Outdoor activities for babies don't necessarily have to be over-planned and extravagant in order to be fun. All you have to do to provide your baby with that rich sensory play is to walk outside. Firstly, being outside is an enjoyable experience in itself. Secondly, the outdoors presents a valuable resource for helping the little ones start to make sense of the world around them by slowly building on developmental milestones. As you will see, developmental pediatricians highly recommend and encourage parents to take the play outside for at least an hour every day.

Why outdoor play is important for babies and toddlers

Experts in child development continue to emphasize the importance of taking your baby or toddler for a fun outdoor play. Besides the obvious vitamin D intake and their physical and mental health, this is because crucial physical and cognitive development takes place during early childhood. Spending time outdoors enables infants to gather various information and form ideas about the world around them.

For starters, it is fun for them simply to soak up different noises, sights, smells, and textures. However, this further incites their cognitive development, enabling brain synapses to form rapidly. Such a stimulating environment then prompts them to verbalize what they've experienced, and something as small as their 'coo' poses the foundation for early literacy skills, language learning, and social development. Next, gathering and storing information eventually elicits their motor response to the environmental stimulus, helps muscle development, and preps them for movement activities.

Creating a safe environment for your baby’s outdoor play

Many parents are still discouraged from doing this every day due to the exposure to germs, injuries, and choking hazards. This then calls for learning how to create an environment where your baby can safely explore the world. Besides constant adult supervision, setting up such space involves merely laying out a blanket on a grass surface. Still, make sure that the child has enough room to move around freely and easily, remove all choking hazards and anything with sharp edges. Lastly, much like your baby's clothes should be made out of materials that are comfortable and natural, so should the blanket that you use for play.

Fun outdoor activities for babies

• Bubble play. Watching bubbles form, float, and pop out of sight is a real sensation the first time your little one sees it! If your baby is old enough, you can encourage them to try and poke the bubbles with fingers or even jump on them. Additionally, both 'bubbles' and 'pop' are pretty easy words to say, so try to get them to repeat one.
• Nature stroll. The next on our list of fun outdoor activities for babies is a simple nature stroll. Carry your baby in a stroller or sling and go for a pleasant walk in the park or woods. Spend a day in nature, pointing out all of the things you see (like colorful flowers, leaves) and hear (bird song, water babble).
• Water splash. Some of the most enjoyable baby activities for the outdoors involve water play. Place a baby pool in your yard and fill it with water and some toys. If you don't have one, simply do the same thing with a bowl. Either way, they will enjoy splashing around with their hands.
• Storytime. Pick a spot in the shade and take your storytime session outside. Your baby's favorite book and a fresh breeze are bound to double the fun. Better yet, choose a story that takes place in nature so that you can point out flowers, grass, leaves, and trees both in the story and around you.
• Dance. Dancing to your baby's favorite tunes while holding them does wonders to their little brains and bodies. The rocking, swaying, and bouncing stimulates their vestibular system, helps muscle tone, body and space awareness development, etc.
• Jamming. Experts encourage engaging your baby in musical activities, and, let's face it, babies are intrigued by the noises around them. There are plenty of child-friendly instruments for you and your baby to experiment with. Drums, for instance, are great for exercising your baby's muscles. And all you need to join your little one for a fun jam session are a few pots, pans, bowls, and wooden spoons. Have fun with the simplest of the musical concepts of high-low, fast-slow, etc.
• Listen. In the end, you don't have to bring out a single thing, given that nature is filled with its own music all around. So, have a wonderful, peaceful outing with just your baby in your arms. It is well-known that being in nature plays a significant role in nurturing your child's spiritual development and bringing that joy and inner peace.
• Wind chimes. Besides being beautiful and relaxing, these little melody makers are pretty easy to DIY. Hang a few colorful ones somewhere in your backyard for your baby to see and hear, and wait for the wind to blow to witness that mesmerizing look in their eyes.
• Rainbow ribbons. Hang a bunch of colorful ribbons from some of your trees. Although these won't make any melodies, your little one will still love all these different colors fluttering in the wind.
• Feeling the grass. Take off your child's socks and shoes and let them touch the grass, leaves, and flowers with their bare feet (and hands). Introduce the grass to them slowly, and very soon, your baby may get super excited by this new experience. The whole thing may turn into some tummy time, and they might get dirty. So, you should put some thought into their outfit before you take them out. For instance, opting for onesies is always a good call, as they are easy to wash.
• Bird watching. Another entertaining outdoor activity that children might love is bird watching. Attract some birds with a bird feeder and watch your baby's excitement when they start to notice those tiny colorful creatures swooping in for a little snack and flying away.
• Ball rolling. Early ball play is a perfect way to develop skills and have some fun at the same time. Grab a bunch of colorful balls, sit opposite your baby, and slowly roll them towards him or her. Help them push it back, encourage them to say 'ball,' and even give them a chance to ask for the ball themselves by pausing before rolling it to them. They may look and point, bounce and reach out for it, or even vocalize their wish to play with the ball.
• Walking. As you can see, outdoor activities for babies don't need to be complicated to be fun. It's all about letting them do whatever is natural for them. So, once your little one is ready for their first steps, take them outside for some practice.