We were very lucky as children.
We lived on the edge of a small town with fields just over the road and some amazing forest a few miles away, with plenty of free outdoor activities for kids to have fun with.
There were lots of children on the street and we all played out together – the older ones looking after the little ones.
We spent many happy hours by ourselves or with our parents in the forest just playing with what was there.
I tried to remember all the things we enjoyed … so they could be as much a part of my daughter’s life as they were mine … and came up with this list …
Fun Things to Do Outdoors for Free
- Balance on a log
- Climb a tree
- Play hide and seek
- Follow animal tracks
- Pick blackberries
- Pick crab apples
- Pick elderberries
- “Spot” birds
- Paddle in a stream
- Collect leaves
- Make a camp fire
- Camp out
- Dig for treasure
- Collect conkers
- Play conkers
- Plant a tree
- Collect acorns
- Dam a stream
- Make a bridge over a stream
- Climb a hill
- Explore a cave
- Walk through a waterfall
- Collect bugs
- Toast marsmallows
- Toast “dampers” (like the Duchess of Cambridge)
- Fish in a stream
- Explore mole hills
- Listen for owls
- Look at the stars
- Splash in puddles
- Dig in mud
- Collect stones
- Collect shells
- Make your own tent
- Find a walking stick
- Pick holly for Christmas
- Collect pine cones for “barometers”
- Climb rocks
- Play Pooh sticks
- Sail paper boats
- Make a kite from paper, string and sticks
- Crawl through long grass
- Listen to bird song
- Identify flowers
- Explore rock pools
- Bark rubbings
- Build a den from sticks and bracken leaves
- Build a raft
- Leaf “fight”
- Collect tadpoles
It’s nigh impossible to recreate that experience in a busy London street but we have a wonderful park close by and London has far more outdoor spaces and wilderness than you would imagine.
And once spring finally gets here – can’t believe it is snowing again! – we can hop on the train to get to the woods and the sea.
It’s not quite the freedom that we had, but these are some of my fondest memories of childhood and I would so love to share that legacy.
What about you? What are your favourite memories of playing outdoors as a child and what do your children most enjoy?
Pin for later:
Hi Alice, love this post. I’m going to join in your link up & wondered if you would care to join in mine?!! http://nosuchthingasbadweather.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/outdoor-play-party-why.html
Thanks so much for joining up too – the more people advocating for getting outdoors the better!
What a great list! Always looking for things to do outside with the kiddos =)
I wanted to invite you to link up at TGIF kid centered Linky Party that runs weekly on Friday: http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/04/tgif-linky-party-70.html
Hope to see you linked up soon! Have a great weekend,
Beth =)
Ah, yes, the simple joys. Visiting from the blog hop; stop by and see me at http://www.pushingonarope.com
Love this things to do outdoors list!!! I’d love for you to link up a few yummy recipes at my weekend link party@The Weekend re-Treat!
on The Best Blog Recipes if you haven’t already!
Hope to see you there!
Shauna
http://thebestblogrecipes.blogspot.com/
http://ready2loseweight.blogspot.com/
What a wonderful list!
We’d love for you to share your posts at our Finished Friday link-up. It’s open through the weekend.
That is a great list!!
Just wanted to let you know I have started a link party, with Kayla over at Kayla’s Creations and we are having a Circle of Faith link party every Sunday. Would love to have you come on over and link up anything and everything you want from your blog :)NO RULES
http://www.heatherlyloves.com/2013/04/welcome-circle-of-faith-link-party-1.html
xoxo
Heather
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful list of ideas at the circle of faith link party! I hope you are having a great Monday!,
-Kayla 🙂
I used to love walking in the river, following the tunnels.
Lovely list, thanks for sharing.
Fabulous list of ideas. Once it stops raining…in a weeks time…I am going to be trying some of these out.
Feliz to have found your blog through Whimsy Wednesday.
Have a Blessed day!
Awesome post…what a great list of outdoor play ideas! Thanks for linking to the Outdoor Play Party.
This is such a fantastic list!
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Many thanks for sharing this at my Say G’day Saturday Linky party! I have shared this on Pinterest, Google+ etc and am featuring this at my Friday Features post.
Hope you can join in again this weekend!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Just shared one of our favorites. Love this collection. I’d love for you to share this at my Spring Bucket List Link-Up.
Thanks for sharing, and happy spring!
Holli @ Full Hands, Full Hearts
Great post! Thanks for linking to Share It Saturday. I’ll be featuring your post tomorrow!
Visiting from Tuesday Tots. My Family-Focused Monday hop is live now and I would love to see one of your awesome posts linked up @ http://www.mondaykidcorner.blogspot.com.
Have a wonderful week.
Great list! Thanks for sharing with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday!! Hope you come link up again today!
Great list of things to do outside!!!
Stopping by from “Sharing Saturday”.
Now following you on G+, Facebook and Twitter.
Have a great weekend 🙂
Bismah @
Simple Mama
Fantastic list, such easy and simple ideas to get the children outdoors. My little adventurers would love all of these #thelist
Lovely list 🙂
I like to go on ‘treasure hunts’ with my kids (2 and 3 yrs), which is basically a walk around the block collecting sticks and stones and flowers!
#thelist
Great list – will be printing out and ticking off 🙂 #TheList
Some fab ideas! Our boys are particular fans of bug collecting.