7 Creative Outdoor Activities for Child Care Centers This Summer

When summer arrives, so does the opportunity to take learning and play outdoors! Incorporating fresh outdoor activities not only keeps kids engaged and active but also keeps teachers energized and inspired. Outdoor play promotes physical development, social skills, creativity, and a connection with nature—making it an essential part of any early childhood program.

As temperatures rise and attention spans wander, mixing up your outdoor routine with creative and purposeful activities is a win for both children and caregivers. Here are 7 fun, easy-to-implement outdoor ideas to keep your center’s summer programming exciting:

🌿 1. Nature Scavenger Hunt Bingo

Turn a walk into a learning adventure! Create bingo cards with simple nature items like pinecones, bird feathers, flowers, or smooth rocks. Kids can explore and mark off what they find as they go.

🖌️ 2. Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course

Transform your playground or sidewalk with colorful, hand-drawn obstacle courses. Draw shapes to hop through, zig-zags to balance on, and even "lava" areas to avoid. It’s an easy way to encourage motor skill development while having fun.

🪴 3. “Plant a Classroom Garden” Day

Give each child a small plant to nurture throughout the summer. Whether it’s a flower, vegetable, or herb, watching something grow fosters responsibility and pride. Kids can also decorate plant markers to personalize their garden spots.

🎨 4. Nature Paintbrushes

Get creative with materials straight from nature. Gather sticks, leaves, pine needles, and grass to make “paintbrushes.” Provide washable paints and let the kids experiment with textures and patterns as they create outdoor masterpieces.

🐞 5. Bug Hotel Building

Introduce children to the insect world by helping them build mini “bug hotels” from sticks, leaves, pinecones, and small rocks. They’ll have a safe space to observe insects and learn about different species up close (safely, of course!).

🌳 6. Storytime Tree Circle

Make storytime magical by heading outdoors. Set up blankets under a shady tree and gather the kids in a circle for reading. Allow them to bring their favorite plush “reading buddy” to join in on the fun.

🏹 7. Outdoor Adventure Day

Create a full day of outdoor play with rotating stations: log balance beams, “animal walk” races (hop like a frog, slither like a snake), and a nature-themed obstacle course. It’s the perfect way to keep energy high and bodies moving!

By adding variety to your summer outdoor activities, you create memorable learning experiences that keep children engaged and foster a lifelong love of nature and exploration.

🧸 Crib Notes

Cliff notes, but for child care:

• Outdoor play supports children’s physical, cognitive, and social development.
• New summer activities can prevent boredom and boost teacher creativity too.
• Try these easy outdoor ideas: scavenger hunt bingo, sidewalk chalk obstacle courses, classroom gardening, nature paintbrushes, bug hotels, outdoor storytime, and full adventure days.
• Engaged children + inspired teachers = a summer of fun and learning!