Outdoor Play for Development: Fun Summer Activities with Therapeutic Benefits

Written By Brian Keene

🌞 Why Outdoors?

Outdoor environments naturally offer rich sensory input and physical challenges that help kids build important skills like coordination, focus, and body awareness. Plus, summer means longer days, sunshine, and fresh air—an ideal time to step outside the clinic and into nature.

Vitamin D and movement can improve mood and energy for everyone. With a few fun tools and a little creativity, you can turn your backyard or local park into a developmental playground.

🧗 Backyard Obstacle Course

Create a mini obstacle course using things you already have at home. Rotate activities to build different skills each week.

Try these ideas:

  • Jump over a pool noodle or broomstick (power + coordination)

  • Crawl under chairs or through a blanket tunnel (cross-lateral movement + upper body strength)

  • Balance on painter’s tape or a wooden plank (core stability + focus)

💡 Make it exciting: Time your child, set up races, or let them be the course designer to build sequencing and confidence.

🍃 Nature Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Head to a local park or explore your yard with a sensory scavenger list.

Find:

  • Something smooth (stone)

  • Something rough (bark)

  • Something yellow (flower)

  • Something that makes noise (leaf, bird, stick)

This encourages kids to use different senses—touch, sight, hearing—and practice descriptive language.

  • ✏️ Working on writing? Use a checklist.

  • 💬 Building speech? Have them describe each item (“The rock is smooth!”).

  • 🚶‍♂️ Bonus: Bending, walking, and reaching build physical strength and mindfulness.

💦 Water Balloons & Bubbles - Therapy in Disguise

These summer staples are packed with developmental benefits.

Water Balloon Toss:

  • Improves hand-eye coordination

  • Teaches modulation of force (don’t squeeze too hard!)

  • Encourages social turn-taking and coping with surprises

Bubbles:

  • Chasing = gross motor + visual tracking

  • Blowing = oral motor skills + breath control

  • Try bubble target practice: Draw chalk circles and aim to blow or stomp bubbles into them

🎨 Sidewalk Chalk & Fine Motor Fun

Chalk play builds both gross and fine motor skills in a super fun way.

Ideas:

  • Draw big shapes/letters (arm strength + writing prep)

  • Color in small areas (fine motor control)

  • Create hopscotch or balance beam lines

  • Wet chalk on blacktop makes bold, novel lines—great for handwriting practice

💧 Cleanup = therapy too! Use a spray bottle to “erase” chalk—squeezing builds hand strength.

🛝 Gross Motor Playgrounds

Playgrounds are packed with opportunities for therapeutic outdoor play.

Look for:

  • Monkey bars or rings – upper body + grip strength

  • Swings – vestibular input + balance (try “Swing and Kick” games)

  • Slides – core strength climbing up, visual processing sliding down

💡 Tip: If crowds are overwhelming, visit early mornings or just before dusk.

🧡 Inclusive Play:

Arizona has great adaptive playgrounds with accessible swings, ramps, and more. Check out:

  • Chaparral Park in Scottsdale

  • Shane’s Inspiration playgrounds across the state

🌱 Gardening & Backyard “Heavy Work”

Heavy work (pushing, pulling, lifting) helps regulate the nervous system and channels energy in constructive ways.

Try:

  • Digging soil (arm strength)

  • Watering plants with small cans (responsibility + proprioception)

  • Pulling weeds (fine motor + strength)

  • Measuring plant growth or talking to the plant (language + math)

🌻 No garden? Try these alternatives:

  • Wash the car (rubbing = sensory + arm work)

  • Push a wagon or wheelbarrow with toys

  • Play “move the rocks” – load, pull, dump, repeat

☀️ Arizona Summer Safety Reminder

A few simple precautions keep outdoor play safe and fun:

  • Apply sunscreen

  • Wear hats and light clothing

  • Hydrate regularly

  • Take shade breaks

  • Always supervise water play—even shallow

Keep a small first-aid kit handy for outdoor scrapes and bumps.

👨‍👩‍👧 Make It Fun (For Parents Too!)

Your involvement makes a big difference. When parents play too:

  • Kids stay engaged longer

  • Skills are modeled naturally

  • Family bonds grow

  • Kids see that healthy movement is a lifelong habit

By blending therapeutic goals into outdoor play, families can enjoy growth, fun, and connection all summer long. Say goodbye to “I’m bored!” and hello to sunshine, smiles, and developmental success.

Ready to make your backyard a place for progress? Let’s play, grow, and thrive—together. 🌈

📞 Have questions? Book a FREE 15-minute consultation
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🛍️ Need helpful resources?
Visit our resource page for parents → for printable guides, sensory supports, and more.

Brian Keene
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