International Picnic Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with International Picnic Day. International Picnic Day is an unofficial observance celebrated annually on June 18th. It is a day dedicated to the simple joy of eating outdoors with friends and family. It encourages us to connect with nature, enjoy fresh air, and share a meal in a relaxed, social setting. As an unofficial day, there is no single founding organisation to credit.

Thursday 18th June 2026

Understanding International Picnic Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's pack a basket, grab a blanket, and head outside for a special meal! 🧺🌳🍎 International Picnic Day is a day to celebrate the simple pleasure of having a meal outdoors, whether it's in the garden, at the park, or in a forest. This day reminds us to take a break from our busy lives and enjoy the simple things, like sunshine, fresh air, and tasty food shared with people we care about.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a fantastic theme for exploring healthy eating, food and nutrition, outdoor learning, social skills, and the five senses. It's about empowering children to plan and prepare a meal, encouraging them to be active outdoors, and teaching them about sharing and working together. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities & invitations that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about food, friendship, and the great outdoors wonderfully fun!

Why Is a Picnic Theme Valuable for Young Children?

Integrating International Picnic Day and themes of healthy eating and outdoor fun into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) can be a fun way to build holistic development and foster positive habits.

• Fosters Healthy Eating: Encourages children to try a variety of healthy, portable foods like fruits and vegetables.

• Encourages Outdoor Learning: Provides a fun reason to get outside, connect with nature, and engage in physical activity.

• Develops Social Skills: Teaches children how to share food, cooperate in a group, and talk to each other in a relaxed setting.

• Enhances Practical Life Skills: Involves children in the process of planning, preparing, and packing a meal.

• Builds a Sense of Community: Creates a shared, enjoyable experience that strengthens friendships and a sense of belonging.

Engaging Picnic Activities for International Picnic Day (EYFS & KS1)

Let's celebrate International Picnic Day by enjoying food, friendship, outdoor learning and shared experiences. Picnics provide wonderful opportunities for children to develop communication skills, practise cooperation, explore healthy eating and connect with nature through meaningful, real-world experiences.

Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated ‘Food’, ‘Teddy Bears' Picnic’, ‘Gardening’ and ‘Outdoor Play’ resources.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating International Picnic Day in your setting. The following ideas may be adapted for various EYFS and KS1 settings. In EYFS, these ideas are best viewed as invitations to play, role-play opportunities, and enhancements to provision rather than activities every child is expected to complete. Practitioners may choose to follow children's interests around food, outdoor experiences, friendships, nature and imaginative play. In KS1, some ideas may also be used within more structured learning opportunities where appropriate. Printable resources to support the following ideas may be found further down this page.

(Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity or enhancement and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken. Be mindful of allergies, dietary requirements and food safety procedures. Promote positive messages around sharing, inclusion and healthy food choices.)

🧺 Planning & Preparing for a Picnic

Preparing for a picnic offers meaningful opportunities for children to make decisions, solve problems and work together.

Children might:

• Discuss what they would like to take on a picnic.

• Talk about healthy food choices.

• Create shopping lists and menus.

• Sort and organise picnic equipment.

• Consider what people need when eating outdoors.

Resources such as Healthy Plate – Balanced Diet Posters, My Tasty Sandwich Writing/Drawing Sheets, Farm Shop Role-Play Pack, and Teddy Bears' Picnic Basket Mats on our ‘Food’ page can help support these discussions.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a picnic planning station with baskets, menus and notepads.

• Set up a pretend food shop.

• Encourage children to pack a picnic basket.

• Explore different types of picnic foods.

• Design invitations for a class picnic.

• Discuss what might happen if something is forgotten.

🧸 Teddy Bears' Picnic Role Play

A teddy bears' picnic provides rich opportunities for imaginative play, communication and social interaction.

Children might:

• Invite teddies and soft toys to a picnic.

• Take on different roles within play.

• Practise sharing and turn-taking.

• Create stories involving their teddy bears.

• Develop language linked to caring and friendship.

Resources such as the Teddy Bears' Picnic Role-Play Pack, Teddy Bears' Picnic Banner, Teddy Bears' Picnic Masks, and My Teddy Writing/Drawing Sheets on our ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ page can help enrich the experience.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a dedicated teddy picnic area indoors or outdoors.

• Encourage children to make picnic food from playdough.

• Provide blankets, baskets and cushions.

• Create name labels for teddy bear guests.

• Develop simple picnic-themed small world play.

• Invite children to tell stories about their favourite teddy.

