10 Fun Outdoor Play Activities for Toddlers in Spring

I was flipping through my Instagram feed the other day and came across a picture of a sweet little hand touching a tree trunk. The caption mentioned that this would be the child's very first spring and they were looking forward to exploring spring for the first time. Wow. Now that my girls are 9 and 11 years old I forget about those very first experiences of spring for my girls. I do remember how after living in a world surrounded by snow, there is a certain joy in tearing off the layers of clothing and playing outside in the spring. So, I thought I'd put together a few ideas of fun outdoor play with toddlers in the springtime. Their minds and bodies are full of curiosity...what will your child discover for the very first time this spring?

Collect Stuff - There is so much fun to be had with rocks, sticks, leaves and anything else your toddler collects while you are outside. Bring them inside and paint them, keep them outside and build with them...endless entertainment. Check out this post from Picklebums about the importance of playing with sticks.

Jump! Pull on the rain boots and splash pants and jump in the puddles! Is there anything more enjoyable for a toddler to do? Check out this post about the importance of taking the time to puddle jump from JDaniel4's Mom.

Touch the Trees - Take advantage of your toddlers curiosity and sense of touch...reach out and explore the many different textures of trees. Fantastic Fun and Learning share a collection of fun tree activities.

Mud Kitchen - Take a few simple kitchen utensils and pots outside and create a mud kitchen. Let your toddler embrace the mud and make you a mud pie. Love this simple mud kitchen from Learn with Play at Home.

Picnic - Wrap up a little snack and bring along a blanket for a picnic in the park. If the ground is too wet, grab a seat on a park bench...eating outside in spring is a real treat for little ones. So many fun picnic ideas from Kid Activities Blog to explore.

Bring Along A Book - Spend some quality quiet time outside with a book. I was always amazed by the crowd of children that would gather around when I would read out loud to my children in the park. Check out this fabulous collection of outdoor literacy activities from Childhood 101.

Listen for Birds - Springtime is the perfect time to listen and look for birds. The trees branches aren't filled with leaves, so little ones can see the birds. Search for nests and count all the birds you see. We shared a post packed with tips for having a successful birding outing with kids.

Blow Bubbles - Bring along the bubbles...watch your toddler chase and try and pop bubbles. A classic outdoor activity. Check out this recipe for homemade bubble mix from Happy Hooligans.

Bring Nature Indoors - Plant seeds and watch them grow on your kitchen window...then plant them in a garden. Toddlers can help tend to the little plants for weeks to come. Check out our post for a step by step tutorial for starting seeds with kids.

Chase Squirrels - I love how much energy toddlers have stored up...count squirrels in the park and chase after them. Squirrels don't mind the fun and the giggles are priceless. Have a read of this article from The Guardian about why free play and outdoor play is so important to our children.

What is your toddlers favourite springtime outdoor activity?

Now it's time for the Outdoor Play Party. The seasons are changing which means everyone is sharing a wide variety of outdoor activities and experiences.

I really enjoyed Backyard Learning's post about bird watching and listening - packed with great information for learning birders.
Speaking of toddlers in spring, check out how Cuddles and Muddles little ones are playing outside this spring.