Screen-Free Outdoor Activities for Kids

Spending time outside in nature is so important for kids! (And for us, too.) 

And you don’t have to have big, fancy plans to make this happen. You can have micro-adventures with your kids right where you’re at.

Here’s a list of fun (and very doable) outdoor ideas for kids!

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Do a Nature Journal

Nature journals are a simple, beautiful way to help kids enjoy nature and notice what’s around them. It’s also great for learning more about the area you live in.

This can be a basic notebook if you want it to be a little more freeform, or you can get a printable for a more guided option. (I’ve got one in the works! If you want to get a free, advanced copy, email me at hello@createinthechaos.com)

Nature journaling teaches kids to be observant, and notice things about the world around them.

And you can make this happen just about anywhere. Whether you’ve got some great nature in your backyard, you make a short drive, or go to a local park.

Though it looks a lot different for us now (where we have lots of nature right in our backyard), we found ways to experience nature with our kids when we lived in a desert, suburban neighborhood in Southern California. Just think of where you might have pockets of nature – whether you’re in the suburbs, a city, or in a rural area.

Mud Kitchen

Playing in the mud is pretty much a quintessential part of childhood, right? 

Messy? Yep! But that’s part of the fun – and SO good for kids! Not only is it great for them on a sensory level, but also for their immune systems.

You can have a designated spot where they can have a free-for-all with dirt and water.

My daughter got this little toy set that came with a whisk and measuring cups a few years ago to play outside with. (I know it’s technically a beach toy, but our backyard was basically a giant sandbox when we lived in the desert – and it still gets played with all the time here now that we have regular dirt!)

Or you can build something a little more structured, like a DIY mud kitchen.

Here’s a few options for getting a mud kitchen going:

• DIY it with some scrap wood and materials from home
• Look on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to see if someone locally is selling one – or even an old plastic play kitchen that you can re-purpose into one!
• Get a pre-made kit – this is a great option if your time is limited. There’s ones that come with lots of fun additions, too

Sidewalk Chalk

Outside chalk is so fun, and helps kids get so creative! If you don’t already have some laying around the house, you can pick up some from a local store or online super cheap.

Sprinkler

This is a great activity for when the weather heats up.

If you don’t have one on hand, you can pick one up at a local hardware store. If you have toddlers or pre-schoolers, you might want to get a gentle one, like this one from Melissa & Doug.

Water Balloons

Water balloon fights are a blast, especially as the weather gets warmer. If you’re going to do them, do yourself a favor and get the ones where you can fill a whole bunch at a time. It’ll save your fingers and save you tons of time.

And If you’re like us and have animals running around (our chickens are a curious bunch) – or you just don’t want to deal with cleaning up all the little balloon pieces, you can get re-usable water balloons. Plus, you only have to buy them once, so it’s a win-win.

Plant Something

It’s so good for kids to get some dirt on their hands and be patient while their plant grows! And this works no matter where you live.

If you have some space outside, you can pick a spot to start a few plants.

Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow something (either on a patio or inside). All you need is a pot, soil, and some seeds, and you can grow something with your kids!

Backyard Obstacle Course

We’ve been working on one of these for the kids! My husband has already built them a balance beam, and he has more plans in the works.

Trampoline

This was a group gift for our kids this past Christmas, and it’s been AMAZING.

I was a little nervous about getting a trampoline – both for safety reasons and because it’s a lot of money.

We knew we wanted to pick one that was going to last a long time, and not get worn out in a year. And we’ve got teens, so we wanted something that had a high weight limit so they could keep enjoying it for many years. So we went big.

My sister-in-law recommended Skywalker Trampolines to us. Theirs lasted many years and many kids, and she said the only thing they had to replace was the cover that goes over the springs.

We got an oval one that had a super high weight limit (so even the adults can go on!). Assembly was way easier than I expected. And I really appreciated how many safety features were built in, as well as how durable everything looked.

It’s been one of the best things for our kids! All of them (littles to teens) love to play on it. It’s a great way for them to get a lot of energy out. We’ve had it five months now, and it’s still getting used nearly every day.

If you’re on a tight budget: keep an eye out on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Depending on your area, you can sometimes get these for super cheap (or even free!). You just have to be prepared to disassemble and haul it home yourself.

Got a favorite outdoor activity you do with your kids? I’d love to hear about it! Send me a note to hello@createinthechaos.com