10 Fun & Easy Picnic Activities for Preschoolers

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A picnic is a great way to spend time with family and friends, and it’s also a great opportunity to teach kids about nature. Here are some picnic activities that are perfect for preschoolers:

• Have a Scavenger Hunt 
• Play Games 
• Go on a Nature Walk 
• Have a Water Balloon Fight 
• Make Art 
• Play in the Mud 
•  Fly a Kite
• Go Fishing 
• Collect Rocks 
• Have a Picnic 

These activities will help make your picnic more enjoyable for everyone involved. And, they’ll also teach your child important skills like cooperation and sharing.

Fun Picnic Activities for Preschoolers

Remember that preschoolers have very active imaginations. This is a blessing because it means that it really doesn’t take much for them to have a whole lot of fun and get lost in their world of play.

Don’t stress about making things perfect. Simple is the best way to go.

#1 Have a Scavenger Hunt 

Scavenger hunts are a great way to entertain and engage your preschooler. To get started, hide different objects around the picnic area. For example, you might hide a toy car under a blanket or a stuffed animal in a tree.

As your child starts to find the objects, they will likely get excited and start to look for more. This is a great way to encourage them to explore their surroundings and use their problem-solving skills.

Plus, it’s just plain fun! So next time you’re looking for something to do with your little one, consider hiding things around the house or yard for them to find.

#2 Play Games 

Games are a great way to keep preschoolers entertained, and they can also provide an opportunity for learning. Simple games like hopscotch or Simon Says can help to develop gross motor skills, while more complex games can promote problem-solving and communication.

And, of course, games are also a lot of fun! If you’re picnicking in a park or other open space, take advantage of the setting by making up your own games.

For example, you could hide objects around the picnic site and have the kids search for them, or set up an obstacle course using sticks or stones. With a little creativity, you can turn any picnic into an opportunity for learning and play.

#3 Go on a Nature Walk 

Nature walks are a great way for preschoolers to explore the world around them. Not only do they get to see different types of plants and animals, but they also learn about the interactions between them.

For example, a preschooler might see a squirrel eating an acorn and then bury the rest of the acorn for later. This is a great opportunity to explain how animals store food for the winter. Or, if a preschooler sees a bird building a nest, you can explain how birds use different materials to build their homes.

By taking preschoolers on nature walks, you can help them develop an appreciation for the natural world.

#4 Have a Water Balloon Fight 

If it’s a hot day, why not have a water balloon fight? This is a great way to keep your child cool and have some fun at the same time. Just be sure to have plenty of water balloons on hand!

You can fill them up ahead of time so they’re ready to go when the temperatures start to rise. If you don’t have any water balloons, a simple sprinkler will do the trick. Just set it up in the yard and let your child run through it to cool off.

For an added touch, you can even add a few drops of food coloring to the water for a rainbow effect. With a little imagination, your child will have a blast cooling off on a hot summer day.

#5 Make Art 

Art is a great activity for preschoolers. It helps them to express themselves, explore their creativity, and to have fun. And there are lots of different ways to make art, so there’s something to suit every child’s taste.

You can bring along some crayons and paper, or use natural materials like leaves and sticks to create masterpieces. Preschoolers will love getting their hands dirty and making something beautiful. So get creative and encourage your little ones to explore their artistic side.

#6 Play in the Mud 

There’s something about playing in the mud that just screams childhood fun. Maybe it’s the messiness or the way that mud seems to magically turn into whatever you want it to be.

Whatever the reason, if your child loves getting dirty, then they’ll love playing in the mud. Mud pies are a classic, and can be easily made with just a few simple ingredients. Or, if your child is feeling creative, they can make sculptures or other art projects out of the mud.

The possibilities are endless! Just be sure to bring along some wipes to clean them up afterward. Otherwise, you’ll be tracking mud into the house for days!

