Ideas for Outdoor Activities and Games for Children

Discover our ideas for outdoor activities and games for babies and children. There's something for every taste and age. Children love to play outside and enjoy the good weather. Here's a selection of outdoor games and activities to make the most of sunny days.

Everybody out!

Barefoot on the grass! Take advantage of sunny days to try these five outdoor activities to do with your baby!

Splash!

Babies love to use household objects as toys.

Fill a large plastic pool or bucket with water. Add plastic cups, salad bowls, plastic spoons and show your little explorer how to scoop out the water before putting it back in the pool. If your container is big enough, you can fit your child in. Make sure you keep an eye on your child at all times, as the water can present a safety hazard.

Advice : Store all water play equipment near the door, outside your home, for easy access in warm weather.

Gym-poussette

Stroller fitness classes are now available for young mothers! It's a great way to stay in shape while having fun and taking your child for a walk.

Advice : when walking on rougher terrain, babies under six months should be placed in an all-terrain stroller to support and protect their heads.

And the swing...

And we swing...

Babies and children who can hold their heads will love playing on the swing! Give your child a gentle push to get used to the swing, and watch him have fun!

Advice : Gently push your child while you continue to talk to him to help calm him down for the first few minutes!

Obstacle course in the garden

If your child crawls or walks, you'll need to keep a close eye on him!

Place different objects for the child to interact with, such as boxes, hoops, tunnels, balloons and stuffed animals. If your child is old enough, you can encourage him to follow two or three directions by saying, for example, "Crawl through the tunnel and get me the bear!". To make the route look more professional, you can buy cones to mark your route.

Advice : keep the cardboard boxes: they'll be invaluable for setting up your course!

The sand rush

Pouring and removing sand teaches your child the concepts of cause and effect. Similarly, burying an object and then finding it again and again teaches your child that objects are always there, even when you can't see them.

Take your child to the beach or to daycare and bring toys such as shovels, buckets, animals, trucks and plastic spades. You can buy sand and a container at a building materials store.

Advice : To avoid losing toys in the kindergarten, write your child's name on them with a permanent marker.