Summer Survival Series: Outdoor Play for Toddlers

During the summer months, I love a lawn chair, iced tea, good friends and hours in the sun. When my kids were toddlers, I discovered some backyard play that entertained them while allowing me to enjoy my favorite summer activities.

By 15 to 20 months, toddlers practice “imitation play”. They are little copy cats.  She picks up mommy’s purse. He tries to pour the cereal from the box just like dad does every morning. She attempts to squeeze the catsup bottle like brother.  Anything that bigger people do seems important to him. “I do too,” is his mantra.

A small backyard pool–supervised every minute–is great for imitation play.  Load up the pool with kitchen supplies; mixing bowls, spoons, measuring cups, plastic containers, cookie sheets.  This imaginary kitchen keeps them happily learning about spatial relationships, volume, and the properties of water. And there is always enough water to share.

Backyard car wash allows toddlers to imitate a big person’s job.  Fill several tubs and buckets with water, squeeze in a little bit of dish soap for the bubble effect, and give each child a scrub brush, sponge, or rag.  Squirt bottles add fun.  My kids washed their Little Tikes Car, and then moved onto the deck chairs, plastic teeter totter and whatever else we directed them too. At 17 months, kids are in the sensorimotor stage of life. They are learning from looking, listening and exploring with their hands and body. The many materials involved in car wash provide lots of learning from touch.

Another backyard hit is “Tent Town.”  I pitched an igloo dome tent, a Bob-the-Builder pop up house, and a kid’s teepee.  All sorts of imaginative fun took place as kids imitated “camp ground” play.  Several card tables with blankets thrown over work just as well for “tents.” 

I drew from my own childhood experience to create a grocery store.  A table, some non-perishable pantry items and some grocery bags make a store for toddlers.  A chalk board easel with a price list enhances the experience for older children, who enjoy helping the toddlers with their store.

The possibilities for developmentally stimulating outdoor imitation play are endless. With some summer sun and a little creativity, your backyard can provide hours of inexpensive fun. As you provide healthy developmental play for your kids in your backyard, you’ll have your day in the sun too.

-posted by Donna Mershon Detweiler, who remembers lots of fun playing hamburger stand as a kid.