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As a father of two little daughters, I always look for fun stuff I could do with my children. I hope I could provide them with a bundle of happiness and memorable experience in their childhood. Our family is blessed with a decent size backyard, which allows me to explore different backyard activities with our children.
One day I thought to myself, there could be other parents who are searching for ideas to have a great time with their kids. This is why I created this post. “101 Backyard Activities Ideas for Kids“.
I have tried some of the ideas below. Some of them I haven’t tried. I found them either through online researching, or other parents. However, I believe they are all interestingly enough to worth sharing.
Just a note, safety always come first. Below are just some suggestion for your reference, please make sure they are appropriate for your child before proceeding.
I don’t have the completed 101 activities list yet. However, I’m going to keep this post up-to-date. Whenever I think of new backyard activities ideas, I’ll continue updating this post, so we eventually get to 101. So now it’s time to play!
Interesting Things in this Post
- Awesome Exercises that Promote Physical Fitness
- Interactive and Engaging Learning in Your Backyard
- Activities that Help your Kids to Connect with Nature
- Memorable Activities to Encourage Family Bonding
- Interesting Things to Do Outdoors During the Winter
- Let’s Bring Out Your Child’s Creative & Artistic Talent!
- Take a Nap in the Backyard
Awesome Exercises that Promote Physical Fitness
Slacklining Between Trees
Slacklining is actually walking and balancing along a line that is tied between two anchors. If you have trees that strong and sturdy in your backyard, then this could be a great a full body workout for you and your child.
It truly strengthens your child’s core, posture and leg muscles, while enhancing their balancing skills and sharpens their focus.
Rope Climbing
Another fun activity would be rope climbing. Hang a rope with multiple knots from a tree; then the child could start climbing like a monkey.
This activity would strengthen different muscles of a child, especially to their arms. It also helps build up their determination and courage.
There are a variety of climbing ropes you can find online. Most of them come with climbing discs where your child could grab and step on.
Some can even be attached to play structures. For instance, some parents design it as a way for the child to get to a treehouse.
Make sure to find one that has a good reputation and follow the product instruction carefully. Remember to only hang the rope to things that are strong and sturdy, and adult supervision is always needed.
Trampoline
Whenever I went to indoors playground with my daughters, I could see kids of all ages are obsessed in jumping on a trampoline. Then I thought why not bring the fun to a backyard!
There are different kinds of trampolines in the markets. Some are designed for small kids, such as the one with Little Ticks, where there is a handle for them to grab on. Some are installed into the ground. I personally prefer a large one with a safety net and can be stored away after usage.
Here’s one that I really like, and it also comes with a basketball hoop! Check it out!
Monkey Bars
If your child is adventurous and loves challenging obstacle course, then monkey bars (affiliate link) could be a fantastic option for them. You just need to suspend a line between any two trees, then installs some gymnastics rings or monkey bars on it.
This can certainly promote their physical development. I’m sure this will provide a child with hours of fun swinging and hanging. Of course, make sure to find trees that are strong enough to withstand all the weights, and look for monkey bars from a reputable manufacturer.
Stepping Logs
These are the stepping logs from our neighbors
Another fun game would be to balance on the stepping logs. Not only it would bring endless excitement to a child, but it would also significantly enhance their balancing skills.
This could be helpful if they want to practice gymnastics in the future. Even for other sports such as playing soccer, basketball or practicing kung fu, the ability to have great balance is crucial.
You could purchase the stepping logs online. Alternatively, you could get the stepping stones where they are designed for kids. They are more colorful and have different steepness and size. With that, you could customize the path with different challenging levels.
Limbo Game
I’m sure the children could have a blast playing it. Place a limbo set in your backyard, and play some fun music to enhance the mood.
There are different limbo set in the market, some are wooden, while some are inflatable. The inflatable ones are easier to store. However, I still prefer the wooden ones as the inflatable limbo tends not to stand properly when there’s wind.
