The Best Ways to Get Kids at Home Outside This Summer
Summer holidays have begun for many of us, and chances are your kids are spending their free time in front of screens instead of enjoying the nice weather. We won’t repeat the warnings about kids and screen time here, but we will admit it: distracting them from whatever video game grabs their attention can be challenging. However, if they are bouncing off the walls, a little sunlight and exercise may change their attitude. “My kids are the best outside kids, and we’ve noticed a difference,” says Shirra Baston, founder and editor of the blog Get the Kids Outside .
If you’re looking for ways to get them to spend time outdoors, here are some ways to have fun and help them learn to appreciate nature.
Learn about nature (and the night sky) with the app
Yes, you are trying to get your child away from screens. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use technology to instill a sense of curiosity in children and learn more about the world around them.
If you want to explore your surroundings during the daytime, try PlantNet ( iOS , Android ), a free app that identifies plants. Reviewers say the app provides fast and accurate results without annoying ads. Get your kids interested in their winged neighbors with the Merlin app , which will record and identify nearby birds.
Baston recommends trying the SkyView app (links to “lite” version: iOS / Android ) after sunset. Point your camera at the sky and the app will identify planets, stars, constellations and even satellites.
Try a science experiment
A few years ago, I made a mess in my backyard by putting Mentos in a Diet Coke bottle, but my boys loved it ( and learned a thing or two ). This is just one of the science experiments you can do outdoors. You can show your children how people told time before clocks by building a sundial or making a homemade solar oven to cook dinner. This website is a great place to start if you need some inspiration, and this video also has some fun and easy activities to keep your child’s attention:
Visit a botanical garden or nature reserve.
Many botanical gardens and preserves offer programs specifically designed for children and families. These include yoga classes, scavenger hunts and evening walks with a flashlight.
If activities or activities are not available, try inviting children to feel the grass under their feet or pay attention to the butterflies and insects that call the area home. Let them smell the different scents of flowers and ask about their favorites. When you get home, encourage them to look for similar smells or plants in your backyard.
Have a few ideas in your back pocket
Sidewalk chalk is an oldie but a reliable companion that can spark your child’s imagination. However, making hopscotch boards or painting butterflies can quickly tire your kids out.
Baston recommends preparing a few ideas ahead of time to keep them occupied. You can start a game of tic-tac-toe using sticks, rocks and acorns, or go on a hike and give each other points for every animal or tree they see.
“You can make it up as you go,” Baston adds. “This is the beauty of nature. There is always something new and unusual to see.”
Capture nature on canvas or turn it into art
Monet did it. Van Gogh did the same. Pissarro was also a big fan of plein air painting—painting outdoors. Grab your easels, canvases, brushes and paints ( this set has everything you need ) and head to a picturesque spot close to home and spend the day painting what you see. You can paint “pretty little trees” like Bob Ross, or be like Renoir and choose an impressionist style. There’s really no right or wrong way to do this as long as you and your child are having fun.
You can also turn nature into a masterpiece. Together with your child, collect leaves, flowers, twigs, acorns, stones and anything that can be glued. Your child can create shapes with real sticks, create a collage with leaves and petals, or transform a rock into a creature with this activity kit.
Make a “bark boat” or fairy garden.
There is an episode in Bluey where the famous blue heeler and her friend Mackenzie build boats using a piece of tree bark and other natural objects to help them float with the flow in kindergarten. The show’s official website has instructions to help you get started, but there are plenty of great ideas online to help take the show to the next level.
Another episode of Bluey involves a fairy invasion of the Heelers’ house. If your kids love these mythical creatures, why not help them get their attention by creating a fairy garden? It can be as simple as building a house out of Popsicle sticks and planting herbs in a wicker basket. If you want to take it to the next level, buy some moss, rocks and garden gnomes from your local landscaping store to give the fairies an exquisite home they won’t be able to resist. This set will help your child get started.
Let your children take the lead
A walk in the woods can be a great outdoor activity for the whole family, but sometimes your child doesn’t enjoy it or is too young to walk any real distance. In this case, Baston recommends letting them be the leader and determine the direction of your family (within reason, of course—we don’t want you to get lost).
She explains: “You have to accept that you won’t necessarily achieve the goal you want to achieve. It gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility for their activities and gets them much more involved.”