Children are natural explorers, and outdoor activities for preschoolers are an ideal way to encourage their curiosity. As the seasons change, your little one will want to understand more about the world around them. With its mild weather and changing colors, autumn is the perfect time to get outdoors with your child and learn. Simple outdoor autumn activities for preschoolers help your child develop important skills and create unforgettable family memories!
Why is Outdoor Play Important?
Getting outdoors is more than just fun – it’s an integral part of your child’s development. Teachers overwhelmingly say that outdoor play produces better learning outcomes, with 88% saying children are more engaged in learning after playing outside and 97% saying that outdoor play is key to helping children reach their full potential. The many benefits of outdoor activities for preschoolers are clear to see:
- Outdoor play keeps children active, strengthening their bodies and reducing the risk of obesity. It also reduces their screen time, which is beneficial to children and adults alike.
- When they spend time outdoors, children have the opportunity to use what they’ve learned in their preschool classroom to connect patterns and make observations. In some cases, children actually learn more from hands-on experiences in nature.
- The mental health benefits adults experience from time spent outdoors extends to children, too! Outdoor play can boost your child’s mood, help them sleep better, develop social skills by interacting with playmates, and teach them compassion for animals, plants, and the world around them.
10 Fun Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers
With just a little bit of advanced preparation, you can turn a day at the park or in the backyard into a fun-filled learning experience. Here are 10 of our favorite outdoor autumn activities for preschoolers.
1. Scavenger hunt
Fun autumn scavenger hunt templates are available for free online, or you can create your own list. The items on the list are up to you, but collecting rocks, leaves, twigs, and other plants are a good place to start.
2. Tree bark rubbing
Wrap easel paper around the trunk of a tree and secure it with sturdy tape. Using crayons with the wrappers removed, have your child hold the crayon horizontally to draw on the trunk and create rubbings.
3. Nature walk
Going at your child’s pace, take a walk through a park, zoo, garden, or other safe outdoor space and simply let them observe things. These are best when your child is observing with their senses: seeing, smelling, hearing, and touching. Encourage them to share their observations with you and ask questions.
4. Birdwatching
Autumn is an active time for birds, as they’re migrating to their homes for the winter. Talk to your child about how migration works, then learn together which birds are in your area during the colder months. On a sunny day, take a pair of binoculars outside and see which birds you can find.
5. Leaf matching
Preschool aged children love identifying patterns! Collect leaves from nearby trees, then ask your child to look on the ground and at the trees’ branches to discover which leaves belong to each tree.
6. Nature table
Cover a small table or upside-down box with a white table cloth, then help your child collect items outdoors. Pine cones, feathers, acorns, and leaves are a few suggestions, but this may vary depending on what’s unique to where you live. Once your items are collected, lay them out on the table to display the best of the season.
7. Color hunt
If you aren’t able to collect the items needed for a scavenger hunt, this is a good alternative! Have your child identify colors and patterns in nature, then cross each off the list as they find them.
9. Nature art
Use gentle hands and fine motor skills to turn leaves, pebbles, sticks, acorns, and anything else in your environment into beautiful art. One option is to string leaves onto twigs, or turn pebbles and stones into nature sculptures.
10. Leaf slide
This is just fun! Before you rake up your leaves, pile them at the bottom of a slide and let your little one dive right in. If you have a child-friendly rake on hand, they can help you make the pile.
Lightbridge Academy Helps Your Child Explore
At Lightbridge Academy, we see the joy and wonder of childhood as the best opportunities to learn! By encouraging their natural curiosity, our educational child care centers help preschool-aged children develop a lifelong love of learning and get the best possible start in life.
Learn more about how we guide your child toward discovering their full potential and schedule a tour today.
