The guide to the best outdoor activities to do in summer

The countless benefits of spending time outdoors

Of course, it seems obvious that spending more time outdoors is far more beneficial than being cooped up indoors. Yet in our societies, we spend considerably more time sitting at a desk than walking in nature. The summer period is therefore the ideal time to reverse this balance and discover its benefits: for babies it is an opportunity to freely develop motor skills, and in general one very quickly notices: improved attention, increased concentration abilities, better eyesight, restorative sleep, real results on immunity and of course… mood!

A few activity ideas for babies aged 0 to 12 months

At this age, baby is discovering the world around them!

• A sensory awakening session on the grass
  Grab a simple blanket, find a nice shady spot, and baby can admire the tree leaves swaying in the wind. On their tummy, they can have fun playing with the sound of dry leaves; they can also pick up on the different sounds of birds and nature. Don't hesitate to add sensory toys for a real awakening session.
  
  
• Simple ball games
  With sensory balls, you can introduce baby to playing at their own pace: touching, throwing, exploring, catching and sometimes putting in their mouth! That's perfectly normal!
  
  
• A water mat
  They are often inflatable and available in different sizes, making them completely portable on holiday. These sensory mats feature glitter, shapes and colours that gently stimulate baby's senses while giving them a little tummy time… Ideal before crawling.
  
  
• The magic of soap bubbles
  Nothing simpler than blowing soap bubbles to delight children, and that's from the very first year (spoiler: it lasts a very long time!)
  We also think of pram or carrier walks, and parks with baby swings…

A few activity ideas for toddlers aged 1 to 3 years

It's a time of curiosity and creativity, where fine motor skills are being developed!

• The sound hunt
  What better way to discover the world around us? We try to hear the birds, the frogs, the cars, the planes…
  
  
• The classic water play and water painting
  Basins, cups, water pistols, paddling pools… The choice is vast depending on the space available. There's nothing more to say than that water play is a way to cool down, develop imagination, let off steam and then: sleep well! Water painting is also ideal outdoors.
  
  
• Chalk
  A little forbidden pleasure: drawing everywhere, since a splash of water makes it all disappear! When you're outside, one or two pieces of chalk are all you need — bonus if you have colour. You can find them everywhere, at a low price, and they allow creativity to run free.
  
  
• A motor skills obstacle course
  Grab whatever you have to hand — blocks, cushions, hoops… And create a course to develop motor skills and self-confidence! Go baby!
  
  
• Sensory bins
  This is a popular activity since the development of Maria Montessori's theory, and it's easy to understand why, as it only takes a little imagination to create endless sensory bins… You can put in rice, sand, water, wood, soil, pebbles — in short, whatever you have to hand. Baby has free rein to splash, manipulate, transfer, play at cooking… The idea is to stimulate all 5 senses.
  
  

A few activity ideas for children aged 3 and over

At this age, baby is ready for balance, play and developing concentration!

• A treasure hunt, a game of hide-and-seek…
  Why not imagine a nature-themed treasure hunt, searching for a stone, a leaf, a flower, a tree and so on. And of course, a game of hide-and-seek if you're lucky enough to have several children together during the holidays — it always goes down a treat.
  
  
• First board games for little ones
  There are many easy-to-carry games to keep children entertained during long journeys, for example, but also when outdoors: think Dobble, Bata-waf, Happy Families, a lotto game…
  
  
• Duck fishing
  Admittedly, it requires a little organisation, but a duck fishing game just like at a funfair always proves a great success — provided you have a paddling pool…
  
  
• Gardening and observing insects with a magnifying glass
  Many retailers offer gardening kits for toddlers so they can do just like the grown-ups and marvel at watching aromatic herbs grow — and even small fruits if you're lucky! Ideal for learning gardening and patience. And of course, observing insects with or without a magnifying glass remains an unrivalled magical spectacle…

We hope this non-exhaustive list has inspired you and will give you ideas for the summer holidays just around the corner!