10 Low or No Cost Outdoor Family Activities for the Spring and Summer (that AREN'T going to the Beach!)

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at no added cost to you, and commissions earned help support my small business. You can learn more about this program here.

When the weather starts getting nice, my family loves spending as much time outside as possible. We are outside on days we work from home (I am writing this from a lounge chair on my deck!), we play outside, eat outside, and generally find every excuse possible to be outdoors. But every parent has had the experience of their child feeling bored with outdoor free play. Here are 10 ideas that are low or no cost, and perfect for keeping the entire family entertained outside throughout the warmer months! 

1. Gardening

​Little hands love gardening! My family spends a lot of time planting and tending our garden beds (veggies and flowers), and my toddler enjoys helping by going to the store and picking out plants, scooping dirt, putting seeds in the ground, and patting dirt once things are in the ground. Older children can help put flowers in the ground, weed, prune, and more. What makes gardening even more exciting is that it can be used as part of an educational unit. Talking about the life cycle of a plant, agriculture/farm life, parts of plants, and native plant species/environment are all ways to expand on gardening in an educational manner. 

2. Water Play

Water keeps my child occupied for hours on warm, sunny days. We play in many ways. Here are some ideas to get you started!

• Washing toys: soapy water in a bowl or a plastic storage tote and some water friendly toys are all you need for this activity! Make it even more fun by allowing your child to get their toys dirty (finger paint works great for this), and then wash them using a tooth brush. Once clean, dry them with a hand towel or spare rag!
• Water tables: Water tables come with everything you need for toddler and preschool water play! 
• Sprinklers: Where I live, we can start getting summery weather as early as March, and weather warm enough to play in the sprinkler more regularly by mid-May. With so many great sprinklers on the market, you can find something for every age.
• Watering plants: Have a child who loves gardening and helping with chores? My little one certainly does! Watering plants is a great way to do some water play while knocking something off your to do list, too!
• Paint with water: This activity is great because you don’t need to clean anything off your deck, walls, or driveway. A bit of water and a large paint brush are enough to keep many toddlers engaged for quite a while!

3. Messy Art Activities

​There are no shortage of great DIY chalk and paint projects online (check here, here, and here for a few options, or check out my Pinterest account for tons more). Or, just buy some ready made at the store! We love doing ice painting and using spray bottles with water and food coloring to create fun projects outdoors. Store bought chalk is also a family favorite! We also move our regular art projects outside, too; it means less mess in my kitchen!! 

4. Take a Nature Walk

​My community has an excess of amazing, family friendly hiking trails. Use the opportunity to do a nature scavenger hunt (you can download the one shown here on my exclusive resource library), listen for different types of bird calls, collect interesting rocks/flowers/leaves to bring home and analyze (please make sure not to harm the plant if you are picking anything, and do not remove flora from areas designated as sanctuaries or preserves!), take pictures to document and create collages/presentations/research back home, or just enjoy the fresh air!

If you happen to live in or around Westchester, I also strongly encourage you to check out Lasdon Park's Dinosaur walk!!! It is an amazing resource available FOR FREE!!! The trail isn't particularly long by adult standards, but it is perfect for little feet. Along the way take time to learn about the different dinosaurs, their environment, and more. The trail also offers a virtual reality experience and stations where you can scan signs to learn more!

5. Picnic

During the nicer months, my family eats many of our meals outside! Bring a blanket, pack a lunch, and go on a picnic at your local park, or in your backyard! Some great picnic foods you might want to bring along (depending on allergies) are:

• Sandwiches (you can bring the fixings and make the sandwiches on the go, or premake and pack them).
• Veggie sticks and dip (if you have allergies, there are plenty of easy dip recipes you can try)
• Fruit (cut or whole)/fruit salad
• Cheese and crackers (crackers can be a high risk for for sesame allergies, but there are safe brands available)
• Cheese sticks
• Pretzels (pretzels can be a high risk food for sesame allergies, so be cautious if you are managing one)
• Salads
• Cured meats (these can be high risk foods if you are managing certain allergies, including sesame, so make sure to find a safe brand)
• Granola/Granola bites/Granola Bars (make sure to ensure the brand doesn't have a risk of cross contact if you are managing allergies; many granolas either contain or are contaminated with allergens, especially sesame)
• Trail mix (there are some great nut free recipes out there for those with allergies)
• Nuts (if you don't have allergies)
• Tortilla chips and dip (salsa, guacamole, bean dip, etc.)

6. Outdoor Movie Nights

Outdoor movie nights have never been easier than they are now that WiFi, tablets, smart phones, and laptops are ubiquitous. My family loves lighting a fire in the firepit, grabbing some snacks, and setting up our tablet to watch movies under the stars. Many communities, ours included, also have public outdoor movie nights (many are even free!). Or, splurge on an outdoor projector system or waterproof TV! 

7. Get Dirty!!

​Mud kitchens, dirt play, sand boxes, and mud pies are all great ways to have fun getting dirty! While many parents cringe at the idea (admittedly, I am included in that), kids love it. Warm spring and summer days are perfect for getting dirty, because you can do it in a swim suit. Just spray off with a hose when done!

8. Backyard Camping

​Grab a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight; then head outdoors! You don’t have to sleep outside to experience the fun of camping! Get comfy, light a fire in your fire pit if you have one, and roast some marshmallows. When it is time for bed, you can always head inside, but not before taking a long gaze at the night sky! There are some great apps out there that help you discover stars, planets, and constellations. ​

---

9. Go for a Bike Ride

​Even small children can partake in family bike rides with a balance bike (which is obviously a lot slower than a regular bike, but a great tool for helping kids get ready to use a big kid bike!) or wagon attachment. Biking is great exercise, and allows you to get out and explore faster than using your own feet. My community has some excellent cycling trails, or just take a ride around your neighborhood. 

10. Obstacle Course

​You don’t need fancy equipment to design an obstacle course in your back yard! Just grab some cardboard boxes, twine, outdoor pillows, hula hoops, chalk (to draw obstacles such as hopscotch or mazes) outdoor furniture, rocks, or other materials and let your imagination guide you! If your family is competitive, break into teams and do a relay. Or, just spend time having low stakes fun. There are also lots of equipment options on the market that you can use if this is an activity you find your family doing a lot, or if you have a family member who also uses the equipment for training or therapeutic purposes.

---

---

​Want even more ideas? I update my Instagram stories regularly with new activities I am doing with my preschooler, or things we are doing as an entire family. You can also find great ideas from around the web on my Pinterest account!
 
What are some of your family’s favorite outdoor activities for the spring and summer? Comment below and let me know!

Be sure to share this with other parents looking for creative ideas to stay busy outside this spring and summer!