Nature play is a child-led, freely chosen activity that invites children to interact with natural elements like trees, rocks, dirt, and water. Whether it’s in a forest, local park, or your garden, the benefits of getting outdoors are enormous. With Northern Ireland’s ever-changing weather, embracing the elements with the right clothing and attitude allows for year-round exploration, helping children connect with the seasons and the natural world.

Once the screens are off and you’ve made it outside, keep things fresh and engaging, especially for older children! Introduce simple challenges, scavenger hunts, or storytelling along the way, and don’t be afraid to get involved yourself. Nature play doesn’t require special equipment, just a sense of adventure.

As well as boosting physical health through fresh air, exercise, and vitamin D, outdoor play supports emotional well-being and holistic development. It builds confidence, encourages mindfulness, and enhances creativity, problem-solving, social skills, and teamwork. It’s also a great opportunity to talk about ecosystems, wildlife, and environmental responsibility, helping children develop a love for nature and the outdoors while creating lifelong memories.

Outdoor Activity Ideas

• Leaf rainbows - Collect different coloured leaves and arrange into a rainbow.
• Leaf rubbings - Using paper and crayons, capture textures and patterns.
• Scavenger hunt - Find items starting with F-O-R-E-S-T. Next time, choose a more challenging word!
• Map making - On a nature walk, observe notable landmarks, e.g. a big tree, an old shed, a barking dog. When you get home, try to draw a map from memory.
• Obstacle course - Create a challenging course using logs, rocks or puddles.
• Forest sports - Throw a javelin, try the long jump, or run a relay race through the trees.
• Stick wands - Select a suitable stick and decorate it with wool, feathers, paint, leaves, or other forest treasures.
• Nature mindfulness - Take notice of the sounds, smells, sights, and feelings of being outside. Breathe deeply and enjoy a quiet moment.
• Den building - build an outdoor shelter or hideout using trees, branches, blankets, and pegs.
• Giant pick-up sticks - Gather a variety of sticks and drop them in a pile. Try to remove a stick without moving the others.
• Self-portraits - Use leaves, sticks, and twigs to create fun self-portraits.
• Giant Tic-Tac-Toe - Build a giant board using sticks, and find objects to use as game pieces.