(This post is sponsored by Babyganics; all opinions are my own.)

We’ve been spending as much time as possible outdoors. We have a little less than a 1/2 acre, and I’m so thankful for this space to sprawl out and make the most of the beautiful weather. And finally get out of the house! Today I’m sharing some of our favorite things to do outside with kids; I hope this list inspires you to get outside with your kids and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Don’t forget to protect your little ones with sunscreen and big spray! We use Babyganics Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ and Babyganics Insect Repellant. We’ve been using Babyganics’ outdoor products since we had Zoe almost seven years ago. We love that Babyganics uses non-synthetic fragrances and makes their products with plant-based and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients. And thankfully, Babyganics’ outdoor products are easy to find, especially right now, when lots of things are out of stock.

Enjoy our list of simple, fun activities!

Our Favorite Things to Do Outside With Kids

1. Go On A Hike

Getting outside and hitting the trails, backpacks loaded with snacks and water, is one of our all-time favorite outdoor activities for our family. We have a few go-to spots; some are a bit more challenging and require parental oversight, while others are a little more toddler friendly. We’ve recently discovered an incredible hike that leads to a waterfall. It’s simply magical. We will certainly be making frequent visits to this trail over the summer. Wherever you live, there are probably some trails nearby you can hike with your family. Do some google searching and ask around on forums for lesser known, less congested options!

2. Start & Tend A Garden

Starting and caring for our garden is the single biggest thing that brings us together as a family. We all have so much joy when we’re working on it together. The first warm-ish day in early spring, we’re all out there, getting the soil ready and dreaming of our harvest. Almost every day throughout the spring, summer, and fall, we’re out there, chatting with our neighbors, weeding, harvesting, planting. Even if you don’t have space for a raised bed or for planting anything directly in the ground, you can still grow something together as a family. Maybe it’s just a little window box or a few planters on the back steps or on your deck. Tomatoes, greens, cucumbers, and so many more plants, all grow incredibly well in containers. Getting the kids involved in the growing cycle, seeing how much work a garden entails, and harvesting their first crop, are all so important, and wonderful things to partake in together.

3. Play Family Soccer

Joe played soccer in high school and college, so we’re a soccer family. I actually signed up to be the men’s soccer team manager in college just so I could ride in the van with the team to all Joe’s away games. We really enjoy getting outside and kicking around the ball together as a family. The girls were on their first soccer “team” in the fall, and had such a blast learning from a DC United coach. They’re busy teaching Jojo everything they learned, and dreaming of playing on their “team” again. We love how soccer teaches teamwork; Zoe’s reallllly working on that one (as the photos reveal).

4. Go Strawberry Picking

We look forward to strawberry picking every year. We had our own strawberry patch for a few years, but ultimately decided to plant other things in that space instead. So, each spring, we head out to the local farm a few times during the 4-6 week strawberry season to pick these plump red berries and make strawberry everything for a few days. If you don’t have a strawberry farm nearby, see if there are any other pick-your-own farms within driving distance. Make a day of it, pack a picnic, and have the kids pick fruit directly from the trees, bushes, etc. Our favorite summer fruits to pick: strawberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, and blueberries.

5. Have A Watercolor Painting Picnic

A watercolor painting picnic is something we’ve been doing since Zoe was old enough to hold a paintbrush. It’s so refreshing to take a basket full of painting supplies into the backyard, set up shop, and just tell the kids to paint whatever they see. I love the differences in approach in all three kids. Naomi is very meticulous and detailed. Zoe gets her painting done in mere seconds and wants another piece of paper. And Jojo is still a bit reckless. It feels old-fashioned and lovely to sit outdoors with the kids and simply paint. Definitely something to do if the kids need some calming down. Sometimes we also pack a real picnic to enjoy after our painting.

I hope this helps you find ideas for getting outside with the kids this summer! Share some of your family’s favorite things to do outside; we’re always looking for ideas! And as always, feel free to browse more of our Life With Littles series and family posts.

Sponsor Note: Although this post was sponsored by Babyganics, all content, words, and ideas are my own. Thanks for supporting the partnerships that help keep this blog running.