Summertime is finally here, and I bet you want to find ways to keep your kids busy. Many times, kids are happy simply being outside and enjoying the nice weather, but you also want some simple backyard activities for kids up your sleeves.
We live near the ocean, so we spend a lot of time at the beach, but we have a nice backyard for our kids to play. From swinging on the swing set to catching butterflies, there are tons of things you can do outside with your kids.
If you’re looking for simple backyard activities, here are some your kids of all ages are bound to enjoy.
20 Backyard Activities for Kids
Enjoy a Treehouse
Is there anything more kid-like than a treehouse? If you are the DIY type, consider building a treehouse for your kids. It will become a place of magic throughout their childhood.
Treehouses become magical castles, space ships, boats, and hideouts for kids of all ages. Whether you have little kids or teenagers, it’s something they’ll use for years to come.
Climb Trees
I know I spent my childhood climbing trees, and while some parents worry about safety, climbing trees is a grand adventure for kids. Climbing trees strength their muscles and help develop balance and coordination skills much needed.
Plus, it’s so fun and fulfills sensory needs for kids.
Play on the Swing Set
If you’re looking for backyard activities for kids, a swing set provides hours and hours of playtime; it’s a worthwhile investment when you have kids.
Whether they’re swinging or sliding, all parents love watching their kids swing on the swing set.
Enjoy a Picnic
A picnic is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with your children whether you go to a park or your backyard. Everyone loves sitting outside and enjoying a meal.
If you don’t want to have a picnic, consider sending out your kids with their dolls and stuffed animals with kitchen food!
Draw with Sidewalk Chalk
Another one of the classic backyard activities for kids that everyone loves is drawing with sidewalk chalk. Drawing flowers and clouds is enjoyable for all ages, even adults. I love to draw with my kids on the sidewalks!
Play Hopscotch
If you have the sidewalk chalk, draw hopscotch blocks. It’s a fun activity for kids of all ages and works on gross motor skills for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
Blow Bubbles
All kids love to blow bubbles, especially little kids. So, grab some containers of bubbles for your kids to enjoy this summer, and if you want to REALLY entertain your kids, grab a bubble machine.
Play in the Sprinkler
Little kids and sprinklers go hand in hand, especially when it’s summer time and the temperatures are high. If you want to keep your kids entertained for hours, consider a sprinkler.
You have several choices like sprinklers to attach to hoses or splash pad sprinklers.
Toss Water Balloons
Another way to cool down on hot days is to toss around some water balloons; all little kids love water balloons.
Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
If you want a fun yet purposeful backyard activity, try giving your kids a nature scavenger hunt. They search for flowers, rocks, bugs, and other nature items, keeping them busy for hours. You also can create a bug scavenger hunt as well!
Related: Free Printable Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for Toddlers or Preschoolers
Make a Mud Kitchen
Kids love to make mud pie and mud soup, so give them a mud kitchen. Set up an area with bowls, spoons, and plates for your kids to make their masterpieces.
Play Frisbee
All you need is two kids or a kid and a dog, and you have a game of frisbee. Kids love to see how far they can throw the frisbee, and if you have a dog who loves to fetch, the game is even better when they have to chase the dog for the frisbee.
Toss Bean Bags into Bowls
Here’s a simple game.
Set up several plastic bowls with or without number scoring for each bowl, attaching them with tape. Then, get a set of small bean bags for tossing.
Kids love this simple game, but you also can use it for some math practice without any stress.
Paint with Nature
One of my kids favorite backyard activities is painting with nature. You can use clothespins or rubber bands to attach leaves and twigs to larger branches, creating nature paintbrushes.
Then, provide your child with different bottles of paint and something to paint on such as canvases – a cool idea for playroom decor – or old bedsheets.
Go for a Bike Ride
Looking for simple backyard activities for kids? Go for a bike ride! Whether your kid rides around your neighborhood or your driveway, kids love to ride their bikes, and it’s great exercise.
Ride on Scooters
If your kids aren’t able to ride a bike yet, scooters are another excellent option. Our kids love scooters, zipping around the driveway and sidewalk.
I have the Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter as a first scooter for my little kids before upgrading to a two-wheel option.
Take a Neighborhood Walk
Sometimes, one of the easiest things to do with your kids is to take a walk around the neighborhood. Talk about the trees and birds you see while walking and make observations as nature changes throughout the season.
Collect Leaves
Send your kids out to collect leaves and make a scrapbook of all the different ones they find. Learn about the trees in your area and how to identify them. Kids love these types of educational nature activities.
Investigate Dirt
Dig up some dirt from your yard and spread it out over a blanket or tarp. Then, let your kids investigate and play in it, seeing what they can find.
Stare at the Clouds
My kids love to look at clouds and find different shapes. It’s a hilarious game to play together, and you can even make cloud frames with popsicle sticks to look through.
Keep your kids busy outside with some of these simple backyard activities for kids. From riding bikes to climbing trees, your kids will be entertained for hours.
