30 Things to Do in Nature With Babies & Toddlers
Babies and toddlers love being outdoors in nature, and as we shared in our previous article, 9 Benefits of Nature Play for Babies & Toddlers, it is essential to learning and wellbeing. If you want to spend more time outdoors with your young child but are not quite sure where to start, check our list of simple and fun ideas for babies through to toddlers.
30 Things to Do in Nature with Babies & Toddlers
Below you will find 30 different ideas for spending time outdoors in nature with your baby or toddler. These ideas are sorted into age ranges, however, these ranges are only a guide. We suggest short, regular sessions are often more valuable than long outings, and it is more than okay (in fact, it’s beneficial) to repeat activities your child enjoys.
Newborns (0–6 Months)
- Lie on a blanket under a tree and watch the leaves move
- Notice aloud the sounds of birds, the wind and other environmental noises
- Touch natural textures gently to hands or feet
- Take slow walks in the pram
Older Babies (6–12 Months)
- Allow your baby to crawl on the grass at the park
- Blow bubbles for your baby to watch as they float away
- Hold your baby while they paddle their hands and feet in puddles or shallow water
- Offer safe natural items to hold (leaves, shells, seed pods) , choosing objects larger than a 50c piece and being sure to supervise closely
- Notice aloud birds, insects and other animals you observe when outdoors
- Sing to your baby when you are spending time outside together
Young Toddlers (12–24 Months)
- Allow your toddler to walk barefoot on grass, sand or dirt
- Push toys or prams along paths
- Climb low rocks or gentle slopes
- Talk to your toddler about the colours, textures, shapes and sizes of plants, trees and other objects in the natural environment
- Explore shadows, letting your toddler chase their own shadow and comparing their shadow with yours
- Mix seeds, grass and leaves into mud with a stick
- Point out small creatures such as spiders, dragonflies, ants, butterflies, bees, ladybugs and caterpillars. Be brave, not fearful, when discovering small creatures so you can encourage curiosity and interest.
- Visit a waterway like a river, creek or beach to watch and listen to the birds. Bigger birds like swans or ducks can be easier to see
- Run through garden sprinklers together (on your watering day)
- Splash and stomp in puddles
Toddlers (2–3 Years)
- Explore reflections and shadows in water with toddlers – go for a walk near a lake or creek or find some clear, shallow puddles
- Make mud pies with sand or dirt and water and decorate them with found natural treasures
- Offer a small container of water and a large paintbrush to ‘paint’ with water outdoors
- Encourage pretend play using sticks, stones, and leaves
- Water the plants in your garden together
- Enjoy a short walk in gentle rain
Use a long stick to lift and explore underneath sticks or bark. - Roll gumnuts or seed pods along a pathway
Float flowers, leaves and feathers in puddles or shallow water - Chase the leaves on a windy day
- Plant an edible herb and flower garden to touch, taste, look at and smell.
- Make a birdbath for your garden to encourage birds to visit. Keep it simple and cheap: place a shallow terracotta plant base onto an upturned terracotta pot or tree stump.
