How To Get Your Child Outside More
A Parent’s Guide
A beginner’s guide to outdoor play, fresh air and simple family adventures
Getting children outdoors does not need to mean expensive days out, perfect weather, long walks or having a huge garden.
Sometimes it can be as simple as opening the back door, collecting leaves, walking to the local park, splashing in puddles or taking a picnic blanket outside for ten minutes.
This guide has been created for parents and carers who want their children to spend more time outside but are not sure where to start. Maybe your child loves screens. Maybe you have children of different ages. Maybe the weather is always getting in the way. Maybe you feel like outdoor play sounds lovely in theory but hard in real life.
The good news is this: outdoor play can be simple, low-cost and realistic for busy families.
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher®, we believe children need more time outside to move, imagine, explore, talk, play and feel calm. This guide will help you make outdoor time easier, even if you are starting from scratch
Explore other beginner guides:
– Beginners Guide to Early Years Outdoors
– Beginners Guide to Forest School
– Beginners Guide to Outdoor Learning
1. Why Is Outdoor Play Important For Children?
Children are naturally curious. They learn so much from being outside because the outdoors gives them space to move, think, test ideas and use their senses.
Outdoor play can help children:
- burn off energy
- build confidence
- develop imagination
- improve balance and coordination
- practise social skills
- manage big feelings
- notice nature and the seasons
- spend less time on screens
- enjoy simple family time
The outdoors does not have to be a “big event”. It can become part of normal family life.
A few minutes outside each day can make a difference. For specific support with taking early years children outdoors try this guidebook. Taking Early Years Children Outdoors.
2. What if my child does not want to go outside?
This is very common, especially if your child is used to screens, indoor toys or structured activities.
Try not to present outdoor time as a punishment or a battle. Instead, make it feel easy and appealing.
You could try:
- “Let’s go outside for ten minutes and then come back in.”
- “Can you help me find three interesting leaves?”
- “Shall we take your favourite toy outside?”
- “Let’s have snack time in the garden.”
- “Can you choose: bubbles, chalk or a walk?”
For reluctant children, the key is to start small.
Do not begin with a two-hour hike. Begin with five minutes, a simple job or a fun reason to step outside.
Make a start now and download these easy-to-use 20 Outdoor Activities for families.
3. Start with your child’s interests
One of the easiest ways to get children outdoors is to take something they already love and move it outside.
If your child loves dinosaurs, go on a dinosaur footprint hunt.
If they love superheroes, create a superhero training course.
If they love fairies, make a tiny fairy garden.
If they love football, create challenges in the garden or park.
If they love collecting things, take a bag and gather leaves, sticks or stones.
Outdoor play works best when it feels connected to your child, not forced.
Download this inspiring handbook to print out at home to refer to at weekends and in school holidays: The Ultimate Parent Handbook – Getting Your Kids Outdoors.
4. What if you do not have a garden?
You do not need a garden to get children outside.
You can use:
- local parks
- pavements
- fields
- woodland paths
- playgrounds
- school routes
- community gardens
- allotment paths
- courtyards
- beaches, rivers or canals if nearby
Even a walk around the block can become an outdoor activity if you give your child a focus. Do you have children that do not like going outside? Explore this article: What to do if your kids do not like it outside.
Try:
- spotting colours
- counting birds
- finding different doors
- looking for numbers on houses
- noticing clouds
- collecting natural treasures
- listening for sounds
The aim is not to create a perfect outdoor lesson. The aim is to help children notice, move and connect.
5.What should children wear outside?
One of the biggest barriers for parents is clothing.
The simplest rule is: dress for comfort, not perfection.
Useful outdoor clothing includes:
- wellies or old trainers
- waterproof coat
- puddle suit or waterproof trousers for younger children
- warm socks
- hat and gloves in winter
- sun hat in summer
- spare clothes
- layers that can be taken off
Children are more likely to enjoy being outside if they are warm, dry and allowed to get a little messy.
Try keeping an “outdoor bag” near the door with spare socks, wipes, gloves, hats and a carrier bag for muddy clothes.
Make a Start Today! Teacher-created, fun lessons!
6. Setting Up a SEND-Friendly Outdoor Space
A SEND-friendly outdoor space does not need to be expensive or perfect. It needs to feel clear, calm, accessible and predictable.
Start by thinking about how children will enter the space, where they will gather, where they will move, where they can explore and where they can go if they need a quiet moment.
Useful areas might include a clear gathering space, a movement area, a sensory exploration area, a quiet regulation space, a practical learning area and clear boundaries.
