EYFS Wild Things Outdoor Activities

Looking for simple EYFS Wild Things activities? A Wild Things theme is brilliant for Early Years because it supports imagination, storytelling, movement, emotional expression, role-play, communication, mark-making and creative outdoor play. New to Early Years Outdoor Learning? Use this handbook to help explain the Beginners Guide to Early Years Outdoors. 

Taking Wild Things outdoors gives children space to roar, stomp, build dens, create wild lands, move their bodies and explore big feelings through playful learning. These ideas are low-prep, active and ideal for Nursery and Reception children.

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New to Outdoor Story-Themed Learning? Start Here

If outdoor learning feels overwhelming, start small.

Try:

1. One 10-minute wild movement activity

2. One outdoor story trail

3. One simple creative task using sticks, leaves, chalk or loose parts

You do not need expensive resources. You can use:

• chalk

• hoops

• cones

• sticks

• stones

• leaves

• logs

• fabric

• crates

• cardboard

• clipboards

• story cards

• masks

• natural loose parts

• large paper

The aim is not to create a perfect themed lesson. The aim is to help children move, imagine, talk, build, express feelings and learn through playful outdoor experiences.

Wild Things activities can support:

• communication and language

• physical development

• PSED

• storytelling

• emotional literacy

• mark-making

• imaginative play

• teamwork

• creative thinking

• outdoor learning confidence

• https://themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk/outdoor-play-lets-play-emergency-services/

Try This Tomorrow

If you only do one thing, try this:

Wild Thing Movement Trail

Create a simple trail outdoors using chalk arrows, hoops, cones or natural markers.

At each stop, children move like a Wild Thing.

Try:

• stomp like a Wild Thing

• tiptoe through the forest

• roar to the sky

• crawl through the cave

• jump over the river

• freeze like a statue

• stretch tall like a tree

• curl up and rest

Time: 10–15 minutes
Prep: Low
Learning: Gross motor skills, listening, imagination, vocabulary and emotional expression

This is a brilliant quick win because children can instantly join in through movement, sound and pretend play.

EYFS Wild Things Outdoor Activity Ideas

1. Build a Wild Thing Den

Invite children to build a den, cave or home for a Wild Thing.

They could use:

• sticks

• leaves

• logs

• crates

• fabric

• cardboard

• stones

• bark

• natural loose parts

Ask:

• Where does your Wild Thing sleep?

• What does it need to feel safe?

• Is the den big or small?

• How can we make it cosy?

• Who lives inside?

This supports construction, problem-solving, communication, teamwork and imaginative play.

You can also link this to PSED by asking:

“What helps you feel safe and calm?”

2. Wild Thing Feelings Faces

Use natural materials to create Wild Thing faces outdoors.

Children could use:

• stones for eyes

• sticks for mouths

• leaves for hair

• petals for cheeks

• bark for eyebrows

• mud or chalk for marks

Ask children to create different feelings:

• happy

• sad

• cross

• worried

• excited

• calm

• tired

• brave

Ask:

• How does your Wild Thing feel?

• How do you know?

• What might help your Wild Thing feel better?

• Can you make a calm Wild Thing?

This supports emotional literacy, communication, creativity and PSED.

3. Wild Rumpus Music and Movement

Create a simple outdoor Wild Rumpus using body percussion, natural sounds and movement.

Children can:

• stomp feet

• clap hands

• tap sticks together

• shake leaves

• drum on logs

• swish fabric

• roar quietly or loudly

• move fast and slow

Explore vocabulary such as:

• loud

• quiet

• fast

• slow

• wild

• calm

• heavy

• gentle

This supports rhythm, listening, self-regulation, physical development and expressive arts.

End with a calm moment:

“The Wild Things are tired. Let’s breathe and rest.”

4. Wild Thing Mark-Making Outdoors

Use the theme to give children a playful reason to make marks.

Children could create:

• Wild Thing footprints

• signs for the wild forest

• maps to the Wild Thing island

• labels for dens

• speech bubbles

• feeling words

• danger signs

• invitations to the Wild Rumpus

Use chalk, clipboards, large paper, cardboard, sticks in mud or water painting.

You could say:

“The Wild Things need signs so everyone knows where to go.”

This gives early writing and mark-making a clear purpose.

5. Create a Wild Thing Island

Invite children to create a small world Wild Thing island using loose parts and natural materials.

