Being able to enjoy outdoor activities as a family is a gift for both body and mind—and a wonderful way to keep creating childhood memories with your children. No matter the place, the park, garden, mountains, or beach are perfect settings for kids to discover nature, get moving, and, most importantly, have fun! In this article, we explain why outdoor activities matter and share ideas to help you enjoy unforgettable moments together.

Why are outdoor activities important?

The hectic pace and design of city life often mean children don’t spend as much time in nature as they should. Seeking out green spaces is essential because, as experts like Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, rightly point out, The Last Children of the Forest , it is important to prevent deficit by nature . “Nature deficit disorder is not a medical diagnosis, but a useful term, a metaphor, to describe the effects of lack of contact with nature: the decrease in sensory use, attention difficulties, higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses, rising rates of myopia, childhood and adult obesity, vitamin D deficiency, and other diseases,” Louv said in an interview.

There is nothing better for a child than being able to enjoy nature! Outdoor activities are essential for their development and well-being, both physically and mentally. What are the benefits? They improve physical endurance, help children become more aware of space, develop fine motor skills (with their hands) and gross motor skills (with their body), boost imagination and creativity, and enhance overall fitness. Additionally, nature offers countless sensory experiences, such as listening to birdsong, smelling plants, or touching different textures. Being in contact with nature also instills important values around environmental conservation and sustainability that can stay with them throughout their lives.

What games and activities can be done outdoors?

1. Unleash your creativity!

How about a picture? Or a sculpture?

2. Discovering nature

Turn a trip to the park or countryside into a sensory experience. Let your child choose what they want to touch, and guide them through it: “Have you noticed how rough this pebble is?” “What do these flowers smell like?” You can also observe insects, listen to birds, and touch different surfaces (bark, moss, etc.). Once they’re able to speak, keep the game going by asking them to name what they see and describe it.

3. Soap Bubbles

Kids love floating soap bubbles! You can make your own by mixing 100 ml of water, 25 ml of dish soap, 1.5 teaspoons of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch. The last ingredient thickens the mixture and makes the bubbles even more durable. To blow bubbles, you can use a bubble wand you already have, or make one with two sticks and a string. On the blog, you'll find lots of fantastic ideas.

4. Catch, catch

Playing tag is one of those outdoor games kids love—and one that brings back plenty of memories for many of us as adults. Children especially enjoy chase games that let them interact with grown-ups!

5. Cook in nature

Who hasn’t played at being a chef? Especially between ages one and three, children are often fascinated by this kind of play. Give your little budding chef a and and let them “bake” a delicious cake using whatever you can find. , , ... Everything can become part of a tasty recipe! They’ll likely love serving their feast to others afterward.

6. Ball games

A ball offers endless possibilities for outdoor fun. You can play catch with hands or feet, for example. You can also use a basin as a homemade basket for practicing throws. This helps develop coordination and teaches children to gauge their strength.

7. Transfer activities

Babies and young children often really enjoy transferring materials between containers. This activity is not only calming and great for concentration, but it also introduces early concepts from physical science: they learn about volume, capacity, and the different properties of water and sand. Offer two buckets and fill one with water or sand, along with a few utensils: cups of different sizes, a strainer, a scoop...

8. Outdoor Motor Skills Course

If you have a garden, you can create a simple obstacle course. Your little adventurer can crawl under a table, climb onto a chair, go through cardboard boxes, jump through hoops, climb onto a wooden pallet, step over a stick, and more. Along with having lots of fun, your child will develop balance, improve coordination, and build physical skills. They’ll also start to understand concepts like above, inside, and below. Consider doing a first run to show them the course, then let their imagination take over.

9. Water fight!

In summer, you can beat the heat with water guns and water balloons. It’s also a great way to get moving! The park is an ideal place for this kind of play because it lets children share the activity with peers and form teams. Consider bringing a change of clothes in case they get soaked, and let them enjoy the thrill of getting wet—without staying drenched for too long afterward.

10. Free play

In this list of outdoor activity ideas, leaving out unstructured play simply wasn’t an option—that is, free play. Your little adventurer will come up with wonderful ideas wherever you go, and nature alone is often enough to spark their imagination. Playing outside independently allows children to observe, explore at their own pace, and build creativity. Free play, without a specific goal, also supports autonomy and helps them gain confidence in their abilities. It can be helpful to offer outdoor toys such as a balance bike, buckets and shovels, or a kite. It’s important to stay attentive without interrupting their play. Allowing controlled risk helps children learn their limits and handle unfamiliar situations more confidently in the future.