Summer means time outside. And outdoor play is more than just fun for young children; it’s a necessity. Study after study shows that outdoor play is essential for young children’s health and well-being. Time outdoors contributes greatly to children’s emotional and cognitive growth.

So whether you are a parent or a daycare provider, this summer get those preschoolers outside where they can engage in a wealth of activities that will delight them, are simple to organize, and cost next to nothing.

Take a ‘noticing’ walk. Tell your preschooler(s) that you are going for a walk to notice as much of the world as you can—sights, sounds, and smells. And don’t walk too fast because young children will notice—and want to tell you about--a great many things, like the sight of an anthill crawling with ants, or the sound of a bird twittering in a tree, or the scent of a flower they may want to stop to examine.

Encourage each child to describe the experience aloud, even to ‘act out’ what s/he observes. A walk as short as a stroll around the block—when children are paying attention--can be an exciting way to open their senses to the world around them.

Plant a garden. There’s nothing like watching something grow, something you planted yourself, to excite a preschool child! And whether you’re caring for one child or eight, all you need is a small space in your yard that you can set aside for a garden. If you don’t already have a patch of dirt in which to grow things, don’t worry. Young children, armed with spoons, will love helping you turn a patch of yard into a home for plants. Since the summer is now well along, you will likely have better results if you plant young, established plants, rather than seeds. Be sure to choose hardy plants that grow quickly and well in your area.

Children will enjoy caring for colorful flowers or even vegetables that they can eat later on. Keep the garden simple—just a few plants per child—and have each child ‘stake out’ his or her section of the garden by making a sign. Each child can decorate an identifying piece of cardboard, which you can then staple to a wooden craft stick. Just watch the show of pride as each child posts his or her sign in the garden. Now there will be no mistake as to which plants ‘belong’ to which child!

Once the plants are in the ground, preschoolers will enjoy caring for them—from watering to weeding. Preschoolers just love tearing those unwanted little weeds right out of the soil! The trick will be to keep children from overdoing it with the watering can.

Gardening with young children will be fun for you too, especially when the flowers or vegetables have been picked, and you see the smiles of pleasure and pride on young faces.

Get wet. Who cares if it’s hot outside when you’re keeping cool by playing with water? Even a small wading pool feels wonderful on a hot afternoon. If you’re caring for several children, group water games offer a fun seasonal alternative to regular play. And water also presents great opportunities for individual fun and learning. Encourage children to notice the ripples they make when they touch the water, the waves across the pool as they splash around, or just the cool sensation of the water on their skin. Simple summer water play will refresh and delight children.

Enjoy a picnic. Food never tastes better than when it’s eaten outdoors. A simple lunch of sandwiches and fruit can be enjoyed in the backyard or in a nearby park or playground. Your child may even want to try an outdoor breakfast one morning. A family dinner picnic can also be fun, even if it’s as simple as carrying plates outdoors and eating under a tree.

Feed the birds. The constant motion of birds makes them naturals at attracting a child’s attention. Preschoolers will love helping you fill a bird feeder with seed. They can also help you spread peanut butter on orange peels and then place the treats on outdoor surfaces for the birds. Then step back with your child and enjoy watching the birds feast on your offerings. Encourage children to ‘be’ one of the birds they see, to imitate its sounds and movements.

Enjoy some quiet outdoor time. Active outdoor activities are great in the summer. But don’t forget to expose young children to the restful pleasures the outdoors also offers. Whether you’re caring for one child or several, some outdoor reading time is a treat after active play. Have the children join you under a nearby tree or in another shady spot for a story, or enlist their help in selecting a good spot for read-aloud time.

Another perennial favorite is cloud watching. Young children will enjoy lying on their backs on the grass and telling you, or each other, what shapes they see in the clouds above. In addition to stimulating a child’s imagination, you are also giving a child a lovely experience of resting in a relatively natural environment. You are inviting your child to take in the smell of the grass, to watch an ant at close range, to enjoy the sensation of a light breeze on the skin. One of you may even wind up taking an unexpected nap.

Remember the details. Make the application of sunscreen a must before young children go outside to play. Keep them hydrated during their outdoor fun by taking frequent water breaks.

Time outside is more than just fun—it’s essential for a child’s happy, healthy growth. With these simple tips, you and your preschooler can make the most of this summer’s opportunities for outdoor play and learning.

April Moore’s work has appeared in the American School Board Journal, Brakes: The Interactive Newsletter for Kids with ADD, Woman’s World, The Christian Science Monitor, and other publications. She is a former teacher of elementary and environmental education and lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.