Of course, since I’m much taller than my kids, this is one of the games I wouldn’t challenge them 🙂
Mini-Golf
Our family had lots of fun playing mini-golf in one of our recent trips.
Whenever I go to a kid carnival, mini-golf always remain one of the favorite games among children. Now, you can also bring the fun into your backyard.
You don’t need to spend a fortune in setting up the mini-golf course. In fact, with innovation and creativity, you can simply set up the course with many recycled household items.
For example, you could design a windmill with a cereal box and popsicle sticks, dig a hole in the ground and place a plastic cup in it, and surround the course with bricks or stones. You can also decorate the course with their toys and plants in your backyard. You could set up different levels of obstacles, such as a variety of alleviations and size of the tunnels.
If you want the course to be smoother, place a matt on top of it. Alternatively, playing on the grass is also fine, just make sure you mow the lawn short enough for this activity. Even though you could design the course with many recycled items, your kid still needs to have a golf club and balls. To make it more appealing, you could pick the golf balls in different colors.
Swinging in a Hammock Seat
This could be a fantastic choice if you have a tree where you could hang the hammock seat. Your child could have fun swinging, relaxing, read books or enjoy listening to music in it. It helps your child to develop the sense of balance which allows them to have better body coordination.
When you buy a hammock, make sure to choose one that could withstand the weights of your child. The same applies when picking a tree to hang the hammock.
Playing Basketball in Backyard
A photo I took with my daughters at the Lego Land
I guess this is something I wish I could have when I was young, which is having a basketball set in my backyard. I used to be on the school team, so having my own basketball set could allow me to practice my drills day and night.
Not sure how to make a basketball court in your backyard? Here’s a post!
Just a reminder, many parents asked if their child could play basketball on the grass. The simple answer is ‘no,’ the ball would not bounce properly, it would ruin the fun.
Water Slide
Playing in the water is indeed an exciting way to cool off your child during a hot summer day. Rather than playing on a heated plastic playset, doing so on a water slide would be an excellent alternative. I prefer slides that are inflatable, easy to clean and store.
Here are the reviews of two inflatable water slides I have done.
This is a review of a decent sized inflatable slide: https://backyardforkids.com/blast-zone-tropical-splash-compact-backyard-water-slide-review/
while this is a larger scale: https://backyardforkids.com/blast-zone-pirate-bay-inflatable-combo-water-park-and-bounce-review/
Water Fights
In addition to water sliding, a more active play would be a water fight. In most cases, simply give the children a water gun and water balloons, then they will automatically play on their own.
If the children are shy and have not warmed up yet, you could introduce some ice-breaking games first. For example, try playing catch with water balloons, or play tag with a water gun. I prefer water balloons that easy to be filled and tie.
Ring Tossing
Image linked from Elite sportz equipment/Amazon.com
This is another traditional game where it will never get old. If you have been to any children’s fair before, this is a very common game to win some stuff animals. Not only the children could play the game, but parents could also join the fun.
It could improve the child’s aiming skills and motor coordination. When you put different marking scores on each peg, your child could have some math practicing too.
There are different kinds of ring toss playset on the market. Some of them are hanged to the wall, while some are laying flat on the ground. Here’s one that I like, and I’ve done some review on it. >> Check it out
Bowling with Reused Water Bottles
To protect the environment, my family and I typically do not prefer drinking from plastic water bottles. We try our best in bringing our own water bottle, but there are still times when plastic bottled water is the only source left to drink. For example, when we go to a friend’s birthday party or even from participating in a school event.
Rather than recycling the water bottles immediately, I would bring and re-model them as the bowling pins for my kids. Simply rip-off the labels on the bottles, and fill them with water. Add a few drops of food coloring to each. Then you now have a set of colorful bowling pins.
Potato Sack Race
If you are looking for a fun and inexpensive yard game, then potato sack race could be an ideal choice. Invite a few friends of your child to your backyard. They simply put their legs into the sack, while holding the top of the bag up around their waist. Then they could start hopping like a kangaroo, and see who is the fastest.
