Good, old-fashioned outdoor diversions for young kids
Here are my ten favourite outdoor diversions for young kids.
In my opinion, the best diversions are those that require very few
supplies and only a little preparation but are fun, challenging and
will keep kids occupied for long enough to make a cup of tea and drink
at least half of it!
1. Water painting
Half fill a bucket with water and give your little one a paintbrush or
paint roller. Encourage them to paint the house, the pavers, the fence
etc. This activity is lots of fun in warm weather!
2. Mud pies plus
Water + dirt = messy fun. Add gravel, leaves and sand to the mix
for texture. Introduce old plastic containers and stirring sticks and
you have your own outdoor kitchen!
3. Chalk drawing
Get some chalk and find a good surface to draw on. Draw a hopscotch, trace around different objects... or people.
4. Snake jumping
Jump over the garden hose snake! If you've got enough people, have two
of them wobble the hose while it's still on the ground. Introduce
degrees of difficulty.
5. Obstacle course
Use what's in your backyard to make an obstacle course. Jump over the
hose, run to the outdoor setting and crawl under the table, turn around
three times and walk backwards to the gum tree, give the tree a hug and
hop to the back fence!
Rake a huge pile of leaves to jump into! Don't underestimate the appeal of this simple activity!
7. Digging a garden
Arm child with a garden trowel and let them dig their own miniature
garden bed. Make a border with rocks or bricks and plant some seeds.
8. Stone throwing
Collect stones and have the kids try to throw them into the wheelbarrow. Introduce variations and degrees of difficulty.
9. Rope walking
Drape a long length of rope on the ground and have the kids walk on the rope and follow the path.
10. Rolling race
race is great fun for large groups of kids, especially if you have a
sloping yard. Check course carefully for dog poo before you start (I
speak from experience!).
a couple lawn chairs apart. Get an old blanket, sheet or tablecloth and
put it over chairs. Tie or use clips on corners to hold out sides of
fort. Add toys, books, make a sign about who is allowed in the fort.
spray a strong stream of water as straight as you can, and the kids -
in bathing suits of course - do their best to limbo under the stream as
you move it lower and lower. Can't remember where I saw the idea, but I
predict it's a winner. The kids probably won't mind losing at this
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