They could use:

• leaves for forests

• stones for mountains

• sticks for bridges

• mud for swamps

• fabric for rivers

• bark for boats

• logs for caves

• chalk for paths

Add small figures, toy animals or child-made Wild Things if you have them.

Ask:

• Where is the forest?

• How do you get to the island?

• Who lives there?

• What happens in the story?

• How does the Wild Thing get home?

This supports storytelling, sequencing, imagination and language development.

Wild Things Activity for SEND Support

Calm Wild Thing Tray

Set up a quieter outdoor Wild Thing tray with a small number of natural objects.

You could include:

• one stick

• one stone

• one leaf

• one piece of bark

• one small figure or picture card

• one feelings card

• one small tray or mat

Children can:

• build a small Wild Thing face

• choose a feeling

• match objects

• make a tiny den

• move a figure through a simple story

• point to how the Wild Thing feels

Use short, clear prompts:

“Choose one.”
“Make a face.”
“How does it feel?”
“Happy or sad?”
“Calm or cross?”
“What helps?”

This can support:

• sensory regulation

• emotional communication

• confidence

• focus

• fine motor skills

• predictable routines

• storytelling

• shared attention

Children can respond through speech, gesture, pointing, symbols, facial expression, movement or arranging objects.

Why Use Wild Things Outdoors?

Wild Things themes work brilliantly outdoors because children can explore imagination and emotions through their whole bodies.

Outdoor Wild Things activities can help children:

• express big feelings safely

• move their bodies

• develop story language

• build confidence

• practise self-regulation

• create characters

• work with others

• use natural materials imaginatively

• make purposeful marks

• explore wild and calm moments

Outdoor learning gives children space to be expressive while still building language, listening and early learning skills. Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.

Useful EYFS Vocabulary

You can model and repeat key words during Wild Things activities.

Try:

• wild

• calm

• roar

• stomp

• tiptoe

• cave

• forest

• island

• den

• safe

• brave

• cross

• happy

• sad

• worried

• excited

• loud

• quiet

• fast

• slow

• under

• over

• through

• around

Repeated vocabulary helps children join in, retell ideas and build confidence with language.

Want Ready-to-Teach EYFS Outdoor Learning Resources?

The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club helps busy teachers save planning time with:

• ready-to-use EYFS outdoor activities

• story-linked outdoor learning ideas

• PSED and emotional literacy resources

• outdoor mark-making activities

• SEND-friendly ideas

• seasonal and topic-based planning

• simple ways to take learning outside

Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.

Outdoor Play Lanyards : Let’s Play Unicorns (Lanyards)

FAQs

What are good EYFS Wild Things activities?

Good EYFS Wild Things activities include movement trails, den building, Wild Thing faces, outdoor mark-making, Wild Rumpus music, small world islands and feelings-based outdoor play.

How can I teach a Wild Things theme outdoors?

You can teach a Wild Things theme outdoors through storytelling, movement, role-play, den building, natural loose parts, sound-making, mark-making and emotional literacy activities.

What EYFS areas of learning do Wild Things activities support?

Wild Things activities can support communication and language, physical development, PSED, literacy, maths, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.

How can Wild Things activities support PSED?

Wild Things activities can support PSED by helping children explore feelings such as anger, excitement, worry, bravery and calm. Children can use characters and role-play to talk about emotions in a safe way.

Are Wild Things activities good for outdoor mark-making?

Yes. Children can create footprints, maps, signs, labels, speech bubbles, feeling words and story marks linked to the Wild Things theme.

Can Wild Things activities support SEND learners?

Yes. Wild Things activities can be adapted with calm trays, visual prompts, feelings cards, sensory materials, simple choices, repeated routines and short instructions.

What resources do I need for EYFS Wild Things outdoor activities?

Useful resources include chalk, hoops, cones, sticks, stones, leaves, logs, fabric, crates, cardboard, clipboards, feelings cards, story cards and natural loose parts.

How do I keep Wild Things activities calm and manageable?

Use clear boundaries, short activities, simple instructions and a calm ending. You can move from wild movement into breathing, resting, quiet observation or a calm nature tray.

How does Wild Things link to outdoor learning?

Wild Things links to outdoor learning because it encourages children to move, build, explore, imagine, create and communicate using outdoor spaces and natural materials.

Ready for More EYFS Outdoor Learning Ideas?

If you want more simple, curriculum-linked outdoor learning ideas for Early Years, join The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club.

Make a start and download now with a 60-day free trial.