Big Bubbles, Colour Hunts, and Blanket Forts: Outdoor Fun for Little Explorers
Jayne Hill • June 7, 2025
Easy outdoor play ideas for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to enjoy at home or in the garden.
Top 5 Takeaways
- Babies love bubbles, tunnels, and sensory walks.
- Toddlers enjoy chalk, pretend animal walks, and short toss games.
- Push toys and water play are great across ages.
- Preschoolers thrive on scavenger hunts and obstacle courses.
- Imagination is your best friend—blankets become parachutes, gardens become jungles!
Fun, simple ways to get moving outside with your little ones
At Niton Preschool, we love outdoor play. It’s one of the best ways for children to explore, learn, and grow—especially during those early years. Whether your child is a baby, toddler, or preschooler, here are some easy, age-appropriate ideas you can try at home or in the garden.
For Babies & Young Toddlers (0–2 years)
These gentle activities focus on sensory exploration and movement:
- Bubble Chase
Blow bubbles and watch your child’s eyes light up. Let them reach, pop, or simply enjoy the magic. It’s great for developing visual tracking and motor skills. - Nature Sensory Walk
Go barefoot on the grass or gently touch leaves, flowers, and tree bark. Talk about what you both see, hear, and feel. - Tunnel Crawl
Got a play tunnel? Bring it outside onto soft grass and let them crawl through safely.
For Toddlers (2–3 years)
This age is all about movement, imitation, and creativity. Try these:
- Follow the Leader
Walk, hop, tiptoe, or spin around the garden. Take turns leading! - Chalk Drawing
Grab some chunky pavement chalk and draw shapes, scribbles, or trace hands and feet. - Push & Pull Toys Outdoors
Bring out toy trucks, prams, or walkers. Perfect for garden paths or patios. - Bean Bag Toss
Use soft toys or bean bags and aim for a laundry basket. Keep distances short and fun. - Animal Walks
Ask: “Can you hop like a frog? Waddle like a penguin?” Copy them and laugh together!
For Older Toddlers & Preschoolers (3–4 years)
These ideas mix play with learning, imagination, and problem-solving:
- Scavenger Hunt
Give prompts like: “Can you find something round?” or “Show me something green.” Easy and exciting. - Parachute Play (with a blanket)
Hold a blanket together and lift it high, then low. Hide under it or bounce soft toys on top. - Mini Obstacle Course
Create a simple course: step over a stick, crawl under a rope, hop into a hoop. Keep it light and safe. - Colour Hunt
Say, “Let’s find something red!” A fun way to explore colours through play. - Pretend Play in Nature
Be explorers, garden fairies, or jungle animals. Your garden becomes the whole world.
Looking for more ways to support your child’s development? Come and see how we do it every day at Niton Preschool—where play and learning go hand in hand.
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