A Clear Gathering Space
Use hoops, mats, logs, benches, cones or chalk circles to show children where to start. This helps make the beginning of the session predictable.
A Movement Area
Some children need to move before they are ready to focus. Create space for walking, balancing, stepping, jumping, carrying, pushing, pulling or stretching.
A Sensory Exploration Area
This might include trays of leaves, water, mud, stones, pinecones, herbs, textured materials or natural loose parts. Or this could be a garden space, with colourful flowers and fresh herbs. We do lots of therapy packs on our site. Download this pack now and put in place tomorrow – Garden Therapy Pack for SEND learners.
A Quiet Regulation Space
This could be a bench, tent, shaded area, tree space, mat or quiet corner. It should be somewhere children can pause, breathe and reset.
A Practical Learning Area
Use clipboards, chalkboards, trays, buckets or natural materials for maths, phonics, mark making, sorting and creative tasks.
Clear Boundaries
Use cones, ropes, chalk lines, fences, planters or visual markers so children know where the learning area begins and ends.
A SEND-friendly outdoor space should include visual cues, simple routines, clear boundaries, safe movement opportunities, choice, calm spaces, repetition, adult support and flexible expectations.
Before changing the space, observe the children. Notice where they naturally go, what they avoid, what helps them settle and what causes overwhelm. Then adjust the environment gently.
7.What about the weather?
Children can still go outside in most types of weather, as long as it is safe.
Rain can offer brilliant play opportunities:
- puddle jumping
- making mud pies
- catching raindrops
- listening to rain sounds
- looking for worms
- painting with water
- making rainy day obstacle courses
Windy days can be used for:
- flying ribbons
- watching leaves move
- making paper streamers
- chasing bubbles
- looking at clouds
Cold days can be used for:
- winter walks
- bird spotting
- ice hunting
- warm drinks outside
- building dens with blankets
Avoid unsafe conditions such as storms, extreme heat, icy surfaces or very high winds.
But ordinary rain does not need to stop outdoor play.
8. How to get siblings of different ages outside
This can be tricky because younger children may want simple play while older children want challenge or independence.
Try choosing activities that can be adapted.
For example:
Nature scavenger hunt
Younger child: Find a leaf, stick and stone.
Older child: Find something smooth, rough, spiky, curved and living.
Obstacle course
Younger child: Jump, crawl, balance and run.
Older child: Time themselves, redesign it or create rules.
Den building
Younger child: Collect sticks and blankets.
Older child: Lead the build, tie knots or design the structure.
Garden games
Younger child: Throw beanbags into a hoop.
Older child: Create a points system or challenge board.
The trick is to use the same activity but give each child a different role.
8. How to get siblings of different ages outside
This can be tricky because younger children may want simple play while older children want challenge or independence.
Try choosing activities that can be adapted.
For example:
Nature scavenger hunt
Younger child: Find a leaf, stick and stone.
Older child: Find something smooth, rough, spiky, curved and living.
Obstacle course
Younger child: Jump, crawl, balance and run.
Older child: Time themselves, redesign it or create rules.
Den building
Younger child: Collect sticks and blankets.
Older child: Lead the build, tie knots or design the structure.
Garden games
Younger child: Throw beanbags into a hoop.
Older child: Create a points system or challenge board.
The trick is to use the same activity but give each child a different role.
9. Easy outdoor activities for beginners
Here are some simple outdoor ideas to get started.
1. Take snack time outside
This is one of the easiest ways to begin. Sit on a blanket, doorstep, bench or garden chair. Children often relax when food and fresh air are combined.
2. Go on a colour hunt
Choose one colour and look for it outside. This works well for younger children and can be done anywhere.
3. Make a mud kitchen
Use old bowls, spoons, pans, water, soil, leaves and sticks. Children can mix, stir, pour and imagine.
4. Create a nature tray
Collect leaves, stones, petals, feathers or sticks. Bring them home and sort, count or make pictures.
5. Try chalk play
Use chalk on patios, pavements or walls where allowed. Draw roads, number lines, hopscotch, targets or treasure maps.
6. Build a mini den
Use sticks, blankets, pegs, chairs or garden furniture. Children love creating small hideaways.
7. Go on a listening walk
Walk quietly and count how many sounds you can hear. Birds, cars, footsteps, wind and dogs all count.
8. Make a garden obstacle course
Use cushions, hoops, cones, sticks, buckets or chalk lines. Keep it simple and let children design part of it.
9. Paint with water
Give children a paintbrush and a cup of water. They can paint fences, walls, paving slabs or stones.
