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50 Fun & Frugal Backyard Ideas for Kids

May 11, 2020 by Nicole
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outdoor play

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We have two small kids, so we’re always thinking of new ideas for having fun around the house, especially in the backyard. We’ve come to realize that there’s a world of adventure right outside our house.  The key is you have to know where to look! 

No matter where you live on the planet, getting outdoors is a possibility no matter the weather patterns! There is always something you can do outdoors to burn off some energy and lift the spirits. You can enjoy an entire ecosystem of fun, inspiration, and creativity only a few steps away. 

To help you get inspired and to see the potential games, activities, and learning lessons that await you and the kids, we’ve put together a list of 50 Fun & Frugal Backyard Activities for Kids. Almost every idea on the list can be adapted to children of different ages.  Yard size shouldn’t matter much.  And just about everything listed is completely free or, at the very least, budget-friendly!  Let’s go ahead and dive in.   

infograph of backyard activities for kids

50 Fun & Frugal Backyard Activities for Kids

  1.  Create a moss terrarium
  2.  Dig for worms
  3.  Collect and identify bugs
  4.  Collect and identify plants
  5.  Go camping
  6.  Look for constellations at night. Download this FREE SkyView app!
  7.  Start a compost pile
  8.  Grow your own garden
  9.  Turn sticks into rubber band guns
  10.  Play with sidewalk chalk
  11.  Play tag with the water hose
  12.  Have a water balloon fight
  13.  Make mud pies
  14.  Catch fireflies
  15.  Create and go on a Scavenger Hunt. I love this one from Crafts on Sea!
  16.  Collect and identify rocks
  17.  Create your own Olympics Games
  18. Place leaves, flowers, and grass on an outdoor Sticky Wall when you use contact paper!
  19.  Identify shapes in the clouds
  20.  Create daisy chain necklaces
  21.  Turn a blade of grass into a whistle
  22.  Play flashlight tag at night
  23.  Play hide-and-go-seek
  24.  Draw or paint scenes from your backyard
  25.  Decorate your mailbox
  26.  Have a picnic
  27.  Race toy trucks through the mud and then play car wash
  28.  Hide a treasure in the yard and create a map to it
  29.  Play with bubbles. Check out these creative ideas from Red Ted Art!
  30.  Fly paper airplanes
  31.  Make your own kite and fly it. Check out this fun tutorial from Buggy and Buddy!
  32.  Have a sack race
  33.  Make aluminum foil boats and race them!
  34.  Make a rock garden
  35. Create a homemade slip-and-slide. Check out this tutorial from Fatherly!
  36. Make an obstacle course
  37. Play pick-up-sticks
  38. Play a mega memory match game with paper plates
  39. Paint silly faces on the trees in your yard
  40. Have an outdoor dance party
  41. Write and film a nature movie
  42. Paint with leaves, grass, and sticks to create interesting patterns
  43. Play floor hockey in the driveway (all you need are a few brooms and a ball)
  44. Create a door hanger using outdoor elements
  45. Make a bouquet of wildflowers
  46. Make a sensory table with rocks, grass clippings, pine cones, etc
  47. Write a short story using your backyard as the setting
  48. Play “I Spy” Backyard Edition
  49. Turn rocks, sticks, and logs into drums
  50. Create a Nature Journal. Head to Rhythms of Play for inspiration!

We hope that you’ve been inspired to see all the awesome possibilities just outside your front door with our list of 50 Fun & Frugal Backyard Activities.  

We stopped at 50 because, but hey, you’ve got to stop somewhere, right?  That being said, let’s keep the list going.  What are some fun ways YOU enjoy the great outdoors with your kids? Share below in the comments!

Category: FamilyTag: family fun
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