This is such an excellent aerobic exercise. To make the potato sacks more kids-appealing, try finding ones that are colorful or with eye-catching designs. Perhaps, you might be able to find one that resembles a mermaid or a kangaroo. Even if not, you and your kids could creatively remodel it together.
By the way, a good quality potato sack is not just for playing. They can be used for other purposes such as packing heavy items, making handicrafts. Of course, as its name suggests it could store potatoes! However, you might want to clean them after your kids play in it.
Three-Legged Race
When I was young, I used to play this game whenever I went camping with my friends. Not only this is such a fun activity, but it could also teach the children how to work as a team.
There will be two children on each team. You simply tie a child’s left leg to the right leg of another kid. Give the children some time to practice so that they could get the rhythm in walking, running or even hopping together.
Once all the teams are ready, line them up. Then let the race begin and see which team could make to the finish line first!
When tying the legs of the kids together, you could consider using old stockings as they are relatively softer. Avoid using ropes or anything that is too rough, as their frictions could injure the children’s legs.
Kids will unavoidably fall on the ground as they are practicing or during the game. Therefore, make sure there is soft ground surfacing. Actually, I just wrote a post on the different surface for a playground. This might be useful to you.
Interactive and Engaging Learning in Your Backyard
Wouldn’t this image looks great on your Pinterest board? Please remember to pin it.
I personally find it learning science through textbooks is quite boring. Therefore, I will try to incorporate fun and hands-on demonstration to my daughters whenever possible. Doing so in the backyard would be an ideal choice in many instances. It is effortless to clean up. My wife and I do not need to worry about making a mess within the house. Below are some experiments I really like. Enjoy!
Observing and Learning about Insects
Rather than learning about the world solely through books and from other people’s experience, sometimes, it would be more beneficial for kids to observe with their own eyes.
Provide them with a magnifying glass, and let them observe the different kinds of insects in your backyard. At the same time, you could explain to them the behaviors of various insects and their role in the ecosystem. For example, why would worms come off the ground after a heavy rain? How will they enrich the soil? What kind of foods to cricket eat? How do ants carry their foods.
Not only that, there could be meaningful life lessons we could learn by observing the insects. The “never give up” attitude of spiders, no matter how many times you destroy their webs, it will always rebuild it. The teamwork spirit of the ants’ community is fascinating. You’ll be amazed ants are such great architects when you see how they build their nest.
Color-Changing Experiment with Milk
>> To read the experiment details
Pop the Sandwish Bag Experiment
>> To read the experiment details
Making a Bouncy Ball Experiment
>> To read the experiment details
Wave in a Bottle Experiment
>> To read the experiment details
Sensory Walk
A few days ago, my wife found this idea on the website, Raising Dragons[1]https://www.raisingdragons.com/sensory-walk-ages-2/ and I really like it. The game is interesting and simple.
You just prepare buckets of different items, and then your child could walk on it barefoot to experience the different sensation. Below are some ideas for each bucket:
- Warm water with red food coloring
- Cold water with blue food coloring
- Bubble wrap
- Smooth black river rocks
Just make sure whatever you add, it would not be sharp for your child to step on. I’m not too concern about making a mess since kids would be playing in the backyard. I would prepare a water hose and some towels to wash their feet before they go back indoors.
Fun Composting Lesson for Kids
It’s important to educate our next generation how to protect the nature. Rather than just teaching them in the textbook, we should help them to develop good habit at the early stage to efficiently reuse our organic waste. Composting the food scraps such as fruits, vegetables would be one way to do it. You could also include other materials such as fallen leaves, coffee grounds, and tea bags.
Here’s an awesome compost containers especially designed for the kids. Not only it is transparent, it also has a guide in teaching a child about composting. Remember to check it out!
Activities that Help your Kids to Connect with Nature
Backyard Bird Feeding
Can you picture how happy your kid will be when many colorful birds are flying to your backyard? Enjoying the birds chirping would be a stress relief and a great way to calm down for both child and parents.
