage while getting some fresh air!
Sensory Play Outdoor Activities for 1 Year Olds & Up
Ole’ Faithful Water Table
We have had the same water table for 6 years and it’s seen us through 3 children and a multitude of summers.
My favorite part of a water table is the amount of activities it can be used for.
I’m going to go over a few ideas and you can take what is most helpful to you!
The Classic Water Table Use:
Materials:
- Water Table
- Water
- Bath Toys
Instructions:
The classic use is how I used this water table for the first few years. This is the most simple way to use the table.
All you do is fill it with water and let your child splash around. Add some bath toys for extra fun!
It’s a great way to cool off in the backyard without have a pool.
The Bubble Water Table Use:
Materials:
- Water Table
- Water
- Dish Soap or Bath Soap
- Bucket
- Toys
- Shovel
Instructions:
The bubble water table is another favorite of mine and my kids. Plus, it’s still so easy!
All you do is squart in some dish soap or bath soap in the water table. Then use your hose to spray some water in and you’ll quickly see bubbles forming.
It’s fun to add another element in by putting some spoons, buckets and toys.
Then encourage them to do some water pouring by filling up buckets or spoons with water and then pouring it out again.
These actions seem so simple but so much is going on in their brains at this time.
The Car Wash Water Table Use:
Materials:
- Water Table
- Water
- Sponges
- Scrub Brush
Instructions:
Start this option out by letting them paint some toy cars with washable paint or letting them drive some cars and trucks through the mud.
Then tell them it’s time to put their cars and trucks through a car wash!
That’s when you let them use scrub brushes or sponges to use water from the water table to wash their vehicles. So fun!
Sensory Bin Palazzo
Oh man, I love a good sensory bin. And, if you’re clinching your cheeks right now because they make you nervous.
Go ahead and relax because these are outdoor sensory bin activities so you don’t have to stress about the mess as much!
I’m going to go over a few sensory bin activities for you today.
Mega Water Bead Sensory Bin
Materials:
Instructions:
The water table is also a great spot to host sensory bins!
It allows your child to stand up and easily access the sensory experience.
For this one all you do is let the Mega Water Beads soak over night.
Then when they are ready pour them into the water table or sensory bin holder. You can add water for little more deminsion or just leave the Water Beads in there all on their own.
Set your child up with some shovels and buckets to encourage them to explore however their imaginations lead them.
**It’s important to note that you should have a discussion with them before using these water beads. Let them know that these are not food and should not be put in their mouths.**
Cereal Sensory Bin
Materials:
- Sensory Bin Holder
- Cereal of Choice
- Spoons
- Small Toys
- Bucket
Instructions:
I prefer to use Chex cereal or Cheerios. You can put them in your blender to grind them up or just put them in a freezer zip loc bag and smash them up as well as you can.
Now you have created an edible sand like sensory bin filler.
So, this one is safe to eat and let your children explore in that way.
I like to add in some small toys for them to bury and then spoons and buckets to manipulate with.
Pom Pom Sensory Bin
Materials:
- Sensory Bin Holder
- Water
- Pom Pom
- Spoons
- Buckets
Instructions:
Fill your sensory bin holder with water. Then pour in as many pom pom as you would like.
Your child’s job is to use the spoons or tongs to get the pom pom out of the water and into the bucket.
Shaving Cream Sensory Bin
Materials:
Instructions:
This is one of my favorite sensory activities for children of all ages. I’ve used it in the classroom and in our home multiple time!
It’s so basic and beautiful.
The blend of the senses creates such a fun experience for kids.
You simply spray some shaving cream in your sensory bin container. Then instruct your child to flatten it out and use their pointer finger to start drawing.
If you feel like your toddler is ready. Ask them to draw a circle or square. Then tell them to erase it by just rubbing their handing over it to create a smoothe surface again.
The smell and texture is a great mix.
And just so you know, it may take your child a moment to lean into this one because it’s most likely a much different texture than they’re used to. Just give them time. They will dive in when they’re ready!
Tinkergarten Activities
Just in case you’ve never heard about Tinkergarten before. It is a play based learning model and I’m going to give you a direct quote from their web site so you can know more about this type of activity.
“Tinkergarten helps families get outside to make the most of their kids’ early learning years. Designed by education experts and loved by all families, our play-based outdoor curriculum guides parents in raising healthy, confident, and capable kids. Through live, weekly sessions, an at-home curriculum, and a rich learning community, Tinkergarten makes purposeful outdoor play doable for every family.”
Here are two of my favorite Tinkergarten activities.
Rhythm Play
Materials:
- Pots, Bowls, Boxes
- Wooden Spoon or Metal Spoon
- Recycled Containers
- Sticks
Instructions:
I love the creativity that this activity encourages!
