50+ Outdoor Activities for Kids (of all ages!) - Busy Toddler (2024)

FAQs

What age is busy toddler for? ›

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's knowledge based and doesn't focus on rapid memorization. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's specially designed to work with a broad age range (from 2.5 – 5 years old). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I built the comprehensive program I needed – a program to honor child development, teach the whole person, and create cherished family memories.

Playing outdoors allows children to develop self-confidence, independence and self-esteem. They also become aware of limits, boundaries and challenge in their play. When children are used to playing outdoors, they are more likely to: try new activities.

First, Choose Activities that Promote "Flow" Play

' And that feels wonderful at any age," says Susan K. Perry, Ph. D., a social psychologist and author of Playing Smart. Research shows spending time "in flow" helps kids build big life skills like resilience, creative thinking, and impulse control.

In fact, the results of a recent survey published in Evolution and Human Behavior found that we don't find babies cute until three, or even six months of age. 1 From there, babies remain at peak cuteness until around age four-and-a-half. Understandable right? That's when they're at their most chubby and dimpled.

While all children develop in their own way and at their own pace, our age-by-age guide will show you what key developmental milestones you might notice this year. What a difference a year makes! Your four-year-old isn't a toddler anymore, but a full-fledged preschooler.

The front part of the brain, which is responsible for impulse control, attention and filtering distractions, is still a work-in-progress — and will be until your child is 20-something years old. Besides, toddlers are too busy learning about their world to be able to concentrate on just one thing for very long.

Slow Down and Breathe

If your child is having trouble calming their busy mind, they may not want to talk through the issues that are worrying them. But by encouraging them to take some slow, deep breaths, you may help to calm the physical effects of their busy mind.

Pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom calls active free play outdoors, “the most beneficial gift we as parents…can bestow on our children.” Hanscom says ideally kids should be playing outside 3 hours each day, and that doesn't include organized sports.

Do toddlers need to go outside every day? ›

Children should be active for an hour every day, and getting outside to play is one way to be sure that happens.

Children should not have activities every day of the week. Many people agree that three is a good maximum. If a child is at that maximum and wants to add a new activity, then ensure that they drop one. Build in space for downtime.

There's no magic number of activities. For some kids, even one intense activity like sports or theater might turn out to be too many. Other kids can handle several without getting stressed. Check in with your child to see how they feel about their balance of activities.

According to a recent survey of nearly 2,000 families, 40 percent of parents found their children to be the most lovable/fun at the age of 5. Meanwhile, they found kids to be the most difficult to spend time with between the ages of 10 and 12.

The age of two is often considered the most difficult because toddlers are developing their sense of independence and testing boundaries. They may become more defiant, throw tantrums, and have difficulty expressing themselves.

The terrible twos is a phase that starts around age 2 (give or take) and is characterized by frequent temper tantrums, rapid mood changes and other sometimes-difficult impulsive behaviors.

Between the ages of 2 and 3 years old, your toddler will become more independent. They will begin to move from sitting next to a friend, to back and forth play with other children. This is a good time to help your toddler learn about taking turns, and thinking about other people.

"The world is very stimulating for 2- and 3-year-olds and they love to explore," says Kyle D. Pruett, M.D., clinical professor of child psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine.