Let’s face it. It’s getting harder and harder to get kids to go outside when they can have so much fun indoors. Research proves time and time again just how good it is for kids to go outside. So how do we entice them to go outside? Here’s a few tips.
Why Get Your Kids Outside?
Multiple studies have revealed that outdoor activity has multiple health benefits for children. Benefits range from improved sleep and lessened anxiety to higher functioning with complex task and problem-solving. Additionally, children who spend more time outdoors have a reduced chance of obesity and related health risks, such as heart disease and diabetes. If you would like to read more about the benefits of being outside for children, check out my post “Green Time vs. Screen Time: Why It Matters.” Science has proven that children who spend time outdoors are happier, healthier, and even smarter.
But All They Want to Do Is…
I hear this from a lot of parents. “My kids don’t like to go outside. All they want to do is play video games.” Many times these children are told to simply “go outside and play.” The problem with this is that many children in this generation lack the skill of entertaining themselves. If unstructured playtime has not been a prominent part of their free time, they may not be sure what to do with themselves without guidance. They do not know how to “go outside and play.” These kids need more structure to make their time outdoors enjoyable. Without structure, many of these children will complain about being “bored.” A simple solution is to help your children find possible activities and aid them in becoming more independent.
Work With Your Kids, Not Against Them
Remember your goal is not only to get your kids outside, but also to help your children find genuine enjoyment in the outdoors so they will want to spend more time outside. Bribing or forcing them to go outside will have the opposite effect. In fact, forcing and bribing kids to go outside may be the most effective way to make them hate and avoid the outdoors. The key is to make it into a desirable activity, rather than a task they must do. In order to help kids genuinely enjoy being outside, work with them and their unique interests to make it more enticing.
For Video Game Lovers:
If your kids enjoy video games, find ways to “gamify” their outdoors experience. Go on a scavenger hunt that makes connections to their interests. If they like Minecraft, for example, you might go on a scavenger hunt to find different objects and “craft” something later. Or you might just hunt different colors of rocks and pretend they are the different blocks in Minecraft (black could be coal, red could be nether rock, for example).
If Fortnite is their jam, set up a laser tag arena in the backyard with cardboard boxes and other yard items. Then have a battle royale with them and their friends! if the weather is warm, consider making it a water gun battle instead! This is a fantastic way to cool down and activate imaginations.
Roblox lovers might enjoy a backyard obstacle course or game of tag. Of course, make the game creative by dressing up, decorating the yard, and using imaginations! Encourage children to make-believe. This will help them become more independent in entertaining themselves.
Pokemon fans might enjoy going on an animal photography hunt. Purchase a cheap digital camera from the store to use on your journey. My local Wal-Mart even has disposable cameras (90’s throwback, anyone?) that you can get developed or printed off in-store. Check out a field guide at a local library for local birds and wildlife, then go out and try to “catch” these wild creatures on camera.
For Artsy Kids:
If you have artsy kids, come up with ways to use nature as art. Research artists who use nature as their artistic medium. Some artists to consider: Simon Beck, Tomas Sanchez, Jonna Jinton, Raku Inoe, Andres Amados, and Lois Ehlert. How can you recreate their art? Go to the library or look online for nature craft ideas, then help your kids create projects that pique their interests.
Or, you could start a nature journal. Fill a small pouch with a small sketchbook, colored pencils, markers, and pens. Take your child on a nature walk, and instead of keeping interesting found objects, have them sketch out what they see, labeling it if they would like to as well. Have them date their work, so they can look back on it on a rainy day and remember the fun they had.
For Bookworms:
Set up a cozy reading nook outdoors. When I was a kid, my home was just a few blocks away from the library. We went often, and even when I was older I was allowed to ride my own bike to the library and check out or return books. I guess you could say I was a bookworm! One of my favorite memories of being in the backyard, swinging in a hammock under our pine trees, reading library books. It was a peaceful spot where I could let my imagination go wild.
Just like my own cozy reading nook, a simple hammock set up under some trees can be a simple solution. Another simple idea is to set up a tent in the backyard with cozy pillows and blankets. If you feel like getting more creative, there are many plans for outdoor reading nooks available online. Some use free materials such as wooden pallets. Check out Google or Pinterest and let your creativity run free!
For Aspiring Scientists:
Embrace your local wildlife biology! Consider visiting a wildlife biology or wildlife conservation center. Many times they will have a variety of informational literature about the local animals to your area. Your aspiring scientist can learn about the ecosystem and the variety of animals that live there. If you do not live anywhere near a wildlife center, consider looking online for information about wildlife native to your local area. Then, you could go on a nature walk to try to see the animals firsthand and identify them.
If geology and dinosaurs is more your child’s interest, you could learn about rocks and rock layers, then go on a rock hunt! Help your little geologist identify the different kinds of rocks they find and write/draw/take photos to remember later. Often, you can find small fossils among loose gravel in parking lots. It takes a lot of looking, but eventually you can find some! Children always find these little treasures extremely interesting.
Other Ways to Get Your Kids Outside:
There are a multitude of other activities that might interest your children. The biggest way to get kids to enjoy any activity is if you join them. When parents model a love for an activity, children will often follow, and if you get to spend quality time together doing it then that is even better. What child doesn’t enjoy quality time with their parents? Have fun, make it fun, keep it fun.
Want More Information?
Follow this blog, as I post regular tips on how to get kids out and about in the great outdoors! You may want to check out some of my other posts. You can do so by using the navigation bar above and clicking on “blog”. Don’t forget to leave a comment!
