Outdoor activities for kids: Fun adventures beyond screens
Inspire a love for fresh air, movement, and imagination with these easy, screen-free outdoor activities — perfect for backyards, parks, or anywhere under the sun!
There’s something magical about kids playing outside — the laughter, the energy, the endless creativity. But in a world of screens and busy schedules, it can sometimes feel tough to come up with simple outdoor ideas that keep kids engaged. That’s why we’ve pulled together this ultimate list of outdoor activities — all designed to get children moving, exploring, and connecting with the world around them.
Whether you have five minutes or a whole afternoon, these activities are easy to set up, fun for a range of ages, and require little to no special equipment. From backyard games and nature adventures to creative outdoor challenges, you’ll find plenty of screen-free ways to turn ordinary days into extraordinary memories — no planning stress required.
Refine your search
Activity Type
Location Type
Energy Level
Mess Factor
Age
Time Duration
-
Fabric Sensory Tunnel
Create a cosy tunnel using a blanket and chairs, and encourage your baby or toddler to crawl through and explore. Great for movement, discovery and plenty of peekaboo fun.
-
Rose Perfume
Make a simple rose-scented perfume using fresh petals and water — a lovely way to enjoy nature through scent and creativity.
-
Tag
A timeless favourite, tag is all about speed, laughter, and staying one step ahead! It’s the perfect way to get kids running, laughing, and burning off energy.
-
Bounce on a Trampoline
Jumping on a trampoline is pure joy—and a brilliant way for kids to burn energy, improve coordination, and get active in the fresh air.
-
Bat & ball
Whether it’s a backyard game of cricket, baseball, or just keeping a ball in the air, bat and ball games are a great way to build coordination and enjoy some active play.
-
Read a Book Together
Cuddle up with a good book and dive into a world of imagination. Reading together builds language skills, emotional bonds, and a lifelong love of stories.
-
Animal Impressions
Waddle like a penguin, stomp like an elephant, or slither like a snake! Animal Impressions is a hilarious way for kids to move, play, and get creative together.
-
Balloon Keepy-ups
Swap out regular balls for balloons and let the indoor fun fly! Balloon Ball is a safe, energetic game that challenges kids to keep the balloon in the air for as long as they can.
-
Hide and Seek
A timeless favorite! Hide and Seek gets kids moving, thinking, and laughing as they search high and low for their hidden friends.
-
Riddle Time! Brain Teasers for Clever Kids
Give those growing minds a fun workout with a riddle challenge! Take turns guessing silly, tricky, or classic riddles to build logic, problem-solving, and laughter.
-
Balloon Rocket Race
Watch balloons zip across the room as kids explore the power of air and motion! This fast-paced experiment is part race, part physics fun.
-
Treasure Map Adventure
Create your own treasure map and set off on a swashbuckling search for hidden loot! This imaginative adventure is perfect for indoor or outdoor play.
-
Nature Color Hunt
Go on an outdoor adventure to find items in nature matching different colors, developing observation skills and color recognition.
-
Backyard Bug Safari
Explore the fascinating world of insects and other small creatures in your own backyard with this educational nature activity.
-
Paper Airplane Challenge
Create and test different paper airplane designs in this exciting STEM activity that combines creativity with basic physics concepts.
-
Invisible Drawing
A quiet, no-prep game where kids guess what shape or letter is being drawn on their back or hand — ideal for winding down or filling a quiet moment.
-
Sand Target Toss
Draw a bullseye in the sand and take turns tossing pebbles to score points — a fun and low-key game for the beach.
-
Mindful Breathing
Teach children how to slow down, relax, and reset with simple breathing exercises. A gentle introduction to mindfulness and self-regulation.