☀️ 15 Easy Outdoor Activities to Do With Your Kids This Summer (That Won’t Drive You Nuts)

Hey mamas!

If your kids are bouncing off the walls, the snacks are disappearing faster than you can restock them, and it’s not even lunchtime yet… this post is for you.

Sometimes you just need easy, mess-friendly, energy-burning outdoor activities that don’t require a Target run, a Pinterest board, or 4 hours of prep.

Here are 15 outdoor ideas I actually do with my littles—and spoiler alert: they love every single one. Let’s make this summer fun (and slightly less chaotic), shall we?

1. Water Balloon “Piñata” Smash

Hang filled water balloons from a tree and let them whack them with a spoon or pool noodle. Instant laughter.

2. Sidewalk Paint Party

Mix washable paint with a little water and give them brushes or sponges to “paint” the sidewalk. Bonus: it dries like chalk!

3. Nature Color Hunt

Give them a list of colors to find in nature—green leaf, yellow flower, brown rock. Let them collect or take pictures!

4. Ice Cube Rescue

Freeze small toys in muffin tins, give them water and little tools to “rescue” them. Keeps them busy for a solid 30 minutes.

5. DIY Bubble Foam Party

Blend dish soap, water, and a bit of food coloring to make fluffy bubble foam. Toss it in a bin and let them dig, scoop, and splash.

6. Backyard Car Wash

Get out toy cars, bikes, or even your real car. Let them wash with sponges, spray bottles, and a bucket. They feel so helpful.

7. Sprinkler Obstacle Course

Set up cones, pool noodles, hula hoops, and let them race through it with a sprinkler blasting. Olympic toddler vibes.

8. Paint the Fence with Water

Give them rollers or paintbrushes and a bucket of water. Let them “paint” the fence, sidewalk, or patio furniture. Zero mess!

9. Nature Soup

Grab a big bowl, fill it with water, and let them add flowers, grass, leaves, rocks, and “stir.” Little witches in training.

10. Frozen Popsicle Chalk

Freeze a mix of cornstarch, food coloring, and water in molds with sticks. Let them draw on the driveway with frozen chalk pops.

11. Scavenger Hunt Adventure

    

Create a simple printable or handwritten list (or use emojis!). Hide things like a pinecone, a stick that looks like a letter, something blue, etc.

12. Shadow Tracing

    

Have them strike funny poses and trace their shadows with sidewalk chalk. Bonus points for decorating them like superheroes.

13. Balloon Tennis

Paper plates + popsicle sticks + a blown-up balloon = backyard tennis magic. Great for toddlers who love to hit things (gently, lol).

14. Dig Site Sensory Bin

Fill a bin with dirt or sand and hide plastic dinos, coins, or toys. Let them dig with spoons or paintbrushes like real archaeologists.

15. Evening Flashlight Tag

Once the sun goes down, grab flashlights and play hide-and-seek or tag in the yard. It feels magical and a little mischievous.

👩‍👧‍👦 Pro Tips for Surviving Summer Outside:

• Pack a cooler bag with water + frozen fruit

• Always have sunscreen + backup outfits

• Don’t overthink it—kids love simple

• Play some music outside and dance with them (aka trick them into exercise 😅)

Let’s make this summer one to remember—without needing a Pinterest degree.

💬 Drop your favorite outdoor go-to’s in the comments, or tag us @PlayDatesofOrlando when you’re out there making those sweaty, snack-filled memories 🧃

Need ideas on the fly? Here’s a cute printable you can keep nearby all summer long!