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Celebrate National Walking Month with Spotty Otter: 20 Fun Ways to Get Outside with Kids!

May is National Walking Month, the perfect time to celebrate the simple joys of walking, staying active, and enjoying the great outdoors. Walking is free, fun, and a brilliant way to support your family's health and wellbeing. At Spotty Otter, we're passionate about encouraging children to explore nature, and we’ve got 20 easy, exciting activities to help you make the most of your outdoor adventures. Plus, don’t miss our FREE printable activity sheets to make every walk even more fun and engaging! 

1. Collect Nature Treasures

Head out on a nature walk and see what little treasures you can find — from colourful leaves to curious stones. Bring along a basket or a bucket, or use one of our printable scavenger hunts to guide your adventure.

2. Pack for an Adventure

Pack your ruchsakcks with a tasty picnic or your favourite snack and just grab your wellies and head outdoors!

3. Bird Watching

You don’t have to travel far to spot birds, they’re everywhere! Parks, ponds, and gardens are brilliant places to see everything from ducks to herons. Bring binoculars if you have them!

4. Play Walking Bingo

Turn your next walk into a game with our Walking Bingo cards. Can you find everything on the list? Don’t forget to shout "BINGO!" when you do!
Download Bingo HERE

5. Try Bark Rubbings

Get hands-on with trees! Bring some crayons and paper, then make rubbings of different tree bark textures. It’s a lovely way to explore patterns in nature.

6. Play Poohsticks

Channel your inner Winnie-the-Pooh, find a bridge over running water, drop a stick upstream, and see whose stick pops out first on the other side!

7. Balance on Logs

Challenge your core strength and balance by walking along a fallen log, a fun and safe way for kids to practice physical skills and risk-taking.

8. Dress Up for a Magical Fairy Walk

Slip on some fairy wings and search for hidden fairy doors and magical creatures during your forest adventures!

9. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Our FREE printable scavenger hunt sheets make walks even more exciting, perfect for kids of all ages.
Download your scavenger hunt HERE

10. Play Hide and Seek Outdoors

An old favourite, Hide and Seek is even more thrilling in nature! Partner up if you’re in a big area for extra safety.

11. Hunt for Minibeasts

Search for tiny creatures hiding under logs, rocks, and leaves. A magnifying glass or bug pot makes this even more fascinating for young explorers!

12. Have a Picnic

Pack some simple snacks or a full picnic and enjoy eating outside. Food always tastes better outdoors eben if its in your own garden! 

13. Play "I Spy"

A classic game that builds listening and phonics skills,  and adds a little excitement to any walk. For younger children, try “I spy something red…” to focus on colours.

14. Create Nature Art

Use sticks, leaves, shells, and stones to create beautiful outdoor artwork. It’s creative, eco-friendly, and lots of fun.

15. Have a Penny Hike

Let fate guide your walk! Toss a coin at every junction, heads for left, tails for right and see where you end up.

16. Take Photographs

Give your child a camera (or a phone) and let them capture their outdoor adventures. You can even create a photo collage when you get home.

17. Climb a Tree

If your child is ready, climbing small, safe trees can help build strength, confidence, and problem-solving skills.

18. Splash in Puddles

Puddle jumping is more than fun, it helps kids explore, build motor skills, and simply enjoy being outdoors in any weather.

19. Try Map Reading

Print off a local map or use a phone app, and teach your little one how to read it. Let them lead the way on a mini expedition!

20. Look for Animal Tracks

Muddy paths are the perfect place to hunt for animal tracks. See if you can identify footprints left by rabbits, deer, or birds.

Get Outside and Get Walking! We hope we’ve given you lots of inspiration to get outside and celebrate National Walking Month. However you choose to explore, we'd love to see your adventures — don’t forget to tag us!

Join Spotty Otter’s Nature Club for even more fun activities, downloads, and exclusive offers.

Join HERE