Not only that, you could use this backyard activity to teach your child the sense of caring others in need. Especially during the winter time, when it is challenging for birds to find foods.
Here’a guide about bird feeding. Enjoy it!
Backyard Farming
If you need to buy fruits and vegetables from the supermarkets anyway, why not grow them in your backyard?
You can take the opportunity to show your kid many scientific concepts by planting. For instance, why is sunshine important to the plants? How do plants absorb water? What is the role of worms in the soil?
Both of my daughters love blueberries. They would literally non-stop eating it. This would be something I would grow in my backyard.
Here’s a post about backyard farming.
Raising Chickens in your Backyard
© PixelRockstar.com
I’m sure this would be an extraordinary experience for you and your child. Raising chickens can train your child in having a sense of responsibility and caring for others.
There are also many benefits in raising chickens in the backyard. The obvious one is that you can get lots of free eggs. According to GlobalNews, [2]https://globalnews.ca/news/2054762/what-you-need-to-know-about-backyard-chickens/ “If you have three hens, you’re looking at about 91 dozen eggs a year.”
Since the chickens would be running outside, they could receive an abundant source of sunlight and vitamin D. Their eggs are usually far superior to the ones from you can get from a store. Plus, they can help de-weeding your lawn, and create a bug-free garden.
However, just like raising any other pets, this is a lifetime commitment. The chickens do not lay eggs for their entire lifetime. It is important to have a plan for them so they can live with dignity and humanely even when they can no longer supply for eggs. Also, not every city permit raising chicken in the backyard. You should check your local laws before doing so.
Treehouse for a Kid
Unlike adults, a child might not get much personal space in the house. Having a treehouse would provide them their own area, where they could store their toys and spend time with their buddies.
It also allows them to enjoy the outdoors while having protection from overexposure to the sun and wind.
Of course, it is vital to building one that is sturdy and safe for a child to climb up into. I’m sure you could find lots of online tutorials about building a treehouse.
Plant a Tree
I’m sure we all know that trees could benefit our environment, especially in improving the quality of the air, therefore, I won’t go in depth on it.
When planting a tree with your child, you could use this chance in educating your child with simple concepts about our ecosystem. For example, how do trees grow from seeds? What nutrient do trees need to grow? What are the benefits of having trees to our human and the environment?
Plus, it would be a fantastic experience for your child to grow together with a tree they planted.
However, when choosing a spot to plant the tree, make sure to find one that is appropriate. I would avoid planting too close to my house. I’m concerned as the roots grow big, it might affect the foundation of the property.
Introduce Gardening Responsibility
As a child starts to grow up, it is good to introduce some gardening responsibility to them. For example, clean up the fallen leafs and tree branches. >> To read more ideas
Memorable Activities to Encourage Family Bonding
Host a Birthday Party
© PixelRockstar.com
When it comes to your child’s birthday, rather than inviting their friends’ over to your house in playing video games, why not host the party in the backyard? This way, they could enjoy the outdoor environment while getting some exercises.
If your child’s birthday lands on a warm season, this could be easier to plan for. However, even if it happens during the winter, there are plenty of games they could enjoy in the snow. I would just let them play outdoors but come inside the house to eat the cake.
You could find some ideas on “How to Host a Backyard Birthday Party” in one of our posts.
Backyard Time Capsule
Preparing a backyard time capsule (affiliate link) could be a unique activity for you and your child. There is no strict rule on what to include. You could put in a family photo, a letter you wrote to your child in the future, a picture that your child drew, a piece of today’s newspaper. Basically, you could include whatever that is memorable and interesting.
Since the capsule is to be buried underground, make sure to choose a container that is waterproof and weatherproof. I prefer a stainless time capsule.
Since time capsule would be dug out after many years from now, you should leave a mark on top of it that is easy to be seen. Perhaps, place you could place a decoration piece on it. If you sell your house in the future, remember to dig out the time capsule before you leave.
