Want your kids to spend more time outdoors? If you are like a lot of adults, your favourite childhood memories probably include swimming in lakes and building forts in your backyard or even building pools and spas for them to play in. That’s less true for children today with only 6% of children between the ages of 9 to 13 playing outside on their own in a typical week, according to The Nature Conservancy.
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Why Don’t Get Kids Spend More Time Outdoors?
Almost 50% of pre-schoolers aren’t taken outside by their parents for playtime or a walk every day either. It might be easy to think that the safety of the neighbourhood, the income of the family or technology devices are reasons for these children not going outside. However what actually mattered was having people to play with and parents who were actually willing to take them outside.
But what can you do to help your children spend more time outdoors? Here are some suggestions for you…
Benefits of Outdoor Play
- You can build healthy bodies – By being out in the sun, children will be exposed to Vitamin D which helps to build strong bones. Spending time doing physical activity also helps to encourage motor skills and agility.
- You can develop strong minds – Time outdoors has been found to stimulate problem solving abilities and creative thinking which means it is incredibly good for mental health.
- You can connect with nature – Spending time in direct contact with plants and animals helps kids to value and understand the environment around them, encouraging them to make responsible choices.
Outdoor Activities At Home
- Water Play – Get out a paddling pool, use the hose, or even look into getting pools and spas fitted if you don’t yet have a swimming pool! Kids love playing with water.
- Get Crafting – Use chalks on your pavements, create items with clay or paper mache or maybe even give face painting or tie dying a go!
- Eat Outside – With three meals a day, you can certainly have one of those outdoors. Sit on your garden furniture with the kids and enjoy the world around you.
- Limit Hours Spent Online – I would never suggest no tech time at all as that just isn’t feasible in today’s day and age. However it is important to set boundaries so set screen time limits or curfews to limit the time they spent online.
- Let Them Chill – If they are booked in for multiple activities every week, sometimes they just need to relax and chill out in the garden so allow them this time.
Outdoor Activities Away From Home
- Go Hiking – A walk or a hike together as a family is a fun but frugal way of getting outside and discovering the world around you.
- Visit A Park – Look up local and national parks and spend time at them – see what each has to offer.
- Go Camping – If you haven’t got some already, then you need to get some tents and basic camping gear and give sleeping outdoors a go! You might find you like it!
- Plan Holidays Where You Have To Be Active – Book holidays where you have to spend time outdoors – walking holidays, skiing holidays or even just a beach or villa holiday where you can spend most of your time swimming in the sea or private pool
- Ride Your Bike – Get everyone on their bicycles and check out some of the routes nearby. Remember to keep safe!
Being outdoors doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many things you can do outside, both alone or as a family, and you might even find that you find an activity that you really enjoy. Why not try something new?
These are just a few ways to help your child to enjoy more fresh air and unstructured play outdoors. What is your favourite activity to do outdoors?
If you like this, you might like Top Tips For Travelling With Kids.
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