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50+ Indoor/Outdoor Independent Play Ideas for Kids

May 11, 2020 By Lisa Mullen Leave a Comment

Independent play has so many great benefits for kids (not to mention for parents who need to get stuff done!). Here are 50+ ideas for indoor AND outdoor independent play for you to save for your parenting files!

50+ Indoor/Outdoor Independent Play Ideas for Kids

**Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click that link and purchase the product, I may receive a small compensation. I am, however, committed to honestly assessing the products mentioned. Please read my disclosure policy for more details. **

 

Do you get tired of hearing your kids say, “I’m bored!” or “There’s nothing to do!”?

Do you want them to be able to play on their own part of the day so you can work or get stuff done?

Do you want them to develop important life skills like problem-solving, creativity, and emotional regulation?

Me, too. (To all three!) 

That’s why I came up with this list of 50+ ideas for independent play. And the best part is — the entire list is SCREEN-FREE!

Check out the list, save it to your parenting files, and start reaping the benefits of independent play.

Benefits of Independent Play

What are those benefits? Here are just a few of the things your kids will gain from independent play:

  • Self-reliance
  • Creativity 
  • Imagination
  • Improved focus
  • Increased attention span
  • Greater independence
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Emotional regulation
  • Self-confidence
  • Self-soothing techniques
  • Increased comfort with solitude

It also benefits YOU as the parent by providing you with some downtime and/or opportunities to tackle some of your other tasks and responsibilities!

Are you ready for the list of 50+ ideas? I’ve broken them down for your convenience into indoor play ideas (for those yucky days) and outdoor ideas!

Two kids playing independently

Indoor Independent Play Ideas

  1. Art — crayons, markers (we love Color Wonder for little ones!), paints, clay, stamps 
  2. Crafts — pipe cleaners, beads, string art, origami, paper crafts, craft kits

  3. Stickers — We love sticker activity books at our house! Here’s a tip for little ones: peel off all the outside borders, leaving the stickers stuck to the page. It makes it so much easier for them to get their own stickers off!
  4. Books and magazines
  5. Puzzles

  6. Sensory bins with rice, oatmeal, pasta, shredded paper, beads, or other materials
  7. Kinetic sand 
  8. Activity books — some of our favorites are the Bear Grylls activity books and the Highlights Hidden Pictures books 
  9. Play-Doh
  10. Building toys 
  11. Kitchen play — in a pretend kitchen or in your actual kitchen with pots, pans, spoons, etc.
  12. Dress-up
  13. Tea parties
  14. Forts
  15. Obstacle courses
  16. Cars & trucks — we bring out this car mat from time to time for extra fun!
  17. Magnetic boards or easels — or you can use a cookie sheet in a pinch!
  18. Draw/write in a journal
  19. Sticky wall activities 
  20. Simple construction projects

  21. Indoor bowling
  22. Sorting activities
  23. Magnadoodles and digital doodle pad (Aidan LOVES his!) 
  24. Geoboards & tangrams
  25. Audiobooks — use the Libby app to download FREE audiobooks through your library!
  26. File folder games 

Outdoor Independent Play Ideas

  1. Sidewalk chalk 
  2. Exploring
  3. Leaf rubbings
  4. Riding bikes/scooters/skateboards
  5. Digging
  6. Planting/tending a garden
  7. Play on a play set 
  8. Squirt bottle art — with paint OR (mess-free option) water!
  9. Catch and release bugs & critters
  10. Bubbles — we LOVE these no-spill bubble buckets!
  11. Sprinklers, splash pads, and water tables

  12. Group games — freeze tag, hide & seek, capture the flag
  13. Make flower chains
  14. Finger paint
  15. Outdoor crafts 
  16. Sports games
  17. Lawn games

  18. Take pictures or videos — you can get them their own inexpensive kids digital camera if you don’t trust them with yours yet 😉 )
  19. Roller skate or roller blade
  20. Water guns, water balloons, or sponge bombs
  21. Swing

  22. Play with rocks — here’s a list of 10 DIY outdoor games you can make with rocks and here are 9 ways you can play with rocks
  23. Nature scavenger hunt
  24. Make “mud pies” — check out this ADORABLE “recipe” for mud pies
  25. Gravel or sand digging pits

More Resources:

  • Independent Playtime: The Ultimate Overview — learn how to implement independent playtime and troubleshoot any problems!
  • 6 Tips for Raising Independent Children
  • 3 Tips for Getting Kids to Pick Up After Themselves

 

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

  • The Best Toys For Your Child’s Brain Development
  • 10 Screen-Free Educational Activities
  • 8 Drawing Tutorial YouTube Channels For Kids
  • 10 Summer Essentials for Moms & Kids
  • 7 Ways to Raise Lifelong Readers

50+ Indoor/Outdoor Independent Play Ideas for Kids

 

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Hi, I’m Lisa! I am first and foremost a child of God, and secondly a wife and mother of two precious little misters and one sweet little missy.

I'm here to encourage, inspire, and offer practical help for moms to empower them be the joyful, peaceful, and intentional mom they want to be!

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