Outdoor ideas for curious kids
Activities, gear and nature play
for families who go outside.
Ideas for every season, every backyard, and every age. Browse by category or scroll to find something for today.
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Fall Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids: 12 Easy Ideas
Turn a short fall walk into a nature scavenger hunt with 12 easy ideas and a ready-to-copy search list. Find simple ways to adapt the hunt for toddlers, preschoolers, and older kids.
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Acorn Activities for Kids: 15 Easy Fall Nature Ideas
Turn a handful of acorns into 15 acorn activities for kids with nature crafts, and simple experiments. Find low-prep fall ideas, practical safety tips, and ways to adapt the play.
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Leaf Activities for Kids: 20 Things to Do With Fall Leaves
Looking for easy ways to use all those colorful fall leaves? These 20 leaf activities for kids include simple crafts, outdoor games, sensory play, nature activities and low-prep ideas for toddlers and school-age children.
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40 Fall Bucket List Ideas for Kids: Easy Family Activities
A fall bucket list for kids gives you something useful when Saturday arrives and nobody knows what to do. Some ideas take ten minutes. Others make a full family day. There are leaves, puddles, pumpkin patches, warm drinks, little traditions and plenty of reasons to head outside. Pick the ideas that fit your weather, your…
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25 Fall Sensory Activities for Kids Outside
These fall sensory activities for kids use leaves, mud, sticks, acorns, rain and other things already outside. Most are free, need almost no prep and work in a backyard, park or on a short walk.
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25 Rain Activities for Kids: Easy Outdoor Ideas for Wet Weather
Rain does not have to cancel outdoor time. These 25 rain activities for kids turn puddles, mud, worms, water, and wet leaves into easy outdoor play.
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Mud Kitchen Ideas for Kids: How to Set One Up + 12 Easy Play Ideas
A mud kitchen can be as simple as dirt, water, an old bowl, and a spoon. Here is how to set one up, plus 12 easy mud kitchen ideas kids can actually play with.
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After-School Outdoor Activities for Kids: 25 Ideas That Take Under 30 Minutes
After school is the best window for outdoor play. Kids are ready to move and the pressure is off. These 25 ideas take under 30 minutes and need almost no setup.
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Gardening Activities for Kids: 12 Easy Ideas That Work
Gardening activities for kids can start with one pot, a patch of soil, or a small balcony planter. These 12 easy ideas cover digging, planting, bug hunting, mud play, art, and harvest.
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17 Easy Nature Activities for Kids You Can Start Today
These easy nature activities for kids turn an ordinary backyard, walk, or park visit into something worth exploring. Most need very little preparation and use things you already have.
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20 Backyard Camping Ideas for an Epic Family Night
Turn an ordinary evening at home into a family camping adventure. These 20 backyard camping ideas cover the setup, food, games, nature activities, and next-morning fun.
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30 Free Backyard Activities for Kids (No Prep Needed)
Thirty free backyard activities for kids, zero prep required. From bug hunts to stick forts to mud kitchens and everything you need is already outside.
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Family Bikepacking in Lapland With a Toddler
We loaded up two bikes, a Thule Chariot, and our 18-month-old son Julien and headed into Finnish Lapland for 10 days. No toys. No itinerary. Just gravel, reindeer, and a lot of mud.
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25 Easy Fall Outdoor Activities for Kids
Looking for simple ways to get outside this fall? These 25 fall outdoor activities for kids use leaves, rain, mud, wind, and whatever you can find nearby.