🌳 Outdoor Learning & Picnic Adventures

International Picnic Day provides a natural opportunity to take learning outdoors.

Children might:

• Enjoy snack time outdoors.

• Observe nature while eating.

• Talk about seasonal changes.

• Explore the sights, sounds and smells around them.

• Develop appreciation for outdoor environments.

Resources such as Outdoor Picnic Area Signs, Outdoor Picnic Area Word Cards, and At Our Picnic We... Display Resources on our ‘Picnic Area’ page can help create inviting outdoor spaces.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Hold story time outdoors.

• Create a nature observation area.

• Go on a picnic-themed scavenger hunt.

• Explore sun safety and weather awareness.

• Encourage children to sketch what they see.

• Listen for birds, insects and natural sounds.

🍎 Healthy Eating & Food Exploration

Picnics provide a meaningful context for exploring healthy food choices.

Children might:

• Learn about foods that help our bodies grow.

• Explore fruits and vegetables.

• Discuss balanced meals.

• Compare different foods.

• Talk about foods they enjoy with their families.

Resources such as our Healthy Plate – Balanced Diet Posters, 5 A Day Posters, and Healthy & Unhealthy Snack Sorting Activities on our ‘Food’ page can support these conversations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create fruit and vegetable tasting opportunities.

• Sort foods into healthy food groups.

• Discuss foods from different cultures and traditions.

• Create healthy picnic menus.

• Design balanced lunchboxes.

• Explore where different foods come from.

🔢 Picnic Maths & Problem Solving

Real picnic experiences offer many opportunities for practical mathematical learning.

Children might:

• Count cups, plates and pieces of fruit.

• Compare quantities.

• Sort food by type or size.

• Share items fairly.

• Solve simple practical problems.

Resources such as Fruit & Vegetable 2-Piece Puzzles, Fruit & Vegetable Size Ordering Cards, Fruit & Vegetables Number & Counting Multimats, and various counting resources on our ‘Food’ page can support mathematical thinking.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Count picnic items before packing.

• Compare basket weights.

• Create repeating food patterns.

• Share food equally between teddies.

• Sort foods by colour, shape or size.

• Estimate how many items will fit in a basket.

🎨 Creative Picnic Experiences

Picnic themes can inspire creativity across many areas of learning.

Children might:

• Draw favourite picnic foods.

• Design picnic blankets and baskets.

• Create outdoor artwork.

• Build picnic scenes using loose parts.

• Retell picnic experiences through art and storytelling.

Resources on our ‘Food’ or ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ pages such as our Fruit & Vegetables or Teddy Bears' Picnic Colouring Sheets, and various drawing and mark-making resources such as our Teddy Bears' Picnic Basket…what will you take? activity, can support creative expression.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create transient art outdoors.

• Design dream picnic locations.

• Make nature collages.

• Create picnic menus and signs.

• Build miniature picnic scenes.

• Use natural materials in creative projects.

🤝 Friendship, Sharing & Community

Picnics naturally encourage children to develop important social skills.

Children might:

• Practise sharing resources.

• Take turns during games and conversations.

• Work together to organise a picnic.

• Learn about kindness and inclusion.

• Develop a sense of belonging.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Play cooperative picnic games.

• Share favourite foods and traditions.

• Create friendship picnic invitations.

• Discuss how to make everyone feel welcome.

• Explore what makes a good friend.

• Celebrate similarities and differences within the group.

🔍 Explore More

To support your International Picnic Day learning and encourage deeper exploration of food, outdoor learning and social experiences, you may wish to explore our resources linked to:

Food • Outdoor Play • Teddy Bears' Picnic • Gardening

You may also enjoy exploring related themes such as:

Friendship & Kindness • Sun Safety • Stay Safe • Stay Healthy • Wildlife • Seasons • Family

These ideas and provision enhancements offer meaningful ways to celebrate International Picnic Day in EYFS and KS1 settings. Through shared meals, outdoor exploration and cooperative experiences, children can develop healthy habits, social confidence and positive memories while enjoying the simple pleasure of spending time together outdoors.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘International Picnic Day’

Free EYFS & KS1 ‘Picnic’ and ‘Nutrition’ Activities and Printable Resources:

‘Picnic Area’ educational resources for EYFS and KS1:

EYFS & KS1 ‘Picnic’ and ‘Nutrition’ Activities and Printable Resources in our ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ collection:

Key ‘Nutrition’ & ‘Picnic’ related educational resources topic pages for EYFS and KS1:

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for June

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'International Picnic Day'. This is an unofficial observance and, as such, there is no single founding organisation to credit.