#7 Fly a Kite 

Flying a kite is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with your child. The wind rushes through their hair, the kite flutters in the sky, and they can’t help but laugh with delight. If there’s enough wind, they might even be able to get the kite to fly on their own!

Helping them launch the kite, watching it dance in the breeze, and then running to chase after it as it tumbles to the ground – these are moments that you’ll cherish forever.

So next time there’s a nice day outside, grab a kite and head out to the park with your little one. They’ll have a blast…and you will too!

#8 Go Fishing 

Fishing is a great outdoor activity for kids of all ages, but it can be especially enjoyable for preschoolers. Children at this age are often fascinated by animals, and what could be more exciting than trying to catch one?

If you have a fishing rod and some bait, they’ll be sure to enjoy spending some time by the water. Even if they don’t actually catch anything, they’ll still have fun trying. And who knows? With a little practice, they might just surprise themselves (and you).

#9 Collect Rocks 

Collecting rocks is a simple but enjoyable activity for preschoolers. They can use them to build towers or houses, or just keep them as souvenirs from the day.

#10 Have a Picnic 

Of course, one of the best activities you can do with your preschooler is to have a picnic! Pack some snacks and drinks and enjoy spending time together in the outdoors. Your child will have so much fun sitting at a picnic table or on a picnic blanket enjoying some yummy picnic food.

You can use it as an opportunity to teach good social skills as they learn to pass food around and use their manners.

Include a yummy treat that’s a surprise for them.

The quality time you and your child will have will be a fun way to spend a morning or lazy afternoon.

Seasonal Picnic Activity Ideas for Preschoolers

Picnics are often linked to the summer season, however, they can definitely be had all year round!

Here are some picnic ideas to do throughout the year and even on rainy days.

Summer

Head to the beach! Grab a couple of beach towels and use those as your picnic blankets. The sensory experience your child will get at the beach or lake is so awesome.

If you don’t have a beach nearby then perhaps head to a local pond with a good shade tree.

A sunny day can get pretty hot so you may want to time your picnic for the morning before it heats up too much.

You may only have the choice of your backyard in which case I would suggest thinking up a preschool theme. You could pretend you’re at the beach and use a beach towel and other items to set the scene.

Or, you could do a teddy bears’ picnic!

The ideas are endless. Just have fun with it and play some fun games with your little one.

Fall

Fall picnics are my favorite. The world is slowly changing color and the weather is just that pit cooler. Pack a picnic basket and head somewhere with lots of trees and falling leaves.

It’s a great chance to let them enter the world of pretend play and the leaf piles are sure to bring some extra fun.

Winter

Depending on where you live, the outdoors may not be an option for a picnic location during the winter months. Use your living room instead. There are great ideas for themed activities and picnic crafts that you can use to really create a picnic theme.

Do a quick Pinterest search and you’ll be set to go with inspiration!

Spring

Unlike summer picnics where the days are hot and long, spring picnics can sometimes be a bit difficult to plan for. The weather can be super changeable. However, don’t let that stop you from planning one.

You could even invite children that your child loves to spend time with and make it a bit of a playdate.

Find a spot that is nestled nicely into nature so that your preschooler can truly observe everything that is going on. Flowers will be budding, baby birds being born, and so many more things coming to life!

We have a pond near our home that we like to visit year-round. It’s so great to see all the different changes that take place.

Another good idea is to that a great book along that you can read to your child while you hang out at your picnic spot. If you have a preschool picnic theme that you’re using then perhaps find a book that goes along with that.

The most important thing is that your child is having a good time. There are lots of fun activities to do but sometimes keeping it simple is best. Give them ample opportunity to use imaginative play and just have a whole bunch of fun.

Final Thoughts

Young children are so good at being drawn to the outdoors. They are amazing at seeing the beauty in nature and having a great time without elaborate activities.

When you plan your next picnic remember to keep it simple. Head out to your local park or even your backyard and enjoy time with your preschooler.