Outdoor Activities for Summer Fun

I wrote a few weeks ago about water play activities for kids, which is one great way to get them outside and playing even when it’s hot. But I thought it would be fun to share some other outdoor activities for summer that kids can do when its not too hot outside (which is, like, first thing in the morning where I live!).

When my daughter was younger she loved playing with sidewalk chalk paint. To the point I had the (very simple) recipe memorized and stockpiled corn starch for this purpose.

We’re big fans of outdoor art activities, and this bubble painting project from My Home Based Life is another great idea. Or use a clear shower curtain liner as a canvas for outdoor painting, as in this idea from Happy Toddler Playtime.

If you have a backyard with a play set you can make this obstacle course inspired by American Ninja Warrior. The DIY “floating steps” are so fun, easy to make, and great for gross motor skills, too! Check out all the details at Teaching Mama. Imagination Soup has a great post all about the different kinds of actions you might want to include in your obstacle course and things you can buy (or that you might already have) to make the best course ever. Here is a Montessori-style balance beam for toddlers designed with a child’s learning, exercise, and safety in mind.

Pool noodles are an easy way to build obstacles, or to make simple outdoor games that don’t cost a lot of money. Mission to Save has a great roundup of ways to use pool noodles when you don’t have a pool (I love the ring toss idea!).

But if you do want a little water involved in your summer outdoor activities, try a squirt gun water race like this one from Mom Brite. Or if water balloons are going to be used, make some water balloon launchers out of old milk jugs, like these from Kid Friendly Things to Do.

Don’t skip learning while you’re playing outside! Growing Book by Book has a fun giant memory game you can make and play outside (or inside, when it’s too hot or cold to be outside). The pairs rhyme, adding a layer of fun.

As if Diwali weren’t colorful and fun enough, The Festival of Lights: A Lift-the-flap Diwali Celebration by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Darshika Varm, makes it even more fun to read about with flaps and things to lift and pull to see more information or details in the illustrations.

The book is a story about a family getting ready for Diwali and what happens on the different days of the five-day celebration. There’s cleaning, shopping, crafting, food preparation and getting the home altar ready for the big day.

It covers decorating the outside of the house with rangoli, diyas and lanterns, buying sweets to share with family and friends, the sights and scents of the mandir (home temple), getting dressed up in new fancy clothes, the story of Diwali and celebrations with relatives.

Flaps (there are more than 140 in all) give you vocabulary words for different foods and definitions, as well as fun things like what’s inside the shopping basket or where the cat is hanging out. They also help illuminate the story of Diwali, which is the triumph of good over evil as Lord Ram defeated the demon Ravana to save his wife, Sita.

This pretty and colorful book helps kids understand what Diwali is and how it is celebrated, regardless of whether they practice it at home. This would be a nice book to keep in a classroom (it’s rated for kids ages 3-7) or to have at home to teach kids about Diwali even if it’s not something you celebrate. Where I live there are a lot of people from India so we are probably exposed to Diwali more than some other regions of America, but it’s a nice holiday to know about wherever you live.

Combine with the book Diwali and check out some fun lantern crafts and printables for kids to round out your experience.

About the book: 24 pages, hardcover, published 2025 by Wide Eyed Editions. Suggested retail prices $22.99.

Have you read?

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