10. Follow the leader
One person leads the movement. Everyone else copies. Try jumping, crawling, balancing, spinning and tiptoeing.
10. Outdoor play for children with lots of energy
Some children need big movement before they can settle.
Outdoor play is brilliant for this.
Try:
- running races
- hill climbs
- scooter rides
- football challenges
- skipping
- tree branch dragging where safe
- obstacle courses
- jumping games
- animal walks
- pushing, pulling and carrying games
Children often behave differently outside because they have more space to move their bodies.
If your child is restless indoors, try ten minutes of heavy movement outside before homework, dinner or bedtime routines. Try using these Summer Nature Journals to get out and about over the summer.
11. How to reduce screen time with outdoor play
It can be hard to compete with screens, so do not try to remove everything at once.
Instead, create simple outdoor routines.
For example:
- outside before screens
- ten-minute walk after school
- garden time before dinner
- weekend park trip
- outdoor snack after school
- Sunday nature walk
- Friday family football
Children respond well when outdoor time becomes predictable.
You might say:
“First we go outside for ten minutes, then you can have screen time.”
The outdoor time does not need to be perfect. It just needs to happen regularly.
12. Simple outdoor routines for busy families
If life feels full, try attaching outdoor time to something you already do.
After school
Have a ten-minute run, walk or garden play before going inside.
Before dinner
Let children play outside while dinner is cooking.
Weekend mornings
Go out early before the day gets busy.
School run
Walk part of the way, park further away or notice nature on the route.
Bedtime reset
Try a calm five-minute fresh air walk or garden sit before bath and bed.
Small habits work better than big plans that never happen.
Although getting out first thing in the morning may be tricky, you can still keep children active rather than on devices with these Morning Active Ideas.
13. What if outdoor play gets messy?
Mess is often part of good play.
But it can feel stressful if you are not prepared.
Try:
- keeping old clothes for outdoor play
- using a doormat or towel by the door
- having wipes nearby
- using a washing basket for muddy clothes
- creating a “muddy clothes stay here” spot
- accepting that some mess is part of childhood
Mud, water, leaves and sticks are often the things children remember most.
You do not need to say yes to everything, but it helps to have a simple system.
Make a start and try: Outdoor Pirate Activities for Families
14. Related outdoor play guides for parents
You may also like:
- Outdoor Activities for Children Who Do Not Like Going Outside
- Rainy Day Outdoor Activities for Children
- Garden Play Ideas for Children
- Weekend Outdoor Activities for Families
- School Holiday Outdoor Activities
- Outdoor Activities for Siblings of Different Ages
- Screen-Free Outdoor Activities for Children
- Nature Walk Ideas for Families
- Outdoor Activities for Children with SEND
- Simple Outdoor Play Ideas for Beginners
Frequently asked questions : Outdoor Activities for Children
How can I get my child to play outside more?
Start small. Try ten minutes outside with a simple focus such as snack time, bubbles, chalk, a ball, a walk or a treasure hunt. Children are more likely to go outside when it feels fun, relaxed and achievable.
What if my child prefers screens?
Do not try to remove screens all at once. Create a simple routine such as outdoor time before screen time. Keep it short at first and use your child’s interests to make outdoor play more appealing.
Do I need a garden for outdoor play?
No. You can use parks, pavements, playgrounds, fields, woodland paths, courtyards or local green spaces. Even a walk around the block can become a nature activity.
What should children wear for outdoor play?
Children need comfortable clothes that can get a little messy. Wellies, old trainers, waterproof coats, layers, hats and spare socks are all useful.
Can children play outside in the rain?
Yes, if it is safe. Rain can be brilliant for puddle jumping, mud play, water painting and worm spotting. Avoid storms, extreme weather, icy surfaces and unsafe conditions.
How long should children spend outside each day?
Start with what feels realistic. Even ten minutes is a good beginning. Over time, children may naturally want to stay outside for longer.
What are easy outdoor activities for beginners?
Good beginner activities include chalk drawing, bubbles, colour hunts, snack outside, water painting, nature collecting, mud kitchen play, obstacle courses and short walks.
How can I get older children outside?
Give older children more challenge and independence. Try timed challenges, den building, photography walks, sports, nature missions, map reading or asking them to lead an activity for younger siblings.
What if my child gets bored outside?
Boredom is not always a bad thing. It can lead to imagination. Offer a simple starting point such as “Can you build something?” or “Can you find five interesting things?” then step back.
Why is outdoor play good for children?
Outdoor play supports movement, imagination, confidence, social skills, wellbeing and connection with nature. It also gives children space to explore, regulate and play freely.