10 Nature Activities to Enjoy in Your Garden This Summer

Butterflies are a joy to spot. Sometimes it’s even possible to get nice and close if they’re having a rest on a leaf. Cabbage whites, common blues and red admirals are some of the more recognisable ones you might see. When you do see one, talk about symmetry and patterns. Create a beautiful piece of art to copy what you’ve seen by folding a piece of paper in half, painting half of your butterfly on one side then folding over to create the other side. This is a lovely, calming activity for all ages.

Gather some petals from around the garden (don’t take more than you need) and see if your child can make them into a picture. Create a flower collage, a rainbow, a beautiful summer scene or just about anything you fancy. You could also use any fallen leaves that you find too.

This is another really calming activity. See if you can spot any shapes in the clouds as you lie back and relax for a moment or two. Your child will love to point out different things they see. You could also talk about the wind and discuss how it moves the clouds along. See if you can spot any different colours in the clouds too, such as white, cream and light and dark grey against different shades of blue.

Make a little den in the garden and take some of your favourite books outside to read together in the fresh air. Use items you have around the home, like laying a sheet over a few chairs with a blanket underneath. If you have a parasol, why not have a go at making a cosy reading space underneath? Your child will love bringing a little bit of the indoors outdoors.

See what flowers you can find in your garden and work with your child to arrange them to make a little posy for someone special or to display in a vase indoors. You can talk about the different heights, textures and colours. If you have some ribbon or string, help your child tie a bow around your lovely creation.

Find rocks, petals, sticks, grass and moss and see if your child can create their own little garden. If they have any little character toys, why not encourage them to tailor their mini garden for their toy. This is a lovely way to let their imagination run wild, so to speak!

This is a really fun activity and your child will love showing you their painted rock creations!

Collect some stones, paint them and then hide them around the garden – see if you can find them all again! Another lovely thing to do is to paint different flowers and plants on them together and match them to those growing in your garden.

Collect petals and herbs from around the garden and add them to water to see if you can create your own perfume. Spend time talking about the variety of smells the different plants have.

Plant strawberry hanging baskets or sow radishes - both are great for children to grow as you can see the changes happening quickly. Encourage your child to care for the plant themselves by ensuring it has plenty of sunlight and water.

Create artwork using chalk on the patio, fence or wall. This is such a simple activity that little ones will love. It encourages creativity, builds muscles for fine motor skills and will give them that freedom to enjoy the walls and floor as their canvas! Wash away when you’re done ready for more fun tomorrow!

Spending time outdoors offers numerous benefits for children, contributing to their physical, mental, and emotional development. Engaging with nature not only promotes physical health but also enhances cognitive abilities and emotional well-being.