Barbecue Party
This is one of the common family bonding and social activities. Invite a few friends and family over to your home, and host a barbecue party in your backyard.
Traditionally, most grilled sets are designed to be used by one person at a time. Often, the host would end up doing all the cooking while unable to have a good time with the guests. I prefer the Asian style grilled sets. They are typically lower in height, where everyone sits surrounding it to cook their own foods. It’s like a bonfire circle, except there are a lot more tasty foods.
A child could also participate in flipping the foods. Of course, you need to supervise the child at all time and make sure these tasks are age appropriate for them.
You could also include the vegetables and fruits that you and your child grow together. Potatoes, carrots, zucchini are some delicious choices.
Playing Twister as a Family
This is a very classic game. People are already playing it throughout the 70s, 80s, 90s and even now. Many parents are happy that their child could experience the same playtime memory as they had.
It indeed promotes stretching and balancing for a child. To encourage family bonding, parents or even grandparents could play together with the kids.
Of course, unlike a child, we might not be as twistable as when we were young. Therefore, make sure to do some stretching and warm up before playing 🙂
Since I encourage to play as a family, you’ll need a board that is large enough. Here’s one that I like. >> Check this out
Backyard Picnic
During a warm and beautiful day, how about enjoying a lunch picnic with your child while relaxing in the sunshine?
Just place a blanket over the grass, then you and your family could enjoy the meal. If you want to dine at a table properly, you could also get a patio dining table set.
I prefer finger foods such as sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas since they are less messy for a child to handle. To give the kids a greater sense of achievement, you could also include the vegetables and fruits that they grow in the backyard.
Backyard Camping
For those who have not experienced camping in the wild, doing so in the backyard would be a good start. This is also an excellent choice for a family who do not want wish to travel far to a campsite but would love to the camping experience. >>To read more about Backyard Camping
GIANT Four in a Row
You could probably find this 4-in-a-row game in many classrooms. I also love playing it with my daughter, as it could stimulate her to think strategically. This could be a great classic game for kids and adults of all different ages.
Rather than playing at home all the time, you could get a giant one to play in the backyard. There are different sizes available in the market, and some even have a measurement of over 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall.
Dinosaurs Scavenger Hunt
This activity is very easy to put together and is ideal for outdoor play. First, you let your kids know what is the list of things they should look for. Then simply hide them in different parts of your backyard.
You could also use this game as an opportunity to educate your child. For example, you could hide a set of dinosaurs toys in the backyard. Then introduce their names and characteristics to your kid.
You could hide them in places where the background color is similar to the toys. This is a practical way of demonstrating to your child that certain animals can blend in themselves with the surrounding.
Treasure Hunt
Many people confuse this game with a scavenger hunt. A treasure hunt is actually the one where you provide a list of clues, and then they would eventually lead a child to the treasure.
For instance, you could place a gift in a locked treasure box. The first clue could be something like “Where do daddy store his gardening tools?”. Then in front of the shed, you could place another clue such as “Which flower do mommy like the most?” and so on. With all the different clues, it will eventually lead your child in finding the key to unlock the treasure box. For older kids, you could even have them to solve a math problem to open a combination lock.
Spending Time with Your Family Dog
For families who have a dog, rather than just walking it every day, there are many fun games your kids could play with it in the backyard.
Your kid could set up obstacle courses for the dog, for example, jumping through hula hoops, lawn chairs, and buckets. Another exciting game would be “hide and seek.” Train the dog to stay still, and have your kid hide its favorite toy in the backyard. [3]https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/play-exercise/fun-games-kids-play-with-dogs
Once again, due to safety reason, you should also supervise them while playing.
Board Games on the Floor
If your backyard has some non-grass area, (i.e., cement), you can draw some board games on it. Your child could use those big foam dice to determine how many steps they should move.
While having fun, you can introduce math concepts and the importance to follow the rules while playing games.
