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50 Free Outdoor Activities For Kids

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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

  1. Balance on a log
  2. Climb a tree
  3. Play hide and seek
  4. Follow animal tracks
  5. Pick blackberries
  6. Pick crab apples
  7. Pick elderberries
  8. “Spot” birds
  9. Paddle in a stream
  10. Collect leaves
  11. Make a camp fire
  12. Camp out
  13. Dig for treasure
  14. Collect conkers
  15. Play conkers
  16. Plant a tree
  17. Collect acorns
  18. Dam a stream
  19. Make a bridge over a stream
  20. Climb a hill
  21. Explore a cave
  22. Walk through a waterfall
  23. Collect bugs
  24. Toast marsmallows
  25. Toast “dampers” (like the Duchess of Cambridge)
  26. Fish in a stream
  27. Explore mole hills
  28. Listen for owls
  29. Look at the stars
  30. Splash in puddles
  31. Dig in mud
  32. Collect stones
  33. Collect shells
  34. Make your own tent
  35. Find a walking stick
  36. Pick holly for Christmas
  37. Collect pine cones for “barometers”
  38. Climb rocks
  39. Play Pooh sticks
  40. Sail paper boats
  41. Make a kite from paper, string and sticks
  42. Crawl through long grass
  43. Listen to bird song
  44. Identify flowers
  45. Explore rock pools
  46. Bark rubbings
  47. Build a den from sticks and bracken leaves
  48. Build a raft
  49. Leaf “fight”
  50. 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?

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A great list of 50 FREE outdoor activities for freerange kids to have fun in the great wide world during spring, summer, autumn and winter. #OutdoorKids #freerangekids #kidsactivities #kidsactivity

Sarah Reid

Tuesday 9th of June 2015

Some fab ideas! Our boys are particular fans of bug collecting.

Mudpie Fridays

Saturday 6th of June 2015

Great list - will be printing out and ticking off :) #TheList

Mumma McD

Friday 5th of June 2015

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

Five Adventurers

Friday 5th of June 2015

Fantastic list, such easy and simple ideas to get the children outdoors. My little adventurers would love all of these #thelist

Bismah Abdelgawad

Saturday 7th of September 2013

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