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    Home » Blog » Summer Vacation

    Kick the Can + 29 Awesome Outdoor Activities for Kids

    Published: Jun 6, 2016 · Modified: Jun 4, 2021 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Want to get your kids playing outside and away from screens this summer? Check out these fun and simple outdoor games for kids and fun activities the whole family will enjoy together in the backyard.

    30 Classic outdoor activities for kids

    I've come a long way since 2013 when I first wrote about my struggles in getting the kids outside. We moved to the south from the midwest, in part, to take advantage of the extra months of mild weather. Establishing a more outdoor lifestyle was a big family priority for us. Though I completely supported that endeavor, it was one of the more challenging goals to accomplish for this easily sunburned, bug loathing, snake phobic mama. The solution has been an ever evolving list of ideas for outdoor activities for kids.

    This summer will mark our 4th anniversary of southern living and I'm SO proud to report that neither girl seems to have inherited or picked up my seemingly genetic aversion to the outdoors. I've {mostly} successfully sequestered that avoidance reaction and have managed to help raise 2 girls who love nothing more than to head out into the backyard after school in the evenings.

    30 Classic outdoor activities for kids

    But soon, summer vacation will be upon us. I will be responsible for many more hours in the day for keeping the kids busy and I do not want the default to become staying inside with screen time and air conditioning.

    I'm proactively putting some helpers in place to ensure that getting the kids out in the fresh air has the least amount of excuses for avoiding it.

    First, because I need a little nudge and because I'm a total List Nerd, I thought it would be a good idea to pull together all my favorite outdoor activities so we never run out of ideas! I'm going to keep it bookmarked on my phone because so many of them can be squeezed in in-between errands while we are already out and about.

    30 Classic outdoor activities for kids

    30 awesome outdoor activities for kids during summer vacation:

    1. Try 3 new parks in your area you've never been to before
    2. Outdoor reading picnic
    3. Chalk stars on the sidewalk
    4. Add rocks to the rainbow rock project
    5. Fly a kite
    6. Plant a butterfly garden
    7. Play bubble tag
    8. Sketch session at the local botanic gardens
    9. Hike a new trail or greenway
    10. Visit a new splash pad or watering hole
    11. Scatter seed bombs
    12. Hang homemade bird feeders and track the visitors
    13. Set up a sprinkler obstacle course
    14. Go mini golfing
    15. Feed the ducks
    16. Take the dog to a dog park
    17. Set up a backyard tent
    18. Visit the farmer's market
    19. Have a backyard board game competition
    20. Make and play with your own pinwheels
    21. Host a hula hoop contest
    22. Have fun with water balloons
    23. Go Geotracking
    24. Teach the kids kick the can
    25. Gather pinecones for art projects
    26. Design your own stepping stones
    27. Create a fairy garden
    28. Learn how to skip stones
    29. Set up a water painting station in the driveway
    30. Play flashlight tag

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    1. Robert

      September 15, 2016 at 3:20 am

      I have a kid that suffers asthma if expose to heavy activities. Can you help me among the activities above which could not trigger his asthma?

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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