10 Fun and Free Summer Activities for Kids in the Garden

Once the weather warms up, we can’t wait to get back outdoors and start enjoying lots of fun outside.

Here are 10 Fun and free summer activities for kids in the garden, which my kids enjoy.

You definitely don’t need to spend a lot to have a great time. Sometimes the simple ideas are the best.

1. Chalk

A large pack of chalk can keep my boys entertained for hours, and can be used to bring in some learning ideas too.

Even if they just free play with the chalk they are developing their mark making skills, fine motor skills for pencil control, and exploring their creativity. You can see some of our backyard chalk activities here from last year.

If you are feeling creative and want to make your own chalk then check out this chalk recipe from Fun at Home with Kids

2. Bubbles

These are a timeless classic for all ages, and guaranteed to get the kids active as they run and jump to catch them.

If you want to make your own try this recipe from Red Ted Art, or this method from Happy Hooligans for giant bubbles

3. Garden Picnic

My kids love this and it helps to get them excited about eating more fruit!

If you’re lucky enough to have blackberries, apple trees or any kind of edible fruit and berries growing in the garden then get the children to help pick and wash the berries and set up a picnic.

4. Treasure Hunt

Make a map and hide clues and treasure around the garden. My kids also love to make a pirate ship by sticking a broom through the parasol slot in our garden table to serve as a mast.

Treasure hunts can fit in so well with this pirate themed imaginary play.

5. Climbing Frame

The convenience of having a reliable and sturdy climbing frame in your own garden is amazing and If you are looking for a reliable, sturdy and safe climbing frame Fatmoose is the choice for you.

Fatmoose makes cool wooden products for the outdoors, from climbing frames to swings and sandpits. They are up to date with the latest trends to ensure their products are modern, safe and extremely high quality.

You can rest assured that their products are thoroughly tested to ensure that they always meet the latest safety standards. They are also long lasting as they treat the wood against fungus, rot, weather and mould.

FATMOOSE therefore finishes its wood with a high-quality, water-repelling impregnation like that used in the professional sector (nurseries, schools). This naturally extends the life and safety of their climbing frames. 

This way you can enjoy the sunny days with a nice cool drink as you watch the little ones have unlimited fun in the comfort of their own home.

6. Stone Collection

Every kid seems to love to collect stones. It gives lots of opportunity to talk about the different colours, sizes and shapes.

If you have an easy-to-use kid’s microscope, you can build your kid’s curiosity while looking at the collected stones and letting them discover what these are made of.

They can also set up a display with all of the stones and treasures they have found.

You can then use them for craft activities, like just simple painting on rocks (this was our first ever blog post!) or glue pictures on to make story stones.

7. Water Play

This is one of my favourite pictures of the boys playing outside, because I love how much fun they can have just with a bath of water!

You can mix this up by making it into a car wash or adding colour to the water. Check this post from Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails for even more water play ideas

8. Relay Race and Home Sports Day

My kids love an outdoors sports day. You can use empty kitchen roll tubes for the relay race (you could decorate these in advance for a craft activity) and let the children write up the scores with chalk.

A small bean bag will also be useful for balancing games, or you can use ball pool balls and baskets for a fun race where the kids have to collect all the balls and quickly collect them into their baskets. (Either one colour per child, or the most balls in the basket wins)

Adding a segment where girls roller skates to their respective stations adds an exhilarating and inclusive element to the sports day, engaging everyone in the joy of movement.

9. Messy play

Summer is a great chance to get the kids involved in some of the messier sensory activities which you may have been reluctant to do inside. Moon dough is a good one for outdoors as it’s so crumbly.

We also love painting outdoors and setting up sensory bins with rice, sand, jelly and lots more. For a wide list of sensory materials that would be fun outdoors check this post

10. Outdoor Twister

Outdoor Twister is lots of fun. Last year we bought one very cheaply in Asda, with inflatable dice but you can also make your own by spray painting the Twister board right onto the grass and making a spinner.