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This summer you are probably looking for ways to keep your toddler busy outdoors other than just letting them run around the yard (which only does the job for so long). Or maybe you’re looking for fun ways to entertain your toddler and their older sibling, or even the whole family!
One thing everyone loves is yard games. Yard games are a great tool to use for endless fun outside and can liven up any get-together. And the good news is, there are so many options for outdoor games that are toddler-appropriate that you can enjoy too! Here I have compiled a list of toddler-appropriate lawn games that are sure to entertain your little one all summer.
1. Sprinklers
Sprinklers are a classic, fun way to cool down on a hot day and to splash around in all summer long. It’s also a great way to get your little one moving by jumping and dancing around! Believe it or not, playing with sprinklers has some great benefits for kids. By dodging the water, hopping through it, and running around, it strengthens their gross motor skills!
Take it to the next level and invest in a splash pad! It has the same benefits as a sprinkler but is sort of like a waterpark at home. Doubling as a shallow pool, splash pads are so much fun for kids and parents alike. For an older toddler, add a slide to add a whole new layer of fun! We love our splash pad at home.
Here are some great sprinkler options for your toddler this summer:
Melissa & Doug Pretty Petals Sprinkler
Here are some great splash pad options for your toddler this summer:
2. Bean Bag Toss
Next up on our list is the bean bag toss! This is a fun one for both kids and adults, you’ll have so much fun showing your kiddo the ropes. There are tons of benefits for your toddler playing this game. These include strengthening their hand-eye coordination, improving their fine and gross motor skills, and working on their balance! Teach your child how to take turns by playing with them or having a friend play along to add even more benefits.
Have a blast tossing bean bags with any of these options:
2-in-1 Animal Bean Bag Toss Game
Farm Animal Bean Bag Toss Game
3. Water Balloon Fun
One of my most fond summer memories as a child was throwing water balloons with my family and friends! I’m sure you have similar memories and remember it being a great, fun, summer activity. And guess what? There are also actual benefits to playing with water balloons! Squeezing, holding, throwing, and squirting helps improve fine and gross motor skills but also works on hand-eye coordination. Win-win!
Nowadays, you don’t have to fill up water balloons one by one the “old fashioned way” (even though you certainly can). There are so many different options for reusable water balloons that are easier to fill and easier to clean up as well!
Here are some great options that check all the boxes:
Soft Reusable Water Balls – An awesome option for younger kids that are softer than some other options out there.
4. Toddler Scavenger Hunt
This is a fun game to play for toddlers all the way up to teens and is a great way to keep your kiddo busy on summer days. There are so many different directions you could go with an outdoor scavenger hunt. You could make up your own, get a free printable online, or buy a scavenger hunt card game! It goes without saying that there are a multitude of different benefits to doing a scavenger hunt with your kids. It teaches teamwork and collaboration, enhances communication and language skills, builds observational skills, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional intelligence skills to name a few!
Some resources for free scavenger hunt printables include:
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for Kids
HGTV 8 Scavenger Hunts for Kids
The best scavenger hunt cards you can buy online:
Skillmatics Scavenger Hunt Card Game
Outdoor Toddler Scavenger Hunt
Children’s Scavenger Hunt: Outdoor Edition
5. Ball Games
Everyone knows there are so many fun games to be had using balls! There are tons of different variations for games that can range in difficulty level and based on age. My kiddo has been enamored by balls since she was very small. And of course, there are tons of different skill benefits depending on how you play. This can hone things like fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving, grasping skills, and hand-eye coordination.
There are so many different things you can do so I’m going to give you a list of unique ideas for different games you can play using balls:
Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Bowling Friends Play Set
If you have a regular bouncy ball at home, there are also many fun, beneficial things you can do with it without buying something new! You can teach your child to do things like kick the ball with purpose, practice tossing the ball to each other, and bounce it off of different things outside. Simple, but beneficial, and fun!
Anything you do outside with your child is bound to have loads of benefits for them, and you! Just being outside in nature, and engaging the senses is so beneficial in it itself. After all, being outside is one of the best learning tools for kids and this list gives you a glimpse as to why!
The sky is the limit with outdoor play, so get creative and have fun! If you’re looking for other summertime activities for your toddler, make sure you check out my Summertime Activities for Toddlers post!
What are some of your favorite games to play outside with your toddler?
XOXO,
Katie
