5 Essential Materials for Endless Outdoor Fun
It’s never too early to start thinking about summer. Even when the days are still cool, the promise of longer daylight, fresh air, and time spent outside gives us something to look forward to. Planning ahead allows us to be ready when the weather shifts—so children can head outdoors with the tools and materials that support meaningful, joyful play from the very first warm day.
When I think about favorite summer activities for toddlers and preschoolers, it’s difficult to choose my top 5. There are so many! Unfortunately, many activities found online are prescriptive with desired outcomes created by adults. Children in the early years need open-ended experiences that we can extend according to their ideas and interests. Instead of listing five favorite activities, I want to talk about five essential materials that are crucial to have ready on any outdoor excursion. Whether you are going to your local park, the creek, a wooded area, or the beach, the right materials are imperative to your child’s success and engagement in outdoor preschool activities.
3 Key Ingredients for Outdoor Activities
All outdoor preschool activities and experiences have 3 main ingredients: big body play (movement and heavy work), sensory input, and problem-solving opportunities that challenge children physically, socially, and cognitively. When all 3 are present in an activity, it ensures their engagement and success.
Simplifying Your Outdoor Excursions
Let’s not overthink it and simplify your busy schedule by considering outdoor experiences that support not only your toddler and preschooler but also your busy lifestyle. Think about what you are already doing and add helpful items to your everyday excursions that are accessible and easy to find. Other than your towel, sunscreen, water, and snacks, here are some helpful materials to add to your backpack for successful outdoor preschool activities.
Your Top 5 essential items plus a whole lot of possibilities!
Containers:
- Bucket, metal bowls, Tupperware, enviro bag, and/or mesh bags
- Perfect for collecting nature’s treasures such as sticks, pinecones, acorns, flowers, leaves, stones, or even a snail or two.
- Snails are very durable in a terrarium at home with a screen lid. In the terrarium, add soil, a couple of rocks, decaying leaves and sticks, plus a shallow container of water and a few slices of cucumber. Spray with water every day. Keep your snails for a few weeks and then release them back into the wild.
- If your stick collections make it home, add them to an empty vase to admire and use for future crafts. It’s that easy!
- Metal bowls are great for collecting mud to make mud creatures and/or mud pies.
- Use a metal bowl and a fist-sized rock for grinding leaves, flowers, and a bit of water to make potions.
- Collect your favorite smooth stones to paint at home. I like using medium-point paint markers that can be purchased through Michaels or Amazon.
Muffin Tins – 6 Cup Tray
- Muffin tins are good for sorting smaller treasures, including stones, flowers, and/or leaves. Sort by color, shape, or size.
- Muffin tins can also be used to make muddy cupcakes with soil and a bit of water.
- The small cup container can be used to make mud bricks with soil and water. Let them bake in the sun for an hour, and now you have lovely building blocks.
Spoons
- Small spoons can be used to make muddy cupcakes.
- Larger spoons or serving spoons found at the dollar store are nice for digging in the mud or scooping water.
Blanket or Sheet
- Nice for a picnic or quiet time.
- Perfect for the walls or roof of a fort.
Rope – 1/2” x 50 ft
- A good addition to your fort to hang fabric or a blanket.
- Use to support climbing up a steep hill. Attach the rope to a stable tree and place the rope down the hill. Children can hold onto the rope and independently climb the hill.
Making the Most of Outdoor Time
When outside, take advantage of the destination. Assess the sensory material available and nature’s treasures around you. Follow your child’s lead and watch to see if they need to be active or want to participate in something quieter. Most importantly, make it a ‘yes’ experience where you are prepared for messy play. Try to designate a set of clothes that can get dirty or bring rain pants or a rain suit and have footwear that matches the environment. Most importantly, keep it simple and have fun!
Jill Bienenstock, RECE
If you’re looking to kickstart your natural playground project, we offer turnkey solutions—from playground design to full installation. We also provide nature play workshops for professional development and free webinars with the Bienenstock Education Team. Reach out to us to learn more.
