Three Affordable Outdoor Activities for Toddlers
Keeping up with a two-year-old is a
full-time job and it only gets harder if you have a second or a third kid,
regardless of their age. Between the meal preparation, baths, washing and ironing
clothing, feeding, and putting them to bed, how much time do you have left for
anything else?
However, at their age, toddlers require
as much stimulation as possible and should try as many activities as they can
in order to healthily develop and shape their personalities.
Luckily for you, it doesn’t take a
fortune to make a toddler happy as there are plenty of inexpensive outdoor
activities you can enjoy in the summertime or during the holidays. Here are
some of the best we recommend.
Create an obstacle course
You don’t even have to take your kids
out of your property to enjoy this fun and free activity. All it takes is some
imagination and enough free time to prepare the obstacles. You can use anything
from boxes to toys, chairs, and even huts, tents or blankets.
Give your toddlers clear instructions
for when they need to run, climb, jump over the boxes or get under the chairs,
and prepare a sweet reward at the end of the race.
If it’s sunny and warm outside, you can
even add a kid pool to the obstacle race and have them make their way out of it
to finish the course. Fun and absolutely free, this activity will keep the
little ones busy and happy for hours in a row!
Prepare a picnic
If you live near a beautiful hill,
forest or a beach, it’s high time you polished your cooking and organizing
skills to give your family a nice and quiet picnic at a low cost. All you’ll
need is a large blanket, kitchen utensils, and your family’s favorite snacks to
get this party started.
If you want to be safe, we suggest
packing fruit salads for dessert and sandwiches or tortillas for the main
course. Make sure to also have enough water, your kid’s pacifier, a change of
clothes, and some toys.
If the weather is nice, you can turn a
plain picnic into a wonderful opportunity to fly a kite or blow up some balloons and watch
them fly. Balloons always seem to attract children and make them happy so make
sure to stack on various colors, shapes, and sizes. This low-budget family
activity will definitely be a hit for everyone!
Going fishing
This may not sound like too much fun,
to begin with, but it can turn into a wonderful opportunity to spend some
quality time outdoors if you make sure your child is involved in the activity
as well.
Although boat fishing is the best way
to enjoy the sun, warm water, and some quiet time, we don’t suggest you do it
with toddlers because it may be dangerous. It is best to stay at the shore but
rest assured there are plenty of ways to keep your children interested.
Start by putting on the proper
protective gear that includes wellies (rubber boots), a fishing vest or a pair
of waders, and a matching hat. Don’t forget to apply lots of sunscreen to
prevent sun damage. Snake repellents and natural solutions for bugs and
insects are also mandatory to avoid any unwanted surprises coming from snakes,
ants, mosquitoes or ticks.
Apart from that, you can buy your
little one his/her own rod and reel, and even teach a bit about different
baits. And, if everything else fails, you can always bring along a bucket and
place all the fish you catch inside for your kid to observe it and even try to
fish it.
