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Outdoor activities for 18–24 months

8 simple play ideas for little ones aged 18–24 months.

Always supervise play. These are play ideas, not developmental or medical advice.

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Bubble chase

  • 6–36 months
  • 10 min
  • Outdoors
  • Indoors
  • Low mess

Blow bubbles for your little one to watch, reach and pop.

  • Moving
  • Senses

You’ll need

  • Bubbles
How to play
  1. Blow a few bubbles above your baby.
  2. Let them reach, clap or chase.
  3. Count the pops together.

Play safely: Keep the bubble mix out of reach.

Name that sound

  • 12–36 months
  • 10 min
  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
  • Low mess

Listen for sounds and guess what made them.

  • Words & sounds

You’ll need

Nothing but you

How to play
  1. Sit quietly for a moment together.
  2. Ask “What can you hear?”
  3. Name the sounds: birds, cars, the kettle, footsteps.

Puddle stomping

  • 18–36 months
  • 15 min
  • Outdoors
  • Messy

Boots on and splash — the best part of a rainy day.

  • Moving
  • Senses

You’ll need

Nothing but you

How to play
  1. Pull on boots and waterproofs.
  2. Find shallow puddles.
  3. Stomp, splash and compare big and small splashes.

Play safely: Only shallow puddles, and stay close to roads.

Splashy water play

  • 6–36 months
  • 15 min
  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
  • Messy

Pouring and splashing with a few cups in shallow water.

  • Senses
  • Hands

You’ll need

  • Tub or bowl of water
  • Plastic cups
How to play
  1. Put a few centimetres of water in a tub or bowl.
  2. Add cups for pouring and scooping.
  3. Show how to fill and pour, then let them explore.

Play safely: Stay within arm’s reach around any water, and empty the tub straight after.

Sidewalk chalk scribbles

  • 18–36 months
  • 20 min
  • Outdoors
  • Some mess

Big outdoor scribbles with chunky chalk.

  • Hands

You’ll need

  • Sidewalk chalk
How to play
  1. Pick a safe patch of path or patio.
  2. Draw big circles and lines together.
  3. Wash it away with water when you’re done.

Water painting

  • 18–36 months
  • 20 min
  • Outdoors
  • Low mess

Paint walls and fences with plain water — no mess, endless fun.

  • Hands

You’ll need

  • Tub or bowl of water
  • Paintbrush
How to play
  1. Fill a small tub with water and grab a paintbrush.
  2. Paint the fence, wall or path with water.
  3. Watch the pictures disappear as they dry.

Play safely: Stay within arm’s reach of the water.

Leaf collecting walk

  • 12–36 months
  • 30 min
  • Outdoors
  • Some mess

Gather leaves, sticks and pebbles and talk about what you find.

  • Senses
  • Words & sounds

You’ll need

Nothing but you

How to play
  1. Take a bag on your walk.
  2. Pick up leaves of different shapes and colours.
  3. At home, sort them by size or colour.

Play safely: Check that little finds don’t go in mouths.

Narrated walk

  • 0–36 months
  • 30 min
  • Outdoors
  • Low mess

Talk through everything you see on a walk around the block.

  • Words & sounds
  • Senses

You’ll need

Nothing but you

How to play
  1. Head out with the stroller or carrier.
  2. Name what you see: trees, dogs, cars, clouds.
  3. Pause to let them look, touch a leaf or listen to a bird.
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