Need some nature walk activities for toddlers? I got you! Keep reading.
One of my favorite things to do with my daughter has always been to spend time outside.
As a newborn, we would walk outside and stand in the sun for ten minutes every morning. As she grew, we would walk through the woods looking at trees and plants. I would let her hold leaves and sticks and rocks and she would learn by feeling their texture, tasting them, dropping them, and learning how nature worked from the safety of my arms.
Recently, my baby turned One year old, and she can suddenly walk around on her own. She can also now tell me when she wants to go outside by sitting by the front door signing “outside” over and over again, which I find absolutely charming.
When we go outside, she walks confidently around on her own. It took her a few weeks to gain the confidence to explore on her own, but now she will walk around our yard, her little bare toes feeling the morning dew on the grass, watching ants build their nest or chasing around a dog.
As she keeps growing older, I’m sure the way she explores will keep changing.
Eventually, she will probably like doing crafts and activities with objects we find outside.
But for now, I keep things simple and allow her to lead in her exploring. Of course, I’m always close by, scanning the ground to make sure she doesn’t step in a Fire Ant Mound or eat a random mushroom.
Children are incredible and so in tune with their instincts. They know exactly what they need to do to learn a new “milestone” or practice an existing one.
It’s simply our job as the parent to provide an intentional environment in which they can thrive and learn.
I’ve come up with a list of ten different ways to encourage your young toddler to play and learn in nature.
These ways are not invasive or too pushy. They’re child led. They’re natural.
And remember, there are no rights or wrongs when it comes to child play.
Maybe instead of putting pinecones in a basket, your baby decides to take all the pinecones OUT of the basket. Or maybe they just want to STEP on all the pinecones instead.
Don’t intervene. Just observe. Just watch. See how much they’re learning when they are focused – even if what they’re doing seems silly to you.
Don’t say “oh no, baby, do it THIS way.”
Provide the environment. Provide the tools. And just observe and let them learn.
Okay, so with that in mind, here are ten gentle, non invasive, nature walk activities for toddlers to explore nature.
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Nature Walk Activities for Toddlers
Walk around in the rain
Nature Walk Activities for Toddlers number one?! Play in the rain!
I’m not sure why, but I think as parents we feel a need to avoid getting wet in the rain and to keep our kids out of it. I think it’s something that has been conditioned and societally taught to us.
I used to automatically think “oh no it’s raining, our plans are canceled. Our day is ruined.”
But I’ve been trying to change that perspective. Because here’s the thing; our kids don’t think the rain has to cancel plans.
So why let it?
I love a good summer rainshower – the weather is warm outside but the rain is cool.
My daughter absolutely loves walking around in the rain.
Since she is so little, we don’t have any specific rain gear we use, but as she gets older I’m sure we will get some rain boots and a raincoat.
But for now, she just walks around getting soaked and that means I follow her around, also getting soaked! It takes some dedication as a parent – to be willing to get soaked and have to give baths and change clothes when it’s over.
But it’s worth it! I feel so carefree in the rain. And little toddlers love it. It’s good for their skin to experience the sensory feeling of the water droplets falling on it.
So next time it rains, consider having a rain party outside. Dance. Spin. Watch the raindrops collecting on the leaves. See if you can find a frog.
Your little one is sure to love it!
Collect acorns or nuts under a tree
Since young toddlers are still working on perfecting their pincer grasp, this is a really natural way to help them practice.
My baby will automatically start collecting little rocks, berries, and nuts she finds on the ground, so I’ve found that I don’t even have to encourage or push her to pick up the acorns.
Remember what we talked about in the beginning of this article?
Children are incredible little beings who love to learn and will automatically practice the skills they need to learn if they’re provided the right environment. It’s our job to provide that environment.
So in this case, taking my daughter to a giant oak tree and letting her play under it IS providing the right environment for her to flourish based off of her own instincts.
Splash in a puddle and sit in the mud
There is a certain window of time in childhood where children love to jump in puddles. And I think it’s the sweetest thing.
As young toddlers or older babies who have just learned to walk, don’t be surprised if your little one squats or sits right down in the puddle!
We have this certain spot on our driveway where rainwater always collects and makes the best puddle for my daughter to splash in. More often than not, she plops right down in the muddiest part and splashes water everywhere with her hands.
She gets muddy and wet, but after she’s done playing it’s a simple bath and change of clothes and it’s all better.
Pick up rocks and throw them in a creek or pond
Another fun idea for a nature walk activities for toddlers is to throw rocks in a pond. Toddlers love collecting rocks! A fun environment to do this could be next to a pond, where they can also choose to throw the rocks into the water and watch the SPLASH! Or watch how the water makes rings from where the rock entered. Or they may just want to collect the rocks.
Speaking of ponds, while you’re there…
Walk around a pond with ducks and geese
Ducks and Geese are such interesting birds, and babies think so too! Spend some time observing them and talking to your little one about what they’re doing.
Plus taking a walk around a pond or lake is so fun and allows toddlers to have lots of chance to explore different environments and look at different plants and bugs.
Gather pine cones in a basket
We have a lot of pine trees where I live, so it’s the perfect environment to encourage pinecone gathering!
You could set out a basket and collect some yourself for decorations, and your toddler will probably start copying you and doing the same.
Pine Cones are especially interesting for little ones to handle because of their texture- they’re firm, some varieties are pokey (be careful!), and they’re the perfect shape to hold in your hand.
If you are collecting an especially sharp variety, you may want to have your little one wear gloves, or just show them the thorns and talk about how to handle them gently so you don’t get poked!
Watch butterflies flying around a bush
It can be hard to spot butterflies, but if you have a flowering bush, odds are that a butterfly will come by to visit!
Babies and toddlers love looking at the butterflies and watching them as they fly away! Maybe you could even get a kid’s butterfly book from the library and then go outside and try to find one.
Butterflies love getting nectar from flowers, so check all your flowering plants for a little colorful friend!
Interact with new animals
Find a family with a small backyard farm and see if you can come visit their home and pet their animals.
We house-sat for a family recently who had a flock of chickens, and our toddler loved going outside to feed them and watch them every morning.
Go on a walk down a country road and find a horse or some cows that you can watch eating grass.
Or maybe just pet your neighbor’s dog while you see them out on a walk. Anyway you can, try introducing your toddler to new animals and see how they like it.
Let them observe ants in the driveway
This one needs to be done carefully, with a parent close by to make sure the child doesn’t get bit.
However, as long as you’re being careful, it can be really fun to watch ants work together to build their house or carry a bug! My daughter can easily spot a little ant crawling across the driveway, and she loves to squat down and watch them.
Children don’t have the fear of bugs that we have (typically) developed, so it’s really special to watch their fascination with them.
Pick flowers and put them in a vase
Flowers are naturally attractive to people of all ages – including toddlers! Picking them requires hand/eye coordination and a gentle hand. Placing them in a vase or jar practices hand-eye coordination and pincer grasp.
You could also fill up a small cup with some water and your toddler could practice pouring the water into the vase to water the flowers.
Plus a bouquet of wildflowers is just the best and brightens up any space!
How do you like to spend time with your children outside?
