Looking for a simple outdoor activity for kids? Outdoor painting is an easy way to encourage creativity while enjoying warm weather. All you need are a few basic art supplies and a spot outside where kids can create freely.
It’s a pretty simple concept: bring the paint supplies outside and start painting.
So why am I sharing this? Because sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones we overlook. I honestly hadn’t thought to take painting outside until my daughter casually decided that’s what she wanted to do.
It was one of those gorgeous warm days in March when everyone feels the pull to be outside. It was Sunday, the house was calm, and we were enjoying a slow, relaxing afternoon. Out of nowhere my daughter announced that she wanted to paint, but she wanted to do it outside.
And just like that, a new activity was born.
I helped her set up a little paint station on our back patio, we talked through a few ideas of what she might want to paint, and then she got right to work. It turned into a simple, kid-led craft time that let us soak up some sunshine at the same time.
Sometimes the best creative moments don’t require a big plan. Just a few supplies, a warm day, and letting kids take the lead.
The Activity
Activity at a Glance
- Activity: Outdoor painting
- Time: 30–60 minutes
- Age Range: Kids (all ages)
- Mess Level: Moderate (but outside makes it easy)
- Best For: Outdoor kids activity and creative play
My daughter loves to paint, so we already have plenty of paint supplies around the house. For this activity we didn’t need anything fancy. The only real goal was to keep paint from splattering all over the outdoor table and give her everything she needed to get started.
She picked the paint colors she wanted, and I squeezed them into a small paint tray. Then I set her up with brushes, paper, a water cup, and a napkin for cleanup.
Once everything was ready, she got right to work.
Supplies
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Paper
- Water cup
- Napkin or paper towel
- Paint mat to protect the table (I use the old splat-mat from their high chairs. It folds up easily and covers a wide area)
- Paint apron or old shirt
How It Went
Before she started painting, my daughter and I came up with two simple prompts together.
The first was St. Patrick’s Day, since it was March. The second was painting the view of our backyard.
After that, I stepped away and let her take the lead.
She spent about 20 minutes outside working on her paintings while I checked in occasionally to refresh the water cup. She didn’t need any direction from me. She simply enjoyed the process and let her creativity run wild.
By the time she was finished, we had two new pieces of artwork for our home and a little more time spent soaking up the warm sunshine.
Outdoor Painting Ideas for Kids
If your child needs a little inspiration, here are a few simple painting prompts to try outside.
- Paint the view from your backyard
- Paint something you see in nature like flowers, trees, or birds
- Create a seasonal painting like spring blooms, or a rainy day
- Paint your favorite animal
- Make an abstract painting using your favorite colors
Sometimes the prompt is all kids need to get started.
Why I Love This Activity
What I loved most about this activity was how independent it was. My daughter was able to spend time outside creating on her own with very little supervision.
She had space to use her imagination, practice her painting skills, and enjoy some quiet creative time outdoors.
I also love displaying the kids’ artwork around our home, and projects like this make wonderful handmade gifts for family members.
Best of all, it required almost no prep and used supplies we already had on hand. Sometimes the easiest activities end up being the most memorable.
Looking for more ideas to make together? Browse the full Made Together collection here.
Leave a comment