Using the materials I listed above you get to create instruments for your toddlers to use.
Encourage them to hit the pots with the spoon and then see what kind of noise it makes. You can then move on to hit different items and compare the noises each make.
Your child will likely start to use their own creativity to come up with their own imaginary play. Maybe singing a song or creating a music concert.
Such a great example that these outdoor activities for 1 year old and older toddlers do not need to be complicated!
Make a Feast
Materials:
- Play Kitchen Items or Real Kitchen Items (whatever you’re most comfortable with)
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Grass
- Other items they collect from nature
Instructions:
This is another genius, basic outdoor activity that sets your toddler for beautiful pretend play!
Instruct them to use the items that you have collected to create a feast for you!
Make muffins, salad, cake, steak, etc. Whatever your child and you come up with.
Then sit down and enjoy your feast!
Oh, and this is where something like a mud kitchen is so fun! Not a must have but still fun to set up opportunities of play like this one.
Brief intermission because all these outdoor activities for 1 year olds and older toddlers are pure gold but you most likely need some simple indoor activities on hand as well!
I’ve come up with over 30 that will save your sanity on those days you are stuck inside or just run out of things to do. Solidarity sister!
Gross Motor Skills Outdoor Activities for 1 Year Olds & UP
Gross motor skills are a very important skill to develop for toddlers because it involves building bigger muscle strength.
When they are doing fun outdoor activities geared toward gross motor skills they are working their larger muscles like arms, legs and torso. All while having a great time!
These are the muscles most important for their everyday activities like walking, running, kicking and jumping. Which enables them to be successful at physical activity and physical development. Which also builds confidence.
Developing gross motor skills also help toddlers prepare for other important activities like:
- dressing themselves
- climbing into and out of bed or a chair
- navigating new environments on playgrounds
- playing team sports (catching, throwing, hitting)
Good news is, I have some really fun outdoor activities for 1 year olds and older toddlers all planned out for you!
Let’s chat about it…
Obstacle Course
Making an obstacle course can be done as easily or advanced as you want to make it. I’ll give you a few activity ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
Box Obstacle Course
Materials:
- those boxes you haven’t broken down yet (haha)
Instructions:
You know all those empty Amazon boxes you need to break down in order to recyle, well, don’t!
Instead tape up the openings. Then throw them in the backyard to create and obstacle course your toddler will love!
You can simply place them all around your yard and have your child run, walk or jump around them. You make up the fun rules each time.
Or, you can stack them up together to see how tall you can make them and then of course have them knock it down.
It’s really fun to see what they can come up with.
Red Solo Cup Obstacle Course
Materials:
- Red Solo Cups
- or any cups you have a lot of
Instructions:
Another simple way to set up an obstacle course!
You can line them up and have our child jump over them.
Or
Put them in a line and have them zig and zag inside and around the cups.
Or
Once again stacking them up!
This is also a great option for indoors!
Balance Beam
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
For Chalk- Draw a line on conrete. Or, if you’are artsy you could draw a balance beam.
Then tell your toddler to walk on the balance beam without falling off!
For Towel – A beach towel would work great for this option. You just roll up the towel and then lay it on the ground.
Once again instruct your toddler to walk the towel balance beam without falling off!
Both of these are excellent gross motor and core work for your child!
Let’s Play Ball
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
Simply playing ball is an excellent way to build physical strength and hand-eye coordination.
You can throw it back and forth.
See how high you can throw it and then catch it.
Or if you’re feeling really brave use this tee ball set up and let them practice hitting it with the bat.
All are great options for playing ball!
Tending to the Garden
Materials Needed:
- Child’s Garden Set
- Your Garden Set
Instructions:
Children naturally want to imitate us and they usually want to be helpers.
Setting them up with gardening tools and some seed from an eaten apple or no seeds at all.
Just find a spot in your yard that you are comfortable with them digging or at least trying to dig.
Or, if you have a garden, even better!
Instruct them how to plant seeds, pull weeds or water plants!
I promise, they’ll be so proud!
Splash Pad
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
Hook up the hose, turn it on and enjoy watching your child have an absoulte blast!
This splash pad is one of the best investments we’ve ever made!
Balance Toys
For this one I’m just going to list a few ride-on toy options or toys that are great for encouragaing building muscle strength and balance in your child!
You’re Doing Better Than You Think
Before you go (and hopefully you’ve made it this far). I just wanted to leave you with a bit of encouragement.
Being a mom is so hard and so rewarding at the same time.
But, here you are…looking up outdoor activities for toddlers and trying to provide the absolute best for your children.
I hope you feel proud! Knowing you are an incredible woman and an awesome mom!
And, I especially hope you find some outdoor activities for 1 year olds and older toddlers that will help you and your children succeed.
I’m so glad you’re here!
Lindsey
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