Three D.I.Y. outdoor activities for kids

Fun in the fresh air

Whether it’s school holidays or a free weekend, get your kids spending time outdoors with these three nature-inspired D.I.Y. projects. They’re made from odds and ends you’ll find around the house (plastic containers, wooden clothes pegs, and leftover paint, for example), plus a few affordable extras. Fire up the imagination! It’s time to have some creative fun.

Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment. Always store products out of the reach of children and pets.

Create a mushroom lampshade

The mushroom lamps from the 1970s are back! Their colourful curves make them a striking choice for outdoor lighting. For kids, it’s a fun and simple task to reinvent these retro classics using plastic vessels and remote-controlled, battery-powered lights. Add some white spots to create a toadstool look, then light them up with a remote-control switch.

Steps:

1. Cover a bowl and tall container

Start by covering the outside of a clear plastic bowl and a clear plastic tall container (at least 80mm width) with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic with painter’s tape.

2. Apply paint

Place a cardboard box on a drop sheet – this will be your spray booth. Apply two-in-one spray primer and paint to the inside of each container using an even, side-to-side motion. Apply several light coats, allowing the paint to dry in between each coat.

3. Create the toadstool look

Use a dabber sponge brush to apply circles of white paint to the outside of the bowl. To prevent smudging, press firmly and lift straight off. Leave the paint to dry.

Tip: A sample pot of white paint works great for this step.

4. Add the lights

Position battery-operated, remote-controlled puck lights inside the tall container and place the inverted bowl on top. Switch on the lights and you’re ready to shine!

Build a 'bee-spoke' bee bath

Create a hydration station for bees in your garden. This pit stop for pollinators allows them to stop for a drink and collect fresh water to take back to their hives to help with cooling and honey production.

All you need is a terracotta pot and saucer with some bright pebbles in colours a bee can see, such as blues and yellow. Keep your bee bath shallow (1cm to 2cm deep) so the bees won’t drown. Top up the water and clean the bath regularly to avoid sediment build-up and algae growth. (This will also help deter mosquitoes from breeding in the still water.)

Tip: Keep the pebbles and bee bath out of the reach of small children.

Steps:

1. Label your bee bath

Write ‘bee bath’ (or another name that takes your fancy) on a terracotta pot in pencil. When you’re happy with the design, go over the letters with a white paint pen. Leave to dry.

2. Add decorative pebbles

Place the terracotta saucer on top of the pot and add decorative blue and yellow pebbles in a single layer.

3. Our in fresh water

Add fresh water, but don’t submerge the pebbles. Position your bee bath among flowering plants in your outdoor area.

Make a D.I.Y. outdoor treasure hunt

Dispatch the kids on their very own treasure hunt, seeking out natural gems in the garden. Arm them with nature boards – painted boards and pegs they can use to attach their colour-matching botanical finds. Sturdy MDF placemats are the perfect size and shape for the palettes, and the kids can help with the colour mixing and painting.

Once dry, give them some magnifying glasses and let the exploration begin! The aim of the game is to match the colours on the board as closely as possible with wild finds, such as flowers, leaves and bark.

Step:

1. Paint the nature boards

Use a mini foam roller to apply two coats of paint in a neutral colour to one side of each MDF placemat (290mm x 210mm). Allow the paint to dry after each coat.

2. Prep the nature boards

Mask off a border on the painted side of the placemat with painter’s tape. Using a ruler and pencil, mark six evenly spaced rectangles. Mask the edges of the rectangles with tape.

3. Apply paint

Apply two coats of paint to each rectangle using an artist’s brush. Leave to dry after each coat. Remove the tape while the paint is still tacky, pulling the tape off at an angle.

Tip: Sample pots of paint or acrylic artist’s paints work great for this step.

4. Prep the wooden pegs

On one side of each wooden peg, apply a bead of multipurpose adhesive to the section below the spring. Position a peg on each coloured rectangle, lining up the spring with the placemat edge. Leave to set.

Keep in mind...

• Some products are not available in all stores, but may be ordered.
• When using spray paint, always work in a well-ventilated area with a drop cloth to protect the surrounding area. Wear a mask and disposable gloves and avoid spraying on a windy day.
• Make sure that any lighting used is suitable for outdoor use. Any hardwired electrical fixtures must be installed by a licensed electrician.

For more fun D.I.Y. projects...

We have all kinds of fun D.I.Y. craft projects, activities and workshops for kids – take a look!