by Ashley Mullen As spring is bringing in warmer weather, and summer weather is coming it’s time to start getting our children back outside and away from screens. As parents we know that this can be easier said than done.
7 Tips to Get Your Children Outside
Get Outside
The best way to get your kids outside is to go outside. Get out there with them, start a game of tag, or lay out a blanket to for reading and relaxing on. They’ll follow your lead.
Something to Do
If you want them outside, have something for them to do outside. While I am not against having chores outside, have something fun for them to do while they are out there too. Horseshoe pit, a Frisbee, sidewalk chalk, bikes, etc.
Lock the WiFi
Yup, you heard me. Lock it or change the password. They will find sometime else to do, especially if you have something for them to do, like those listed above for you.
Make it Exciting
Plan a nature scavenger hunt, or hike. Hit up the dollar store and have a bunch of inexpensive theme weeks planned – all about jumping, all about water fun, etc.
Picnic
Have a picnic outside and plan to stay outside for some fun games like tag or hide and seek, or just some quiet time.
Go Camping
You don’t have to go to a campground, though that would be great too, but you can also set up a tent in the backyard. There are a lot of ideas out there to have a safe “campfire” for roasting marshmallows or making s’mores, like making one using terra cotta pot.
Garden
Gardening requires daily attention, for watering, for weeding, for enjoying. When you grow something that your children are really interested in, they’ll love going outside to take care of it. Be it flowers, or our favorite, vegetables. They’ll love getting to eat the “fruit” of their labor.
Tell me, what are your tricks for getting your kids outside in the warmer months?
15 Comments on “7 Tips to Get Your Children Outside”
Great ideas! So important to get them outside! And it’s true, they are much more likely to want to be out there, if we, as parents are out enjoying ourselves too!
awesome tips , it’s true kids really need to get outside and get some exercise , and the stink blew off of them like mom used to say LOL
My girl really loves water play…..lots of containers and bottles to fill and pour. We spend hours during the afternoons in the summer months.
Great tips. We didn’t need any of these things in the old days, we just automatically went outside to play and we weren’t seen again until it was time for food. The world has changed and not all of it is an improvement.
All great and amazing ideas, there is so much you can do outside, even if it’s just to go out and sit and relax and do some bird watching!!
Great tips! My best memories growing up were from playing outside.
since moving out of the city, I find it a lot easier to get the kids outdoors….
my daughters especially my oldest LOVE going outside. she is 3.5 and spends most of her time in doors so when we get out for our daily walk she is more then happy to. trips to the park is her favorite and we try to switch it up by visiting different parks
Great tips. We geocache, so that’s one way to get them out and about
Ummm let them know if they stay inside they will need to help with chores like washing the floor, cleaning out a closet, the cellar – whoosh!!! out the door!
thank you for these awesome tips will be using thru-ought the wummer
Great tips. I agree it must be exciting. If fun they will see how wonderful it is to be outside.
Yes nicely summed up. Outdoor play is really good for children. Thank You for the tips
Our children loved to get together with other children who lived nearby and play games, etc. When they got older, they would visit each other. We went camping near a beach. The children loved the camp fires, free hay rides, swimming at the beach and, especially, the canteen. We camped every summer for a time and the children loved it.
I agree with your great tips turn off the wifi and go outside there is so much to do..My mom always said its okay to get muddy or wet outside you wash