Outdoor Activities To Do With A 1-Year-Old

Some parents may not realize it but there are quite a few outdoor activities that you can do with a 1-year-old.

Especially during the summer when most of us are trying to find ways to be outside.

If you are familiar with me, then you know that I’m a stay-at-home mom of a 3-year-old and 1-year-old so getting out of the house is a must for all of our sanities.

The majority of the time, I’m more focused on getting my 3-year-old out of the house and taking her to a fun place that she would enjoy because she is able to do more than her younger sister.

For the most part, my 1-year-old has just been tagging along but now that she has gotten older, she has been showing more interest in doing the things that she sees her big sister doing.

And I’m finding out that she wants to do it too.

Kids thrive outside and so can babies when given the opportunity.

If you really think about it and are open to it, you can figure out some ways to enjoy the outdoors with your little ones.

Here I will discuss some of the outdoor activities that I do with my 1-year-old baby girl in case you are looking for some fun outdoor activities or outdoor places to take your babies.

If you are interested in some of the fun things that we like do outside, then just keep reading.

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What Are The Benefits Of Taking Your Baby Outdoors?

Before I get into some outdoor activities that I do with my 1-year-old, let’s talk about this.

What are some of the benefits of taking your baby outdoors?

Because there are quite a few benefits that your little ones can receive from being outside in the fresh air.

According to Happiest Baby, some of the benefits of getting your baby outside include:

• Boosting your baby’s immune system
• Helping your baby learn through all of their senses
• Fostering a love of nature
• Helping your baby sleep better at night
• Making your baby overall happier

So as you can see, there are lots of benefits that your baby can get from being outside.

It is a lot like us as adults.

I know I am a much happier stay-at-home mom when I have spent some time outdoors getting some fresh air.

So our babies are no exception.

Obviously, there are times when it may not be the best idea to take your baby outdoors such as when it is really hot or really cold outside.

In my previous post where I talked about the summer must-haves that I use with my daughters, I also talked about when it might be too hot to have younger children out for longer periods.

In that post, my research showed me that if the heat index is above 90 degrees then it might be too hot to keep your little ones outside for longer periods.

The same goes for the winter.

When I was caring for my baby girl during the winter, I avoided going outside with her when temperatures fell below 20 degrees.

As much as my little ones love being outside, I want them to be safe while doing so when extreme weather hits.

Now that I have discussed some of the benefits of taking your little one outside, let’s get into some outdoor activities that you can do with your babies.

Outdoor Activities To Do With A 1-Year-Old

Playing With Bubbles

The first outdoor activity that is great for a 1-year-old is playing with bubbles.

In fact, my 3-year-old also loves to play with bubbles so this is just an activity that most younger kids love in general.

I mentioned in my previous post that we have a bubble machine that we got off of Amazon that we really like.

It spits out so many bubbles and is guaranteed to have the attention of your little ones for a little while.

I will link the machine that we have below.

Scribbling With Sidewalk Chalk

Another great activity that your little one will enjoy playing with is sidewalk chalk.

This is also something that my older daughter also enjoys playing with.

We have this bucket with 20 pieces of jumbo chalk in it that are perfect for smaller hands.

I will take this outside with both girls and let them scribble and draw their little hearts out on our driveway.

Play “Chase” With Your Baby

So if your little one is anything like mine, they have gotten the hang of walking and now trying to run.

My baby girl has been walking since she turned 10 months old and now that she is 13 months, she has been trying to “run.”

So what better way for her to strengthen her legs and also test out her new ability of running than a game of chase.

Running in the house can be dangerous for a number of reasons but if you have a big open area to run, then I say let them at it.

If your baby has older siblings then it will be easier for your baby to play chase with them.

My girls already love to chase one another so if we are at a park or playground with a lot of open grass areas, then we will let them chase one another.

Go To A Park

While on the topic of a park, a great outdoor place to take a 1-year-old to is a park.

I know I may have some people who are wondering how is park a good place to take a one-year-old when they can barely do anything there.

Well, most parks have a smaller playground section that is made for smaller children.

This is where you can introduce a playground to your baby.

Of course, you will have to walk around with them in this playground at first because they won’t be able to navigate it safely alone just yet.

But by getting them used to it, you will gradually build their confidence and before you know it, your little one will wondering all around the playground by themselves.

Have A Picnic

Another great activity to do at a park is to have a picnic with your little one.

I actually used to do this with my older daughter when she was younger and just starting to walk.

It is a great way to get some fresh air and enjoy the company of other families.

It can get lonely being in the house with a baby so getting out of the house and around other parents and children can be quite beneficial for your overall mental well-being as a parent.

Plus you can enjoy a meal outdoors while you are at.

I will link the outdoor blanket I have below that I use to have picnics.

Go To A Splash Pad

During the hotter days of the year, the park may not be the best to go since it is so hot.

So another outdoor place that you can take a 1-year-old to is a splash pad.

I know when it comes to larger bodies of water such as pools and lakes, I’m much more hesitant to take younger children.

But with a splash pad, I feel much more comfortable and it’s a great way to cool off during the summer.

Your little one will love splashing and running around in the water that is shooting up from the ground and other water activities that are present.

Play With A Water Sprinkler Toy

If you don’t want to go to a local splash pad, then you can create one at home with a water sprinkler toy.

I also mentioned this water toy in my previous post as a summer essential that we use during the summer.

This is a way great way to incorporate some water play at home for your little ones.

I will link the water sprinkler toy that we have down below.

Play At A Water Table

And the last outdoor activity that you can do with a 1-year-old is play at a water table.

I have mentioned the water table that we have several times on this blog because it is such a hit with my kids.

I mentioned it not only in my previous post but also in my post with some play-based activities that you can do with a toddler.

It was a hit with my oldest daughter when she was younger when I wrote that post 2 years ago and it still is today.

And it is already becoming a hit with my younger one as well.

This is such a fun water table that both girls love and once again a great way to cool off during the hotter months.

We have the Step2 Water Table and I will link that water table down below.

Your Turn

Well, those are the outdoor activities that I like to do with my 1-year-old baby girl. I want to hear from you all now. What are some fun outdoor activities that you like to do with your little ones? I would love to hear from you all in the comments and while you are still here, check out my previous post below. Until next time!

• Read More: Summer Essentials I Use With My Baby And Toddler

Love,

Just Jass