Spring is finally here. With the longer days and warmer temperatures, it’s time to take your toddler outside to enjoy the sunshine. If you are in an area that had a long cold winter, you and your toddler are probably more than ready to play outside again. Luckily there are a lot of activities that you can enjoy outside with your toddler this spring.
One fun thing that you can do with your toddler is to simply take a walk. If your toddler is walking pretty well on his own, try letting him walk for a while. If you will be going a long distance with a young toddler, you might want to consider bringing along a stroller. It might be good exercise to carry your toddler the last mile of your walk, but it will probably completely wear you out. If you walk around your neighborhood, try going a different route each time you go out. This will keep it fun and exciting for both you and your toddler. Another good thing about taking a walk is that it can be a family time that includes the dogs if you have one or more of them in your family.
Another fun activity for toddlers is just to play outside. Let your little one explore your yard and play in the dirt if he wants to. Letting him explore on his own will help him learn more about his surroundings. This will also help him develop his independence by allowing him to run around on his own outside. Just make sure that there is nothing dangerous that he can get into and that he remains supervised anytime he is outside. This activity will keep him busy for several minutes at a time every time, even if you do it several times a day.
Another spring outdoor activity that you can do with your toddler is a treasure hunt. You can hide stuff for them to find, or just ask them to find things that are naturally in the yard. Good examples of things to ask for are leaves or wildflowers. This is a lot of fun for many children, plus it helps them to identify things that grow naturally in their own yards.
Bubbles are another fun activity that can be done either inside or outside. My son loves looking at and chasing bubbles. They are fascinating for toddlers because they are always trying to figure out how things work. Bubbles can seem quite magical to little ones.
Picnics are another fun idea. You can do one in the park or in your own yard. Barbeque food is great for a back yard picnic. Just spread the blanket on the grass and eat your food fresh from the grill. This is another fun activity for the whole family. Of course picnics in the park can be a family activity, too, but you might not be able to include your pets.
One more fun activity for your toddler is just going to the park to play. Your toddler will enjoy the slides and swings, as long as they have toddler versions available. This will also give your toddler a chance to interact with other children. Other children will be good choices to run around with and chase. This will give you a much needed break from the running. You might even make some new mommy or daddy friends.
No matter which way you choose to do it, make sure your toddlers gets plenty of time in the sunshine this spring. Playing outside is a good way to get rid of some of that extra energy that most toddlers seem to always have. It’s healthy for you and your toddler, too.
