Free or Low-Cost Outdoor Ideas for Children #10: Outdoor Story Time

Saturday 10th May 2025. This weekend, I witnessed something I’d never seen my child do before, and it inspired me to write this post. Our youngest found a sunny spot in our garden, bought out his pillow and favourite soft toys, and got comfortable with a reading book! I know, I was equally as shocked!

But it got me thinking. Is this the ultimate free, outdoors activity? Personally, I feel outdoor story time is a brilliant, low-cost (or completely free) way to spend meaningful time as a family, and it’s especially perfect for younger children. Whether it’s on a sunny afternoon, a fresh spring morning, or a cozy evening wrapped in blankets, turning the outdoors into your reading nook opens up a whole new world of magic.

Why Outdoor Story Time is So Good for Children

1. Boosts Imagination: Reading in nature helps children visualise the story more vividly. A tale about woodland animals really comes to life when you’re sat under trees listening to birdsong.
2. Encourages a Love of Nature: Being outside regularly helps children develop an appreciation and respect for the natural world – and books can deepen that connection.
3. Promotes Calm and Focus: Outdoor environments can have a grounding effect. The combination of fresh air and engaging stories is soothing for children (and adults too).
4. Strengthens Family Bonds: Shared experiences like building a den and then snuggling up inside to read are the kind of memories that stick.
5. Supports Literacy: Children are more engaged when they’re comfortable and having fun. Story time in an exciting new environment can spark more interest in reading.

Easy Ways to Enjoy Outdoor Story Time

• The Classic Picnic Blanket Setup: Simply grab a blanket, your child’s favourite books, a few snacks, and head out to your garden, a local park, or your favourite walking spot. Let your child/ren pick the reading location.
• Sun Shelter or Pop-Up Tent: For slightly less-than-perfect weather days, or particularly sunny ones, a UV sun shelter or small pop-up tent makes a great reading den. Fill it with cushions or sleeping bags and blankets for a cosy book hideaway.
• Build a Den Together: For older children, start the adventure with den building using sticks, leaves, and a tarp or old sheet. Once it’s built, snuggle inside and read a nature-themed adventure.
• Treehouses and Hideaways: If you’re lucky enough to have a treehouse, use it as your storytelling space. You could even leave a book or two up there as “treehouse treasures” to enjoy time and time again.
• Read Aloud on a Walk: Stop during a nature walk to read under a big tree or by a stream. Why not theme it – you could walk to a river and read a story about ducks? It’s an exciting way to break up a longer walk.
• Create Your Own Nature Stories: Ask your child to make up a story based on the trees, animals, or clouds they can see around them. Add to it as you go, like a nature-inspired “choose your own adventure”.
• Bedtime Stories under the Stars: Whether you’re camping away from home, in the garden, or just snuggling up on a garden chair, a bedtime story under the stairs is a magical experience!

Great Outdoor-Themed Books for Kids

Here are some brilliant stories and nature books that my boys have also enjoyed over the years, perfect for you to take outside and enjoy:

Picture Books (Ages 2–6)

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
• Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root and G Brian Karas

Early Readers (Ages 5–8)

• Tadpoles Oxford Reading Tree Songbirds: Level 4
• The Big Book of the Blue by Yuvel Zommer
• Grandpa Christmas by Michael Morpurgo

For Slightly Older Children (Ages 7–12)

• Coral Rescue by Prof Michael Sweet, Dr Dominic Petronzi, et al.
• Two Degrees by Alan Gratz
• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

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Final Thought
Outdoor story time doesn’t need to be perfect. A few minutes under the sky, sharing a book and enjoying the fresh air, can be the highlight of the week. Whether you enjoy this in your garden, a local park, or out on the balcony, it’s a lovely relaxing way to make memories with the whole family.

If you’ve got a favourite outdoor reading spot, or book to recommend, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!