Summer, sunny days, and the wind in your hair. Staying at home would be a real shame, but what outdoor activities can you do with children?

Children, as we know, are full of energy, imaginative, and constantly need stimuli that spark their curiosity and enthusiasm.
While parents might happily relax in the garden with a book in a hammock, children always want a thousand ideas for adventures and games in the middle of the lawn… Because for a child, a garden can become a treasure island! For children, playing is not just a hobby , but a growth opportunity and a way to discover the world. Play helps children stimulate their cognitive development and improve their relationships with others .


Would you like some inspiration for games to play in the garden or at the park ? Here are some creative and very simple ideas so you never have to hear, “I’m bored…”!

Below, we suggest games suitable for children aged 3 and above .

Activities to do with children outdoors

• Let's play hopscotch!

Do you remember hopscotch? In the end, all you needed was a piece of chalk and the desire to jump! This is one of the oldest games ever, known even to our grandparents and great-grandparents, and it has been passed down from generation to generation for years. But why? Because there’s nothing simpler than this game! Hopscotch is a great way to develop creativity: the squares don’t have to contain only numbers, but can also include objects that the child, standing on one leg, must pick up, and so on. It also sharpens balance, since jumping requires coordinating eyes, hands, and feet at the same time.

• The soap bubbles

Children from around 1 year old will be amazed by soap bubbles! Of course, at this age it’s the parent’s turn to blow, but around 2–3 years old, this becomes a great activity for your child. They’ll run around trying to pop them! From age 3, children can usually blow on their own, which helps them develop their breathing and their ability to control it . There are ready-made solutions available in stores, but making soap bubbles is actually very simple!

Our advice: mix 100 ml of water, 25 ml of dish soap, 1.5 teaspoons of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch (Maizena). This last ingredient thickens the bubbles and makes them even more durable. Magic guaranteed!

• The king and princess's castle

Set up a tent in the yard and imagine you’re a princess in a castle or a knight in battle… Let your imagination run wild! Do you have cardboard boxes left over from a delivery? Give them to your child and create a cardboard castle together!

• A work of art with nature

During a walk in the woods, at the park, or on the beach, give the child a small basket in which they can put anything they like: leaves, flowers, feathers, pebbles, branches, moss, shells, or any other object. Then suggest they create a work of art on the spot with the collected items. Let them express their imagination freely, without guiding them too much. For older children, from age 3, you can suggest making a more “complex” creation, such as a garland of daisies . All that remains is to take photos to immortalize the masterpiece!

• Little Catch

A classic outdoor game that always works! Children love chasing games that let them interact with adults. You can add variations: running away from the big bad wolf, or from a cat—“If I catch you, I’ll make sure you’re okay!”

• Picnic in the garden

Taste develops very early in children; for this reason, offering culinary activities can help them discover new flavors and aromas. Involve your bambino in preparations such as sandwiches, fruit salads, salads, and so on. You’ll help them develop creativity and self-confidence by trying new things and learning to adopt healthy eating habits. You can also teach your bambino about sustainability—for example, which bin certain materials should go into—and encourage local fruit and vegetables. As you know, we at LILLYDOO care about the planet and commit ourselves every day to a greener future. Since 2020, LILLYDOO has been a carbon-neutral company, and thanks to our collaboration with Plastic Bank, we remove 10% more plastic from the environment than we use in our products.

After cooking all the dishes together, prepare and lay everything out on a large blanket in the garden, bring out some stuffed animals, and have a picnic with them!

• Discovering Nature

Turn your trip to the forest or the beach into a sensory walk. Let the child choose what to touch, and support their experience: “Did you see that stone? It’s gray and smooth,” “That yellow flower smells nice!” You can also invite them to observe insects, listen to birds, taste berries, and touch different surfaces (bark, moss, etc.). When they’re able to speak, turn this observation game into a conversation by asking them to name things: “What color is this leaf? Is it soft or prickly?”

• Birdwatching

Bring binoculars and play at spotting as many birds as possible. Then look up the species on Google. This activity can help your child learn about new animals and grow to love nature.

• Treasure hunt in the garden

Hide objects around the garden, then provide clues to find them through riddles or physical challenges to complete.

• Jump Rope

Jumping rope improves coordination and motor skills. Many scientific studies have shown that this activity enhances balance and overall motor abilities in children—and, why not, in adults too!

