As the weather gets better the kids want to spend more time outdoors but doing the same old thing each day can soon lose the fun factor. Remember to follow your child’s interests and let that lead you to what they want to be doing. Here are some of our favorite outdoor activities, which are versatile, Montessori-inspired, and fun!
Nature Hunts
Going on a nature walk doesn't mean you have to pack up and
head for the mountains, nature can be found right on the doorstep even in
built-up areas and big cities. Instead of rushing everywhere, take it slow,
toddlers are especially good at this and will stop and notice the small things
like a trail of ants. Take your time and look out for all signs of nature on
your street, look for plants and bugs, collect samples (but not from a
neighbor's garden!) and talk about what you find.
Practical Life
PL can be a lot of fun outside, such as doing the laundry -
you can set up a mini washing station and washing line and wash the dolls'
clothes or smaller items such as socks by hand then hang them to dry.
Ice cooking is always a favorite with my son and his friends.
Supply them with some different-sized bowls and jugs and kitchen utensils. A
big bowl of ice and a jug of water and they will cook to their heart's content,
practicing all those handy skills such as pouring and scooping whilst they are
at it.
An obvious one here is making mud pies, hours can fly by
when making a cake shop full of mud pies and cakes.
Getting the child involved with gardening, from planting
seeds to pulling weeds and of course, harvesting the fruit of your labors.
Cooking! There is nothing quite like cooking on an open fire,
there are many simple camp recipes you can try, and of course, s'mores will always
be the favorite.
Sensory Activities
Outside is a great place for sensory exploration. If you
have a herb garden, take a few leaves and ask the child to smell one then go
and find the plant it came from, without looking at the leaf that they are
smelling.
Free play with rocks, stones, small branches, and shells is
also a lovely way to incorporate the senses.
Ice digging is a favorite here, freeze several small
objects in a plastic container and let the kids dig them out. You can add clues
in mini Ziploc bags or freeze and box inside a box for children who want
something more challenging
Math and Science
If your child is going through a period where they are
fascinated with numbers then use the things that you find to do simple math
sums using shells, sticks, leaves, etc. as counters.
Make a measuring stick from a small stick or branch and then
have fun measuring everything they find.
Lots of experiments can be done outside and it is perfect
for investigations. Grab a notebook, pencil, and magnifying glass and see where
discoveries take you.
Art
If your child doesn't usually do art outdoors, the
experience alone will excite them. Take a walk around the park and find a nice
spot to sketch or paint or do a nature study of a specific plant or insect.
Using clips to stop the paper from blowing up is a neat little trick and will stop
your little artist from getting frustrated. A great activity to do with a picnic
and can be a good introduction to some of the great artists such as Monet.
Sidewalk chalk is also a versatile activity where you can do
anything from drawing to making mazes, shadow art, math, and games.
Language
Pack up a picnic and a pile of books and head out to
somewhere relaxing for a couple of our al fresco readings.
- Take a journal and write and draw about all the things you can see and hear*
- Write a poem about something you have found.
- Brainstorm words to describe what you can smell, see, feel, and hear.
Treasure Hunts
These come in all shapes and sizes.
·
Look for different shapes
·
Use a treasure hunt printable and see how many
things you can find*
·
Eye-spy books are especially good for nature
walks or longer trips
·
Collect as many different-shaped
leaves/flowers/bugs as possible
About: Jo Ebisujima is a no-nonsense organizer and child-wrangling
expert extraordinaire, who believes that a child’s number one teacher is their
parent and that it's a parent's job to help their child fall in love with learning.
She is the best-selling author of Montessori Inspired
Activities For Pre-schoolers and is also the founder of My Organized Chaos where she helps busy mamas organize their homes, kids and themselves so they
have quality time to do the things that they love.
She understands how difficult it is to squeeze everything
into the day and has an uncanny knack for showing you how to break things down
into bite-sized chunks plus how to set up systems to make your life run
smoother.
Get started today with Jo’s free playbook: What Macgyver
would do if he had kids. Organizing tips and tricks, parenting help, and fun
ideas! Then find Jo on Pinterest.
