Spending time outside with your kids is one of the best ways to nurture their sense of wonder, creativity, and appreciation for God’s beautiful creation. Fresh air, sunshine, and hands-on exploration make for some of the most memorable childhood moments, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive!
With summer here, your kids will have long days to keep themselves amused. If you’re looking for simple, fun outdoor activities for kids that they will love (and that will burn some energy too!), here’s a list packed with ideas, including some fun bug-themed activities to add an extra layer of excitement.
Build a Bug Hotel
Gather sticks, leaves, pinecones, and bark to build a cozy bug hotel. Kids can stack the materials inside a wooden box or between tree roots. Watch and see what insects come to visit! It’s a fun way to learn about different habitats and how bugs help in God’s design of the ecosystem.
Try a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Create a simple checklist or bingo card of natural items for your kids to find — things like a feather, a pinecone, a yellow flower, or an ant carrying food. You can also make it themed, like “bug scavenger hunt” for an extra challenge!
Watch for Butterflies
Set up a little butterfly feeding station by placing cut fruit like watermelon or oranges in a sunny part of your yard. Kids can sit quietly nearby and watch for colorful butterflies — and maybe even snap a few photos for a nature journal.
Paint Rock Bugs
Collect smooth rocks from your outdoor adventures and turn them into painted bug friends! Ladybugs, bees, butterflies, and beetles are easy for little hands to paint. Once dry, you can even create a little “bug garden” with the finished rocks.
Go on a Bug Hunt
Grab a magnifying glass and a small container (or just use your eyes!) and head outside for a bug hunt. Look under rocks, along tree bark, in flower beds, and in the grass. See how many different insects your kids can find! Talk about God’s creativity in making so many unique creatures, big and small.
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TOY Life Bug Catcher for Kids Outdoor Toys with Butterfly Net, Bug Habitat with Magnified Viewer,... |
$17.98 |
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Trouble loading Insect Freebie? Click HERE to download!
Create Nature Art
Encourage your kids to gather leaves, flowers, sticks, and other natural treasures and turn them into beautiful works of art. Leaf rubbings, pressed flower pictures, or twig sculptures are simple projects that let their creativity shine while connecting with nature.
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Happytime Kids' Flower & Leaf Press Nature Crafts Wooden Art Kit Outdoor Play Learning Toy... | Buy on Amazon |
Plan an Outdoor Picnic
Pack a simple lunch, grab a cozy blanket, and head outside! Whether it’s in your backyard or a local park, eating outdoors feels extra special. While you’re there, you might spot ants carrying crumbs or butterflies fluttering by — even lunchtime can be a nature lesson.
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Little Tikes Easy Store Picnic Table with Umbrella, Multi Color, 42.00''L x 38.00''W x 19.75''H |
$87.99 |
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Try Cloud Watching
Lay back on a blanket and look up at the sky. What shapes do the clouds make? Can you find a cloud that looks like a bug, a bird, or a tree? This relaxing activity helps kids slow down, observe, and use their imaginations.
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Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars, Binoculars for Toddlers & Kids, Easter Basket... |
$14.82 |
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Start a Simple Garden
Kids love getting their hands dirty! Whether it’s a vegetable patch, a few flower pots, or a windowsill herb garden, growing plants teaches responsibility — and gives plenty of opportunities to spot worms, beetles, and bees hard at work.
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Mostop Kids Gardening Tools Set, Gardening Set for Kids, Outdoor Backyard Farm Digging Toys with... |
$45.99 |
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Begin a Nature Journal
Give your kids a small notebook where they can draw the bugs they find, write about what they see in the garden, or record the weather each day. A nature journal builds observation skills and encourages gratitude for God’s handiwork.
Create Chalk Designs
Bring out the sidewalk chalk and let your kids create life-sized chalk portraits with fun outfits, silly faces, or superhero costumes. Or use chalk to design a twisting driving course for bikes, scooters, or toy cars.
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Colorations Sidewalk Chalk – 50pc 4” x 1” Washable, Bright Colored Chalk Set – Fun Kid Art... |
$12.99 |
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Setup A Tent
Your kids can create their own outdoor hideouts using materials from nature! They can also decorate their tents with leaves, flowers, or vines they find nearby, even make a pretend campfire!
With just a little time and some simple supplies, you can help your children build a love for nature, discover God’s amazing design, and make summer memories that will last a lifetime.
Which fun outdoor activities for kids will you try first?
Leave me a comment below to tell me all about your family’s favorite outdoor adventures! I’d love to hear it.
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