The park is a great place for children because of its many benefits. Being outside and moving around is good for physical and mental health. The park also presents an educational opportunity for kids. They get to learn about their surroundings, can socialize with others, and can put their thinking skills to work.

Below, we review fun game ideas you can do with toddlers at the park that will help them love the outdoors while creating great memories.

RELATED: How To Help Your Toddler Build Their Counting Skills

10 Red Light, Green Light

If your toddler is good with instructions, teach them Red Light, Green Light. The leader (or traffic controller) calls out a color – on green, the other players move forward, while on red they stay still. People who move forward on a red light or stay still on green are eliminated from the game.

Go at a slow pace, depending on your child’s age. Younger kids may be frustrated by the idea of elimination. If so, remove this rule and instead focus on how well they can listen to instructions.

9 Outdoor Bowling

Invest in a child’s bowling set that’s plastic and easy to transport to the park for a fun activity. You can also go the DIY route by finding items around the house that’ll serve the same purpose.

For example, use plastic cups for the bowling pins and have your toddler knock them over with a light, plastic ball. Just make sure the items are safe and lightweight.

8 Hopscotch

By 2-years old, your toddler is likely comfortable with walking and running. A game of hopscotch is a great way to help them improve their balance, strength, and body control.

Find a patch of pavement and draw a hopscotch outline with chalk. Make sure your design isn’t too difficult for your toddler to navigate. Then, show them how to jump with one or two feet depending on the squares in front of them.

7 Hide & Seek

This is a classic children’s game that’s great for kids learning how to count. But adjust it to fit your toddler’s age and skills. Make sure you don’t hide in spots that are too tough for them to figure out.

Moreover, an adult should be assisting the child at all times – always keep a close eye on kids at the park.

6 Rock Hunting

Pretend you’re a geologist with your toddler and look for “precious” rocks. At the park, you can find rocks near trees, bushes, and even the playground if there’s gravel. Follow your child’s lead and let them define what makes a rock beautiful.

You can do a second part to this activity at home by decorating the rocks for a fun art project.

5 Park Bingo

Put a twist on a scavenger hunt by turning it into park bingo. You can find printable sheets online that have pictures of things to find in the park, like a playground and ball.

You can also take inspiration and create your own. Then, help your toddler find everything on the bingo card at the park.

4 Freeze Tag

If you have multiple kids or adults with you, play a game of freeze tag. Show your child how the person who’s “it” must tag others. When you get tagged, you need to stay frozen until another play “frees” you.

This is a great way to burn off some of your toddler’s energy but be sure to go at their pace. If others run too fast, it’ll become difficult for your tot to keep up. So, keep in mind their skill level.

3 Animal Watching

If your local park is full of wildlife, go animal watching with your little one. Pretend your nature photographers – tell your toddler the goal is to get a picture when you see a cool animal. Walk around and see if you can spot park animals like squirrels, birds, or insects.

This game isn’t only fun but can be used as an educational opportunity.

2 Troll Under The Bridge

If your child loves the playground, put your imagination to use with a game of “Troll Under the Bridge.” Let your toddler climb on the playground equipment while you go to the side or underneath and pretend to grab them – you’re essentially a scary troll your kid needs to stay away from.

You can spin this game multiple ways, like switching troll for evil queen or ogre. Incorporate magic powers into it or transform the rules. We guarantee your toddler won’t stop laughing at the silliness.

1 Follow The Leader

For a classic game, teach your toddler how to play Follow The Leader. The people following behind the leader needs to copy what they do – raise their arms, sing, or march, whatever they come up with.

Let your child have a turn being the leader once they grasp the concept behind the game.

Sources: Horizon Education, Parenting First Cry, Made for Mums, Little Tikes,