Backyard Movie Night
© PixelRockstar.com
Many kids like to hang out at their friend’s house in watching a movie. Now, you can bring this fun to your child and their friends by hosting a movie night in your backyard. You need to get a projector, a blank white screen and don’t forget a good sound system.
For the sitting arrangement, simply place a blanket over the ground, and provide the children with a few cushions. Of course, you can’t miss out snacks when watching a movie. Popcorns, pizza, chips, and juices are all my children’s favorite. If you do not prefer any junk foods, you could also include other healthy alternatives.
Interesting Things to Do Outdoors During the Winter
Making a Bonfire in Your Backyard
Sitting next to a bonfire, enjoying a delicious hot dog and melted marshmallows could be a memorable experience for your kids. Especially, during the winter time, having a cup of hot chocolate next to a bonfire would be very heartwarming.
In fact, some studies show sitting close to a fire could help a person to relax, which decreases the blood pressure.
Below is a post on “How to Make a Bonfire in Your Backyard?”.
Building a Snowman
A mini snowman my daughter and I built together
Do you want to build a snowman? I’m sure if you ask or sing this to a child; they’d love to do that, especially after watching the Disney cartoon, Frozen.
After building the snowman, simply decorate it with old scarf and toys. This is a snowman I made with my daughter. The shape was not as rounded as I imagined. Perhaps, we could place a no-longer use basketball in the base, and build around it. Anyway, regardless of the finished products, my family and I had lots of fun on that day.
Making Frozen Toys
Creating frozen toys is fun and easy. If the temperature in your area is low enough during the winter, simply pour water into an ice mold tray and leave it outdoor.
To make it more appealing to the child, you could purchase the molds that come in different shapes or with cartoon characters. You could also add some food coloring.
However, since I’ll be leaving the molds outdoor for quite some time, I do not encourage a child to eat the frozen toys, they are only for playing.
Hot Pot in Winter
During the summer we could do barbecue, then we could do a hot pot gathering in the winter. My kids and I like to include different dishes of seafood, beef, egg, and vegetables. The experience is quite unique as the outdoor temperature is low, while we are surrounding a pot of hot and delicious foods.
A friend of mine said he used to do hot pot within an igloo when he went ice fishing. I haven’t done it before and unsure about this safety of that. (Well, he did come back alive after all). So I’m just going to do it in the backyard.
Some people concern there could be a leakage of propane gas when doing hot pot within their home, therefore, doing so in the backyard would be a good alternative.
Igloo Building
If you are living in one of those areas where there are lots of snow during the winter, then you could consider building an igloo.
Similar to a treehouse, this could be a secret spot for your child to hang out with their friends. There are not many tools needed to build an igloo. All you need is a shovel, bucket of water, and of course, clothing to keep you and your child warm. It does require lots of time to build it. Make sure to construct one that is safe and sturdy. Always supervise the child while playing.
Snow Tubing
Most children would be very excited to go on snow tubing. For children that are more adventurous, you could pile a hill of snow for them to slide down. For those who prefer to play mild way, simply sliding on a flat surface of snow would be equally fun.
Once again, due to safety reason, a child should always wear proper protective equipment and clothing.
You know what?!! We actually wrote a post which contains “Our Top 10 Favorite Winter Backyard Activities“. Hope you enjoy it!
Painting on the Snow
Similar to water painting, but this time, the masterpiece will be done on the snow. They could do face painting on their snowman, color the snowballs, or even decorate their snow castle.
You could use this chance to introduce them to different arctic animals. For example, paint pictures of a penguin, polar bear, or snowshoe hare. (Actually, I only knew about the snowshoe hare from one of my daughter’s show and tell.)
It is important to pick a paint that is easily washable and non-toxic. This way, it would be easy to clean up afterward.
Let’s Bring Out Your Child’s Creative & Artistic Talent!