• The magic drum
  

If there’s one thing children love to do at any age, it’s pretending to be magicians! Give the child a small bucket and ask them to prepare a magic potion, a soup, or a delicious cake. For ingredients, they can use anything they want: leaves, dirt, and a stick for stirring. Around 2–3 years old is the perfect time for imitation games. Give them a tea set so they can make beautiful cakes… made of mud. Mmmmh, how tasty!

• The obstacle course

In the spirit of developing balance, here’s a really fun game you can do in the garden: an obstacle course! You can use boxes, cushions, and anything else you can find as obstacles. Then build your own “war” course. Your little adventurer can crawl under a table, climb onto a chair, pass through a cardboard box, jump through hoops, climb onto a wooden pallet, hop over a stick, and more. Besides having lots of fun, your child will develop balance, improve coordination, and strengthen physical skills.

• Gardening

Take your child into the garden to pull weeds, prune bushes, or plant some seeds—maybe even start a small vegetable garden.
Whether you have a garden or just a balcony, suggest that your child plant small seeds in a pot. It’s a wonderful way to teach them about growth , the difference between before and after, and the cycle of nature.

Our advice: You can choose seeds that grow quickly, such as radishes or beans. Your child may also really enjoy aromatic herbs and cherry tomatoes, which they can taste.

• Read a good book

After all this activity, a little healthy relaxation is needed. Arrange comfortable cushions and blankets in the courtyard and read a nice illustrated book to your child. Reading from a very young age is very beneficial: first of all, it’s an engaging activity, but above all, it strengthens the adult-child relationship. Reading supports cognitive and emotional development , which is why many pediatricians recommend it during the first three years of life. If your child already speaks or says a few words, you can also interact with them between chapters—perhaps asking what they understood or talking about what you’ve read so far. Your child will build a richer vocabulary , develop more imagination, express themselves better, and become truly curious about the world!

Reading aloud also creates the habit of listening , increases the attention span , and boosts the desire to learn to read as your child gets older.

• Natural bookmarks and dried flowers

Gather some wildflowers (daisies, poppies, cornflowers…) or leaves, place them inside a book, and leave it in the sun. After a few days, once they’re dry, ask your child to glue them onto a piece of cardboard cut to size. Encourage them to unleash their imagination and color the cardboard however they like.

• Eyes up to the sky!

Lie down on the grass, observe the sky, and watch how quickly the clouds change shape: “Oh, this cloud looks like a hat,” “Look! I see an elephant right there!” Here, imagination truly takes over! If you’d like, wait until evening and watch the stars—who knows, maybe you’ll even see a shooting star.

• DIY Bowling

Use empty plastic bottles and knock them down with a ball. Simple, right?

• Invisible painting

• Water and sand play
  

Babies and young children are fascinated by this game! Why? This activity is recommended for its calming properties—especially because your child will also learn basic concepts of physical science. They’ll discover volumes, capacities, and the different properties of water and sand.

Provide the child with one or two bowls of water and/or sand, along with various utensils: cups of different sizes, a strainer, a ladle, etc. Summer is a great time to play with water, so don’t hesitate to offer it. Contact with water can remind them of life in the mother’s womb and mom’s cozy belly. For more inspiration, you can read our article on water play " ".

• Free play
  

It means… letting your child do whatever they want without suggesting any activity. It's not necessary to guide all their outdoor play. Your little adventurer will find plenty of fantastic ideas to stay busy. Nature will be enough to stimulate their imagination. Playing outdoors alone allows them to observe, explore independently, and develop their imagination. By having fun freely, without specific goals, they can build their own experience and gain confidence in their abilities. You can also provide outdoor toys such as a balance bike, a wheelbarrow, a stroller, and so on. Sit quietly and watch, and let them come to you if they feel the need.

Let them take small risks; this will help them understand their limits and better manage unfamiliar situations in the future. We hope these outdoor activity ideas keep your child active and entertained for many minutes (and who knows, maybe for hours!). Every child is different, so your child will develop at their own pace. Don’t worry if your child initially has trouble with some activities.

The important thing is to always encourage your child’s progress! We hope you enjoy playing outdoors and that your little adventurer sleeps well after a day of pure fun!