Monkey, like most toddlers, loves getting outside and burning off some energy. So while I would probably prefer to snuggle up in the warm and watch a film, he is generally itching to get outside and have some fun. The good news is that for the most part he is easily pleased with regards to what we do when we are out there and doesn’t need some hugely imaginative activity. The simplest things really are the best sometimes, so here they are, 5 cheap fun ways to play outside in winter.
This post contains a few affiliate links, so basically if you were to click on the link and buy something it wouldn’t cost you extra but I would receive a few pence to go towards the upkeep of this blog (so far earnings from affiliate links have been negligable so not entirely sure why I bother with them) and I never link so something I wouldn’t buy myself :).
A lot of these we do in our garden as it is the easiest place for us to go when LM is having a nap but you can do most of these things out and about if you don’t have any outside space of your own.
Blowing Bubbles
An oldy but a goody and suitable for all times of year really. You can make your own bubble mix (though I haven’t dared to try yet I will admit) which makes it uber cheap or I picked a huge bottle of it up from a garden centre for only a couple of quid. The best investment we have made for bubble fun is a bubble wand. You can get one from amazon
Monkey loves running around the garden chasing bubbles around and they are a great enticement to keep him moving when we are out and about too!
Pavement Chalks
Pavement chalks are great fun as they wash off in the rain. We have been known to take them out and about with us as great entertainment that do no harm to anyone. We chalk numbers, letters, shapes and even dinosaurs and rainbows! Admittedly most of the big things we chalk at the moment are drawn by Mummy and Daddy but Monkey is getting really good at doing the zigzags down the dinosaur’s back and likes drawing circles and all sorts really. I am sure in time he will take the lead and get really creative. We picked some chalks up from our local supermarket but someone bought us these Crayola ones
Water Painting
Give Monkey a paintbrush and a puddle and he will occupy himself for ages painting, decorating, cleaning, and generally pottering about the garden. He just uses a brush that we got as part of a crafty set and after being outdoors for a while it has now started to rust a little on the metal bit, so a fully plastic one may be better, but whatever you have works. For a while he was using a really old paintbrush of ours… which he would probably still be using but I don’t know where it went – it possibly got buried or something :). It’s a great way to practise numbers, shapes and letters too. Once Monkey drew a huge 2, though I think it was a fluke!
Splashing in puddles
Great for rainy days and a firm favourite with most kids I think, puddle jumping! I do recommend a good pair of wellies and waterproof trousers/waterproof all in one to make the fun as comfortable as possible and make it last. We bought Monkey a huge pair of waterproof trousers that were far too big initially (I think I bought them well over a year ago) but fit perfectly now and still have a bit of room to grow – so I am definitely getting my money’s worth out of them! it is nice to know that I don’t have to worry too much about spare clothing too as he can splosh to his hearts content and stay nice and dry. A few weeks ago we found the biggest puddle ever! Great fun 🙂
Running around
If all else fails there is just good old running around. Monkey likes to run pushing things for some reason. He has a little wheelbarrow and a really rubbish cheap plastic lawnmower, but his favourite thing to push round the garden is his little toy buggy
Do you like playing outside with your kids, even in the winter? Or are you looking forward to getting out more in warmer days?
I’m looking forward to warmer days.
Lizzie Dripping
Just about what we did this half term week as we cant really go far as my son is sick. Lovely activities =) #countrykids
A great list of suggestions. Can’t be many children who wouldn’t join in. Especially the bubble blowing. #CountryKids
I still need to attempt to chalk on the pavement, I have always wanted to and never got round to it! Great ideas and looks like your son is enjoying every second!
I am totally with you all the way, simple things are great for little ones and outside running off some energy is just what most boys love to do, certainly all mine have benefitted from the freedom of our farm growing up. I hope you will build on this post in time, you will be surprised how many fun things you can come up with with difficulty increasing gradually with age. thank you for sharing some great tips on Country Kids and all simple things anyone can do.
I love your list and I love bubbles almost as much as my kids. Pavement chalk is so much easier to clean that walls and windows. #Letkidsbekids
I would much rather stay indoors but I do feel guilty if Izzy doesn’t get much fresh air. Love the pavement chalks – we have some big chalks in the house so we will be trying that on the patio when we get a dry afternoon! #toddlerapprovedtuesday
Oh we love all of these, great way to have basic childhood fun. I think the big puddles tops our list and it looks like Monkey loves that too. Fab list!
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
All great ideas. Apart from the pain of having to get them into tons of outdoor clothing, I love going outside when it’s cold, especially if its muddy – nothing better than watching them giggling in muddy puddles.
Great tips for outdoor play – I love trying to get out and about with the girls and splashing in puddles is always a favourite. We haven’t yet tried pavement chalk but it is on my mental list of things to do so will be giving it a try at some point. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great ideas! I can’t wait to get outside again when we have a free weekend, I love the bright colours of those Crayola chalks, they are lovely!
Thanks for linking #toddlerapprovedtuesday
Puddle splashing was always my boys favourite. Great simple and easy ideas
#countrykids
Some great ideas for outdoor play here Caroline. We should really make use of our garden more but don’t really use it much in the winter (our garden water logs ALOT!) but with spring time fast approaching it will soon be time to give it the yearly clear out and tidy up and hopefully get to start using it again!
#ToddlerApprovedTuesday
We love all of the above activities, I love the brightness of those chalk colours! #letkidsbekids
Love your chalk rainbow! #letkidsbekids
great post, often we forget the fun of just jumping in puddles and running around!
#toddlerapprovetuesday
Great Ideas!!! Thank you for sharing!
We live in a flat, but have a tiny bit of outside space which is the roof of the shop below us. It has been full of rubbish until recently and I have manged to square off some toddler-safe space for Luke to play in. The floor seems to be uneven…not sure how well that works out for the shop below having an uneven, flat roof, but it means there are always puddles to jump in! Thinking of trying some pavement chalks, Luke is 18 months old, so I doubt he will be terribly interested, but i’d love to introduce them to him. He also LOVES bubbles! 😀 x
Wonderful post. It can seem difficult to get outside in the cold and wet but the kids always enjoy it. Some great ideas here 🙂
#letkidsbekids
Pingback: Keeping Toddlers Busy at Home (34 mths old) | Becoming a Stay at Home Mum
I was only saying to a friend recently that it’ll be so fun when H is bigger and we can chalk pictures outside and play hopscotch, and just run around (well she can). It’ll be lovely watching her do all the things we loved as kids. This post has just made me excited about it again as I was getting scared by how quickly she’s growing, so thank you! X
Pingback: Getting outside in the Winter months - Becoming a Stay at Home Mum