Hands up who’s set themselves the challenges of 1,000 hours outdoors with their kids this year? Let’s be honest, for most modern families this is a huge challenge and I’m sure there are lots of you who could do with tips to make it easier! Keep reading for a list of 60 fun activities you could try throughout the year (many of which are simple and completely free). First up, here’s a few suggestions on how to make the whole challenge fun rather than overwhelming:

Focus on the purpose not the hours

It’s fun to track how many hours you manage in the great outdoors, however, make sure to focus on the purpose (more fresh air, more nature, more wonder) and not on ticking boxes. It doesn’t really matter if you don’t reach 1,000 hours at the end of the year if you’ve spent much more time outdoors than you would have and had lots of fun!

Take as much everyday life outside as you can

This is the easiest way to add up outdoor hours without it being too much added pressure. Obviously, you’re less likely to want to eat al fresco when it’s freezing, but as things warm up you could try taking as much as possible outdoors – either in your garden or to your nearest green spaces or beach. For example, reading, meals, snack times, playing with toys, even spending limited time on devices out in the sunshine or making an outdoor cinema could count… You make the rules.

Keep it short and sweet in the Winter months

Set realistic expectations, if you can manage even an hour a day outside in the winter months you are doing amazingly! You’ll have plenty of time to rack up whole days outdoors later in the year. 

Now for the activities… Here are 60 to pick from:

1. Make mud pies
2. Splash in puddles
3. Make paper boats and try them in puddles
4. Go to the beach and build sandcastles
5. Paddle in a stream
6. Take a woodland walk
7. Have a picnic
8. Go on a bug hunt
9. Do an outdoor maze
10. Go flower pressing
11. Roll down a hill
12. Create a garden / park obstacle course
13. Play sports together
14. Have running races
15. Go on a walk and all do silly walks
16. Do tree rubbings
17. Make potions
18. Get out the paddling pool
19. Do chalk drawings on your drive / pavements
20. Spend time gardening
21. Grow your own vegetables
22. Play your child’s favourite imaginary games, outdoors
23. Take indoor toys outdoors
24. Set up garden / playground dens 
25. Have storytime outside
26. Take pens & paints to the park
27. Record interesting sounds outside 
28. Get out a camera and practice photography
29. Make your own rain gauge and check it daily
30. Get out in the sun and play around with your shadows
31. Use clippings, leaves, soil and stones to make mini gardens in Tupperware boxes
32. Paint pebbles and hide them 
33. Go geocaching
34. Let the kids lead the way on a walk
35. Have a BBQ
36. Go sledging
37. Build a snowman
38. Lie and look at the clouds
39. Collect sticks and make a pretend campfire
40. Build an insect hotel
41. Go to an outdoor swimming pool
42. Go crabbing 
43. Explore rock pools
44. Go for a bike ride
45. Take toy cars & trucks into the mud
46. Spend time stargazing
47. Take a walk and stop from hot chocolate in a flask
48. Use water and a paintbrush to mark make on the floor / fences / walls
49. Make shadows or play shadow tag
50. Visit a farm
51. Visit a pond/lake and feed the ducks
52. Find snails and race them
53. Find worms and make a wormery
54. Collect shells
55. Visit a waterfall
56. Make giant bubbles
57. Watch the sunrise / sunset
58. Grow and pick wildflowers
59. Make leaf collage
60. Go out and get super muddy!

Are you taking the 1,000 Hours outdoors challenge? Take a scroll through the Print Play Learn blog archives for more fun outdoor play and learning ideas and please do share your own ideas with me on Instagram!