Backyard Activities for Restless Kids

If your children are back from school and you're looking for creative ways for them to be entertained. Enjoy some peace and tranquility without having to watch an afternoon of television by sending the children outside to play. The trick is to come up with fun outdoor activities for children of all age groups. If you have toddlers or preschoolers or would like to spend time together with your family, these suggestions are a good place to begin.

Backyard Activities for Toddlers

The most energetic toddlers are at ease with certain outdoor activities. Try these suggestions you can go:

• Bubbles blowing
• You can kick the ball around. Use a stick to convert the ball into hockey.
• "Fix" things with play tools.
• Make sure to fill a bin large enough or a plastic pool for kids with sand, water or even gravel. Add things that stimulate the senses, such as toy shovels, plastic containers, spoons, and safe kitchen tools.
• Create a DIY board that you set on the ground.
• Make a mud-filled kitchen and let your child get messy.
• Find bugs. Change the game into an educational science project by studying the characteristics of various insects.
• Find and collect pine cones and rocks. Encourage your children to take them away and look at what they have found.

Backyard Activities for Preschoolers

Preschoolers enjoy the opportunity to make. Let them have a creative outlet by offering these activities for the backyard:

• Let your children play with sidewalk chalk. Color them on the fence, patio as well as on rocks. Rain will wipe the artwork off, but if they prefer, you can gift your kids a squirt bottle to erase their chalk once they're finished.
• Create art. One suggestion is to tape large sheets of newspaper to the fence. Put in a muffin tin filled with paints for fingers, and let your preschoolers be creative. Making this activity outside is easy to clean up.
• Use balance bikes to explore the yard. These are fantastic for developing gross motor skills as well as getting energy out.
• Lay out a blanket and invite the child to an article or play with toys beneath a shady tree.
• Create a bird feeder with the help of your preschooler. Attach it to an erect tree branch and then watch for birds who visit to feed.
• Create a fairy garden, or put fairy doors in the garden to create a fantastical environment for your child to delight in.
• Create a playhouse or slides made of plastic to encourage creative play.
• Make the rock drop by tying empty tubes of paper towels as well as wrapping a roll of newspaper around the fence at various angles.

Backyard Activities for Families

Sometimes, outdoor play is focused on keeping your children entertained to accomplish some work. In other instances, it's great to enjoy the yard with your family. Bring kids and adults of all ages engaged in these activities:

• Take a picnic lunch.
• Create a scavenger hunt.
• Follow the lead or play freeze tag.
• Have an outdoor movie night.
• Make a swing set from scratch.
• Install an outdoor chicken coop. Find out the local ordinances first.
• Be the gardener. Make a raised garden with your children.

Do you think your backyard needs some attention prior to sending your children out for a day of play? We provide lawn and bed care to keep your lawn and flowers looking great.

Take a look at our lawn care plans that include organic, hybrid and traditional. Pick the best program for your family and you to manage weeds and pests and ensure that your lawn stays healthy and green all year long. Contact us today to receive a no-cost estimate for your job.