21 Things to Do in Nature with Babies & Toddlers (0-2 Years)

Babies love being outdoors and in nature, and it’s so good for them!  Want to get your baby into nature play, but not sure where to start?  Check our list of simple and fun ideas!
Give babies and toddlers time to explore and focus on nature. Let babies try nature experiences several times to get used to different textures e.g. sand, bark and sticks.

  1. Lay babies on a blanket in the shade of a tree to see the light and shadows dance between the leaves and feel the breeze blowing on their skin.
  2. Attach strips of material or ribbon to trees and bushes to watch them fluttering in the breeze.
  3. Sit with babies as they use their senses to engage with nature. Explore different textures, such as sand and grass. Stay close so they don’t swallow anything but let them touch and smell sticks, grass and leaves.
  4. Hold your baby while they paddle their hands and feet in puddles or shallow water.
  5. Stroke arms, legs and cheeks with leaves or flowers.
  6. Get up close to plants or point them out while walking in nature.
  7. Talk about and touch the seeds, nuts, berries and flowers. Let babies and toddlers feel different textures with their bare hands and feet.
  8. Dress in waterproof clothing and enjoy short visits in gentle rain. Feel the rain drop on hands and faces.
  9. Look at and talk about the colours, textures, shapes and sizes.
  10. Let babies and toddlers mix or poke their fingers into mud and clay.
  11. Roll gumnuts or bigger seeds. Bury them in the sand to dig up again.
  12. Float flowers, leaves and feathers in puddles or shallow water.
  13. Use seeds, grass and leaves to mix into mud with a stick.
  14. Explore shadows, letting toddlers chase their own shadow and compare their shadow with yours.
  15. Point out small creatures: spider webs, dragonflies, ants, butterflies, bees, ladybugs, caterpillars or a praying mantis. Be brave when discovering small creatures so you can encourage curiosity and interest – not fear! Catching and releasing minibeasts shows respect and concern for nature.
  16. Use a long stick to lift and explore underneath sticks or bark.
  18. Watch and listen to birds. Bigger birds like swans or ducks can be easier to see. Visit different waterways, like rivers, creeks and beaches. Talk about and compare what you find.
  19. Make a birdbath for your garden to encourage the birds. Keep it simple and cheap: place a shallow terracotta plant base on a tree stump.
  20. Explore reflections and shadows in water with toddlers – go for a walk near a lake or creek or find some clear, shallow puddles.
  21. Let young children wear gumboots and splash and stomp in puddles.
  22. Run through garden sprinklers together (on your watering day).
  23. Plant an edible herb and flower garden to touch, taste, look at and smell.
  24. Watch clouds move across the sky.
  26. ‘Paint’ mud on things outside with brushes or branches.
  27. Make mobiles out of found objects – feathers, leaves, sticks, to move in the breeze.
  29. Watch and chase the leaves on a windy day – watch what the wind does to light things: hair, feathers.