If you need some inspiration and ideas of things to do in your garden or in a safe open space with the kids whilst you’re at home, then we’ve come up with a great list below!
Nature activities
- Go on a bug and mini beast hunt. Search under stones, bricks or dig in the soil to see what you can find. Older children can make a chart recording their findings (name/ size/colour/ no. legs/ wings)
- Go cloud spotting.
- Build a bug house
- Make bird feeders and sit quietly watching the birds in your garden, counting the birds
- Create wild art using leaves, twigs or anything else you find.
- Learn about your Trees! Draw a picture. Find the seeds and learn how they spread. Do any animals, birds or mini beasts live there?
- Go on a mini garden scavenger hunt. Make it interesting by offering a photo hunt- where children have to take a picture of what they find- or even better, draw it!
Creative activities
- Find some pebbles and stones and decorate or paint them
- Get some wax crayons and do some bark or leaf rubbing
- Have fun with bubbles
- Make a telephone paper cups – all you need is some string, two cups and a pencil
- Try some leaf art, see what designs you can make with different coloured leaves in the garden
- Let children chalk on your driveway or patio. A great canvas, and then for the enthusiastic they can wash it off!
- Try some water painting. A paintbrush and a pot of water is all you need to get some great designs on fences or patio stones. In the sunshine it will dry quickly so you can go again!
Games in the garden
- Make a trail or treasure hunt for your family to follow. Hide items all over the garden for little ones to find. Older children could be given clues or even create clues themselves!
- Build an obstacle course
- Create an alphabet scavenger hunt
- Fly a kite. You could even make one if you don’t have one!
- Walk like animals – hop, jump, crawl, slither, pause sloth-like or pounce!
- Build a den. Use some old sheets, spend as long in outside as you can. Take some books, picnic or toys into your den. Or try camping?
- Play ball, catch, football or tig
- Put out some cushions or something that children can stand on and play ‘The Floor is Lava’
- If you’ve got a dog, get them involved and teach it some new tricks
- If you fancy a snack why not try apple bobbing or donuts on a string!
- Bubbles. Endless entertainment!
- Make a mud pie. Messy play for little ones… all you need is water, mud a a few pots for the perfect mud pie.
Activities for when it’s dark
- Attract moths to a torchD
- Do some star gazing and learn about constellations
- Draw your own constellation pictures
- Going on an evening walk with head torches – there’s a good owl population this year
Educational outdoor activities
- Draw a map of your local area or garden
- Use a camera or phone to write and photograph a picture story of your outside discoveries
Growing & gardening
- Plant some cress heads – the recent McDonald’s Mr Men cups are perfect
- Press flowers or blossom
Plant up some hanging baskets, or pots – create a colourful garden
Have fun even if it’s raining
☔️ Dance in the rain
☔️ Puddle jump
☔️ Get rain suits and wellies on and go out to get wet and muddy
Fun outside beyond your garden
If you live nearby to a stream then try to build a twig raft with twigs and string
Play Pooh sticks
Identify trees
Find some blossom and learn about Japanese celebrations
Let us know if you have any more garden and outside ideas to share!
Thank you to fellow North Leeds Mumbler Claire Horn for many of the above ideas, check out Claire’s page What wood Claire Do? , she makes some lovely bespoke woodwork products.