Sand Play
Playing sand can stimulate the sense of creativity and also has different developmental benefits to a child. If you have a backyard with decent size, you could consider installing a sandbox, where it gives more space for your child to explore. Some parents do not want their child to sit directly on the sand, as it is difficult to clean up afterward. Alternatively, you could consider getting a sand table.
To spice up the fun, you could add sands with different colors.
Here’s one of our posts, “What are the Benefits of Sand Play to a Child’s Development?“.
Creating Wind Chimes with Recycled Materials
One day, my wife and I were tidying our home, we found there were so many items that we haven’t used for years. As I was about to dispose of them, my wife brilliantly suggested in creating a wind chime with some of the recycled materials. This is another practical lesson in teaching our children the beauty of reusing materials.
With great innovation, you could bring your old keys, forks, spoons, CDs, glass bottles back to life. To make it more attractive, you could paint the materials with different colors, or decorate with other items such as seashells.
If you would like your wind chime to play beautiful musical tones, you would need to design it with different lengths of tubes, and pipes.
I have done some online search, the website “An Engineering Approach to Wind Chime Design by Lee Hite” [4]http://leehite.org/Chimes.htm has a massive wealth of information about this. I’ll place a link in the resource section of the page.
Bubbles Blowing
A game as old as time. I could still remember playing it when I was small. Now, the fun has passed on to my children.
You could DIY in making the bubbles solution, or you could easily buy them online or in dollar stores.
One thing many people might not have tried is to play bubbles blowing during the wintertime. The semi-crystalized bubbles are very beautiful. You and your children need to see it yourself.
Water Painting
Kids love to draw. With their tiny creative minds, they will draw many amazing pictures, from painting flowers, trees, cars, to their best friends at school or people in the family. As you might notice, my profile pic on the website is actually drawn together by my daughter and me.
I also find it many kids also love water painting. However, many parents are hesitating about doing that with their child, as it could get really messy. This is especially a concern when the paint gets on the carpet, floor, or furniture. So why not do them in the backyard?
Simply get a set of simple painting tools and washable paints, then the little artist could start their masterpiece in the backyard.
Their drawing is not limited to be on paper. They can paint on the ground, fences or even rocks. Rather than just using painting brush, they can also draw with their hands. However, make sure they will not put the paints in their mouth or eyes. When getting the washable paints, ensure to find ones that are non-toxic.
You could encourage them to draw the things they see in the yard. This could promote their sense of observation.
Face Painting
Similar to water painting, you could do face painting for your child in the backyard.
I remember once I took my daughters to a birthday party. The host hired a professional face painter, where she beautifully turned the children into their favorite cartoon characters. (i.e., Spiderman, Elza & Anna, Snow White, Paw Patrol and many more). If you do not wish to spend the budget in hiring a face painter, you could also DIY. There are plenty of online tutorials on how to do face painting.
Once again, the paints are washable and non-toxic. Supervise the child so that they will not put the colors in their mouth or eyes. Some children could be allergic to water paint; therefore, you should try a small portion on their hands first, before applying to their face.
Painting with Eyes Closed Challenge
We talked about drawing and painting before. Another twist to this activity is to have your child to draw with their eyes closed.
Let them wear a sleeping mask, so that they can rely on other senses when drawing. This activity can be paired up in playing, so the child who is not blindfolded can guide the one who is. It would be interesting for them to see what would their masterpiece look like.
This will teach them how valuable the vision is to a person. It also gives them an opportunity to briefly understand what kind of challenges do blind people experience.
Take a Nap in the Backyard
Not all activities need to be active and require lots of pre-planning. Being a parent is indeed a full-time job. Sometimes both the parents and the child need to take a break. Taking a nap in the backyard could be a good option to destress and recharge some of the energy. >> To read more about napping in the backyard with a newborn
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Jacob is a father of two daughters. He loves spending quality time with them in the backyard. Playing sports, blowing bubbles, and planting are some the favorite activities Jacob and his daughters like to do together. He believes it is essential to spend quality time with them while they are still young.