How to encourage playing in the garden

[Acornacorn]

I feel guilty that my 2.75yo doesn’t play in the garden much and therefore get enough fresh air and exercise. We go on walks and bike rides but some days we can’t for various reasons and I feel we’re spending too much time inside, especially due to lockdown. What do your toddlers actually do or play with in the garden? I think part of the problem is that he won’t play independently and it’s trickier being outside for me with his 4mo baby sister.

When the weather is nice, then virtually everything you can play inside, can be played outside.
I mean, it's been persisting down all day here, so I wouldn't be chucking him out in the garden, but generally, you can do anything outside.
then add on things like digging in the mud that you'd probably prefer to be outside than in.
Then you've got all the outdoor scootalong toys - maybe you have a swing ? or slide ? Balls, beanbags, etc
Plus, you have the advantage of not getting mess on the carpet / furniture if ou are using paint / glue / chalk / water / sand/ play dough / plasiticne / etc etc etc

We bought a slide, we kick balls, when it’s hot I set up a table with painting (painting for me is an outside not an inside activity)! Sometimes we just have lunch or put music on outside and blow bubbles.

Ds at that age loved pavement chalks so we could draw all over the patio, also painting and the added benefit is I didn’t have to wipe paint of the floors once he’d got bored. he often plays with his toy cars in the garden, he’s got one of those car mats, so I put that on that grass and his box of cars and he happily plays with those. As others have said, whatever is good inside can normally be done outside. If his sibling is asleep do you have a baby monitor and take that with you, or leave the door open and if she wakes you would hear her?

We bought a raised playhouse with a slide over lockdown and it’s been a huge hit! Lots of independent play. If you have the space for one or the other, maybe add it? You can get second hand houses and slides off FB pretty cheap. Or a pop up tent/playhouse.

The other thing he likes is the sandpit. We hid cheap plastic gems in it and his digs for “treasure”. This could be as simple as a plastic crate and some sand.

Small cheaper options include
Pop up tunnel
Chalks
“Painting” fence with water
Water play (bowl, cups, spoons, bath toys)
Paddling pool
Watering plants with watering can
Kicking/throwing a ball

We also do picnics outside for lots of lunchtimes, just to get some air.

A tent and a play tunnel was always popular. Small trike, bike, scooter. Sand and vehicles. I’d be surprised if he wants to play out on his own though if you’re in the house. Can you take a big rug and cushions out and be with him? Baby in a playpen?

Have you got anything growing that he can help with, watering etc?

Oh yes, and bubbles are a huge hit

We had some great books from the library about outdoor stuff to do, one suggested virtually moving outside in the summer, setting up a kitchen, outdoor shower, big tent. Amazing fun.

Give him a bucket of water and a clean paintbrush and ask him to paint the fence/wall.

Thanks for the ideas! Really appreciated. Will try harder to make sure we are outside more trying some of these out

The buckets are also useful on rainy days, wellies and a raincoat deployed!

My DTs love playing out now, and seem to spend most of the day outside regardless of the weather. They have a sandpit, a mini gardening set, toy cars and bring their indoor toys out. They also really love a good game of stick which they poke in the grass or wave around, or ride around on their balance bike. They’ll bring their little lunch bag in and ask for snacks then toddle off to their table outside to eat it and resume whatever game they’re currently engrossed in! I generally just leave the door open and they can come and go as they please (I can see them from nearly every point in the house).

Digging, watering can, football, chasing his dogs, just sitting on the swing seat.

Oh and if I had a younger child, sling or pram for them.