The Guide to the Best Outdoor Activities to Do in Summer

The thousand benefits of spending time outdoors

Of course, it seems obvious — spending more time outdoors is far more beneficial than being cooped up inside. Yet in our societies, we spend significantly more time sitting at a desk than walking in nature. Summer is therefore the ideal moment to tip this balance and discover its advantages: for babies, it's an opportunity to freely develop motor skills, and more generally, we quickly notice: improved attention, increased concentration abilities, better eyesight, restorative sleep, real benefits for immunity and of course… mood!

A few activity ideas for babies from 0 to 12 months

At this age, baby is in full discovery of the world around them!

• A sensory awakening session on the grass
  Grab a simple blanket, settle well in the shade, baby can admire the leaves on the trees swaying in the breeze — on their tummy, they can play with the sound of dry leaves, they can also pick up on the different sounds of birds and nature. Don't hesitate to place other sensory toys for a true 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 have 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, from the very first year (spoiler: it lasts a very long time!)
  Think also of pram or baby-wearing walks, parks with baby swings…

A few activity ideas for toddlers, from 1 to 3 years old

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

• The sound hunt
  What better way to discover the world around us? We listen out for birds, frogs, cars, aeroplanes…
  
  
• The classic water play and water painting
  Basins, cups, water guns, paddling pools… The choice is vast depending on the space available. No need to say more 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.
  
  
• Chalks
  A little forbidden pleasure: drawing everywhere since everything disappears with a splash of water! When you're outside, all you need is one or two pieces of chalk — bonus if you have colours. You can find them everywhere, at low cost, and they allow creativity to run free.
  
  
• An obstacle course for motor skills
  Use whatever you have on hand — blocks, cushions, hoops… And create an obstacle course to develop motor skills and self-confidence! Go baby!
  
  
• Sensory bins
  This is an activity that has been popular since the development of Maria Montessori's theory, and it's easy to understand why — 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 on hand. Baby has free rein to splash, manipulate, pour, play at cooking… The idea is to stimulate all 5 senses.
  
  

A few activity ideas for children aged 3 and up

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 a game of hide-and-seek if you're lucky enough to have several children together during the holidays always makes a great impression.
  
  
• First board games for little ones
  There are many games that are easy to transport to keep children occupied during long journeys for example, but also when outdoors: think of Dobble, Bata-waf, Happy Families, a lotto…
  
  
• Duck fishing
  Admittedly, it takes a little organisation, but a duck fishing game like at a funfair always proves a great hit — provided you have a paddling pool…
  
  
• Gardening and observing insects with a magnifying glass
  Many shops offer gardening kits for toddlers to do as the grown-ups do and marvel at watching aromatic herbs grow, and even small fruits if you're lucky! Ideal for learning about gardening and patience. And finally, observing insects with or without a magnifying glass remains an unmatched magical spectacle…

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