U me and the kids

UK Lifestyle,Parenting & Beauty Blog

  • Life-style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifts and Gadgets
  • Interior
  • parenting
    • Activities and Things to do with Kids
    • Baby & Toddlers 0 – 2 years
    • Family Movies
    • Games for Kids
    • Seasonal Fun
  • Money Saving
  • Linky & Giveaways
    • Competitions Linky!
    • Current Competitions
    • Previous Competitions
  • Reviews
  • Travel
Home » Lifestyle Parenting » 5 Ways You Can Encourage Your Kids to Spend More Time Outdoors

5 Ways You Can Encourage Your Kids to Spend More Time Outdoors

July 22, 2020 | Leave a Comment

From a child’s perspective, there’s good reason to stay inside. After all, that’s where the tablets, televisions, cartoons and computer games are. But as a parent, you know better. You know that being glued to the couch isn’t doing your kids any favors, and that time outside is key to their mental and physical well-being. When the little ones are outdoors, they become more active. Their immune systems are stronger, and their motor skills are more developed. They also learn valuable teamwork and communication skills by playing with other kids. Moreover, they’re compelled to think and use their creativity instead of just consuming content on a screen. This all comes together to make your children happier and healthier individuals, which is great. But how can you get them to drop the iPads and go outside? Here are five ways to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors.

A Play Space

The first step is to make the backyard a place you kids want to be in. From swings to zip lines, treehouses, sandpits and more, there are countless options that aren’t necessarily expensive. Try to incorporate elements that promote being active, such as a climbing wall or mini-golf course. Ask your kids what they’d like to see in the space. Perhaps they’d prefer to be able to play their favorite sport. For example, you can pick up some outfield fences for baseball; they’re both temporary and portable making it easy to adjust them as needed. Remember to provide sufficient shade so that their skin is protected from the sun.

Wildlife Watching

Another solution is to get your kids interested in bird watching or observing the local wildlife. This is particularly useful if they enjoy their electronics, as they can use a tablet to take pictures or look up information on different species. If your kids enjoy the idea, you can take it to the next level by building a birdhouse or creating an observation space. Of course, this doesn’t have to be confined to your backyard. The local park or a nearby nature reserve can provide endless hours of outdoor fun.

Start a Garden

Gardening is an incredibly rewarding activity for children and adults alike. Not only does it get your little ones outside, but it can also teach them valuable lessons about sustainability and caring for living things. Flowers, herbs, vegetables and fairy gardens with bird bath water fountains are all great options. You can pick their Interest by growing something easy first and a great way to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors.

Parties and Play dates

Take the slumber parties and movie nights outside by hosting social activities in the backyard instead. According to a survey by The Nature Conservancy, kids are 91% more likely to spend more time outdoors if encouraged by a friend. This is a great way to help your little ones learn the valuable social skills that too many children today are deprived of.

Family Time

There are many ways to spend more time as a family outside. For example, you can substitute a weekend lunch for a picnic under the sun. Walking the dogs, cycling around the neighborhood, going on a camping trip, and building a backyard fort are just some of your options. You can also bury treats around the backyard and host a treasure hunt. Hit three birds with one stone by having reading time outside as a family. This will encourage both reading books and spending time outdoors as well as being together. As a bonus tip, consider giving your kids chores to do outside in exchange for a reward such allowance. However you do it, you’ll be making a major difference in their lives for the better. I hope these ideas encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors

Related posts:

Having family fun with McDonald's #hellogoodtimesHaving family fun with McDonald’s #hellogoodtimes Our Favourite Build-A-Bear Workshop MemoriesOur Favourite Build-A-Bear Workshop Memories Start Your Day Right: 4 Tips for a Perfect Morning Routine - exercise3 things to do with your kids this summer 5 Tips for Helping Your Introverted Child Thrive 5 Ways You Can Help Your Kids to Spend Quality Time with Their Grandparents

Filed Under: kids, Lifestyle Parenting, parenting Tagged With: gardening, outdoor fun, outdoor toys, parks, playtime, reading with children

About Rachel Marsden

A parent to 3 children ranging from 4 to 25! I love to write about parenting topics, Interior design, beauty and Money Saving Tips.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Rachel Hirst

20 Amazing Unicorn Birthday Party Ideas

Suffer From Stress & Anxiety?

Thoughtcloud CBD

Further Information

About Me

Contact

Cookie Policy

Advertising & PR

Terms & Conditions

Sign Up Newsletter

Find More Competitions at

www.theprizefinder.com

Brands we work with!

More Parent Bloggers

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

mumsnet bloggers network

Copyright © 2023 Runway Pro Theme by Viva la Violette

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT