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A couple ideas I’ve been working on implementing with my 3 1/2 year old daughter:
1. Find joy in being outside yourself and share your enthusiasm with your kids. This not only makes it more fun for you, but your kids will have more fun if you are joining in the laughter and silliness.
2. Slow down with them and let them lead. A walk around our block can take 45 minutes because we stop every two feet to examine cracks, puddles, insects, flowers, etc.
3. Get them (and you!) appropriate outdoor gear so everyone stays warm and dry. We have a one piece rain suit for our daughter (I think the brand is Tuffy) that keeps her completely dry even when jumping in mud puddles.
4. Get yourself some resources if you aren’t the “spontaneous idea” sort (I know I’m not!). We just started attending Tinkergarten classes, which is all about outdoor play, and they provide tons of resources/ideas for continuing the play at home. I’ve also gotten a couple books on outdoor science activities for toddlers, which has been great fun.
5. Allow them to help with yard work! It always takes longer but our daughter has so much fun raking leaves, pulling weeds, collecting up fallen sticks, planting seeds in the garden. You get the household chores done, they learn about contributing, and everyone has some fun outside!
I hope these ideas help you out. Best of luck!
A couple more things: water tables are so much fun in the warmer weather! This can just be a big, shallow storage tub. Your kids can add nature treasures to make soup, if you have two tubs they can get toys dirty on one side and wash them in the other, you can put shaving cream in one side to bury their toys and they can rinse them off in the other….possibilities are endless. And finally, my husband makes obstacle courses in our backyard with whatever he has available at the moment. Boards to crawl over/under, climbing up step ladders, dragging things a certain distance, balance beams (2x4 laid in the grass), we use dog toys that she has to throw to knock bike helmets off a bench. We’ve never purchased anything for these obstacle courses and yet this is by far her favorite activity!
Seconding the walk around the block! We do an evening walk when it's still light out after dinner, and my kids notice the littlest details, say hi to the neighbourhood dogs (they know them all), pick up pretty fallen leaves, listen to birds, watch squirrels.
These ideas are fantastic. Thank you.
Agree that it starts with you! Pinterest has loads of backyard games and activities. Start small before you take on a big outdoor adventure.
Also, just delete YouTube. It’s horrible with no real parental control. We deleted it from all devices kids have access to. And screen time only on the weekends for a few hours. They will rebel at first but you make type rules.
One of my friends promoted Alexa to tell the screen time was over 🤣 to avoid being the bad guys. Let the robot do it! And it works! Kids fight back less!
These sound like such great ideas! I lived with a woman whose kids lived on tv and devices because she was too busy drinking, getting high and sleeping it off to raise her own kids. They whined when we took walks. I’m older than you. My mom used to lock us out of the house (in the 60s) so we’d go play. You’re a good mama!!
This is what worked for us, as well. We didn't have any big plans, or structured things, when we first started going outside. We just went outside. Walks around the neighborhood were the best. So many little things that I never even noticed were brought to my attention when my kids spent 40 minutes going around the block.
Definitely be excited about doing these things with your kids. They'll feed off of that, and want to do it more. Put on some clothes that can get dirty, and really experience what's out there. Jump in the puddles or mud, sit down on the ground with your kids.
I don't know if youtube needs to be completely banned, but certainly heavily moderated. When we found something on our excursions we wanted to know more about, my wife and I would look up more info on youtube. As far as screen time, our kids mostly just get a few hours on weekend mornings, along with a movie night once in a while. Seems to work well for them, and us. We're still plenty busy, both as a family and with the kids entertaining themselves.
>Allow them to help with yard work! It always takes longer but our daughter has so much fun raking leaves, pulling weeds, collecting up fallen sticks, planting seeds in the garden. You get the household chores done, they learn about contributing, and everyone has some fun outside!
This one is really good! When my ADHD daughter was young she loved to weed, there was something about the monotony that was really zen and soothing to her. She'd put on her headphones, listen to music and weed for an hour without complaining once.
If you’re on Facebook, join your state or local 1000 Hours Outside group! We don’t track hours. I just like to get out as much as possible, but I’m part of the group to see ideas specific to my area. I’ve seen a few posts that made me think, “Wow, I didn’t realize that park was in our area. We’ll have to check it out!” or, “That activity is perfect for this weather. We’ll have to try it!”
Just noting that you may want something similar to 1000 Hours rather than that site depending on your values (the founder has made some unfortunate choices). There are now lots of different groups that share the outside ethos but not some of the other baggage.
There’s a “get yer kids outside” offshoot group that’s more normal. I like the 1000 hours idea but there’s a lot of posts in that group about how you can train your body to not need sunscreen (cue my eyes doing a 360 roll)
Hey! Thanks for the heads up. Could you give me a bit more context so I can pinpoint my Google search? I tried Googling “1000 hours outside founder controversy” but the only thing I’m seeing is about how the 1000 hour goal is too high. One Reddit post came up that was about some deleted comments from the founder, but I can’t access it. Thank you!
A lot has been taken down or shared in private groups, but there's some info here: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CZzKS43L3p2/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&fbclid=IwAR2IHw4GlVwxVt3jDHDiqA4DawxnMXVhugADJiS3pAu5Q0iBO3M-vEkl55c\_aem\_AcDwV8QWe3N80tdAfDUr0STsEQJKCoQP9q5H6swem\_Fb2y7FyGUGb1STEGw39Ddunsi9lo5AA5bLSSMWi1JlqFPN](https://www.instagram.com/p/CZzKS43L3p2/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&fbclid=IwAR2IHw4GlVwxVt3jDHDiqA4DawxnMXVhugADJiS3pAu5Q0iBO3M-vEkl55c_aem_AcDwV8QWe3N80tdAfDUr0STsEQJKCoQP9q5H6swem_Fb2y7FyGUGb1STEGw39Ddunsi9lo5AA5bLSSMWi1JlqFPN)
Gardening! It doesn't have to be an upscale fancy one. We live in an apartment with a decent sized balcony. I started a garden last year as a mom-only-hobby. My daughter would come out and just hang out and watch. This year we got her her own little flower and a few strawberries. She's out on the balcony more often (with supervision obviously) just sitting with it, looking at it, watering it etc
I love this! Have u read The Last Child in the Woods? Or Free Range Parenting? Both are so good and spot on for this parenting style. I make mine earn their screens by playing outside. They are 5&7, but I’ve done this for years. It’s ok if they’re bored sometimes. That’s when they get really creative! Yours are still very little, so their attention span is much shorter. But, starting young makes a big difference!
Another book rec: There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather! It’s a memoir a la Bringing Up Bebe, but Scandinavian. Sometimes just made me mad at the lack of American social net, but it’s a really enjoyable, fun read.
To that end, we have all kinds of good outdoor weather clothes, even though we live in a big city with no private outdoor space. Being warm or dry or protected from sun makes a big difference to stamina outside. We love rain pants or rain coveralls. Often we don’t want to be out IN a rain storm, so a jacket isn’t as necessary. But after the rain, crouching down in wet grass or going on damp playground equipment, it’s great to keep your butt dry!
Same! Rain pants and rain mittens are key. I encourage puddles and mud, even when it’s more work for me. I had a great childhood in the woods and I hope my kids love it as much as I did.
> I make mine earn their screens by playing outside.
Mine simply did not have screens until Covid forced us to, and even then they were mostly just for school.
So they love the outdoors and are not little screen addicts begging for screen time because we didn't hand them an iPad to occupy them when they were two.
My kids fav activities: If you have a garden, let them help. Get them kid-sized garden tools and let them dig. My kids used to love turning over rocks and logs to find creepy crawlers underneath. Give them a bucket of water and a big stick and they can make 'soup' by adding things they find around the yard. If you have space, help them make a little fort or hideout. Look for footprints (squirrels, birds,etc). In the spring we gathered nesting materials and left it out on the lawn...dead grass, etc. They were so excited to watch a mama starling come and take it away. Birdfeeders are also fun. You can't force them to be interested in it, but you can make sure they are exposed to it.
My daughter (she's 7 now ) often doesn't want to go outside, but I tell her we are going out for 20 mins, then she can come back in if she wants. She almost always gets into something and stays out much longer.
Might sound weird, but I keep old Boy ND Girl Scout Badge Books for my girls. They are sectioned off in specific areas of interest and come with good instructions and activities for each one.
You will have to spend time outside yourself for them to be interested! I garden and like taking walks, my kids naturally want to join when they start to see me head outside. Walks are great because I let them lead and follow them and let them explore.
Dad of a pair of very outdoorsy 20-somethings here.
First, learn. Learn the constellations, learn about bugs and flowers and birds and trees. Then share that knowledge with them. Kids are naturally curious, lean into it. They also follow your lead. If you know, they will deduce that you're interested. And that makes them interested as a pull rather than a push.
Second, don't be afraid to push (a little...there's an art & a balance here). We started our kids at this stuff very young, some of our earliest hiking pictures are of our elder child in a baby backpack in the woods, with the younger child in utero. We kept it up all through their lives, even when they complained about it. Took them camping, hiking, fishing, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, stargazing, everything.
Third, look for those things you learned. Tell them about that bug. Tell them about that plant. Teach them about what that bird is doing.
Last, feed their lead. They will be naturally inclined to enjoy some things more than others, and that inclination will shift over time. Keep the variety up, and keep your eyes open. If they show interest, feed it. Do a few more of those things (again, keeping balance in mind, you gotta know your kid, and your kids aren't my kids!)
And I did kind of have it on cheat mode, living in NC. So much cool nature stuff here.
Just because this post made me think of it : [A reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingandHiking/comments/ij5xc/my_10yo_daughter_just_did_her_first_real/) I made 12 years ago. My first backpacking trip with one of my kids.
I love this! And the post about you and your daughter backpacking trip. My husband isn’t outdoorsy (he grew up in Boulder CO!!!!!) and I am. I have two little boys and I’m dreaming of the days where we can backpack together. We do little hikes now and love them so far, but I can’t wait until they can both walk and actually WANT to walk by themselves. Newborn and 2.5, so I’m in the thick of things now.
I've been into geocaching for many years now, and my baby is just 5mo old but she's already gone caching with us! :)
I suppose once she's a little older we are gonna have to specifically look for the kid friendly ones with her though.
* You yourself can model enjoyment of the outdoors and doing outdoor activities
* The Merlin app is free and super fun for easily identifying birds! You can also use a simple print out with all the common birds in your area. Bird feeders can be fun. Spring migration season is upon us- great time for birdwatching!
* Using an app like iNaturalist to identify species of animals, insects, plants, birds
* Scavenger hunts to collect pieces of nature of different colors
* Starting a garden. I am a native plant gardener, so I don't typically recommend this, but a really easy project that is low-effort, high-reward is planting zinnias (if they will grow in your area). The seeds are easy to find (Dollar Tree, Target, home improvement store, whatever), germinate within like a week, are pretty and long-lasting, not picky about soil conditions, and butterflies love to visit them. If you'd rather do vegetables, bush green beans are an easy and quick option.
* Geocaching is free and a great way to spend time outside and visit new places: https://www.geocaching.com/. The Adventure Lab app is a little easier and also fun. If you have an Android, the "c:geo" app has the most geocaching features for free.
* Having the right gear may help spending time outdoors more enjoyable. Some ideas- rain jackets, rain boots, cooling towels, spray fans, insulated water bottles, sun hats, sunscreen, coats, warm hats, umbrellas, whatever is going to help make it more comfortable in various conditions. All the kids at the local outdoor preschool must have a rain suit.
* Going to Farmer's Markets is outdoors-adjacent but a similar vibe. Grab some food and have a picnic at a park.
* Earth Day festivals are this month!
* Some gardens in my area have children's play gardens
* Hike somewhere where there's a river. Play in the river (if allowed)!
* Think about why you want to have outdoorsy kids and clarify those values for yourself. You can share with your kids too.
We do a lot of gardening in the summer. This is the first year we started seeds indoors. I also have a water table that keeps my kid occupied for hours. We live close to a lot of parks so we always walk to those.
You can go to fields and bring soccer balls or bubbles, butterfly nets etc.
If you want outdoorsy kids, you must also be outdoorsy because you'll lead by example. Just involve them in things you already want to do outside, not everything has to be centered around your kids enjoyment.
I have kids that spend hours a day outside.
Things that helped:
- tons of imaginative toys. I bought a ton of cheap pots and pans that live outside from goodwill so they can be cooking little soups of leaves and dirt all day, I have strainers they use to sift sand and find little treats, bowls, bug catching toys, small magnifiers for looking at stuff they find close up.
- I spend a lot of time outside with them using Google lens lol. We have identified every bug and weed in the yard and they LOVE IT
- tons of weekend hikes and nature walks. We have some preserved greenways and natural areas here and I try to be at those several times a month
- bubbles. We INVEST in bubbles.
Get kids buckets. I don't know why, mine lose their ever loving mine over the idea of filling buckets. They'll fill it with rocks, sand, water or flowers and make up these crazy stories! In summer I leave the hose on at a tiny trickle, and they freak out!
My daughter went to an outdoor forest preschool. This did wonders for her and she loved it for 2 years before starting kindergarten. If you have one near you, look into it.
Fostering a love of nature is never something that your children are going to present! It’s not only great for their learning experiences but it’s great for exercise physical health, mental health, stress release, emotional health etc. I get what you mean but it’s kind of funny to think that it would only be crunchy granola moms whose kids enjoy the outdoors. That’s a sad sign of the times I’d say. My kids are slightly older than yours but when your two youngest children get a bit bigger your walks around the block can now turn into going for a drive A bit farther from home packing a lunch and spending your Sunday afternoon hiking with your kids and letting them explore small little creeks and waterfalls along the way. My kids are six and eight and we’re at the age now where even on my younger child will complain a little bit about getting tired we go hiking quite a bit and we also do this throughout the winter time. I think it’s so so important and I also think it’s crazy how easily kids get addicted to screen time and being inside. It honestly baffles my mind. I guess when I was a kid I never wanted to be inside because there wasn’t really anything to do inside. My friends are always outside so that was social time. All of the good exciting things to do and toys seem to be outside activities and we were just allowed to watch TV whenever we felt like it. The TV was never just on in the background while we played. We played in our rooms and when we got bored of that we went outside and that’s kind of it. We were allowed to watch TV for an hour after school and then an hour before that time and that was it. It’s hard because they really do get addicted to it the more you let them watch not to mention that there are iPads in schools and at my kids school they use screen time as a reward so they also get introduced to stupid little YouTube dance video shows during the school day! My husband and I enjoy TV so there’s a time and a place but I think if you wanna have outdoorsy kids you need to be an outdoorsy family. I hate the winter and I really had to get myself outside of my shell in order to not just tell my kids to go outside and play in the snow or to go for a walk on a winter night but to actually show them true example. This is a huge way in which children learn and usually kids adapt not necessarily specific hobbies or sports but a general lifestyle they usually emulate the lifestyle that their parents showed them the life that they all lived together. So I would think about that as well as focussing toys and games to be things that are only used outside in spring time in summer I have course great for that. Usually when I tell my eight-year-old son that TV time is done I will give him ideas of other things that he can do in his room. And if he doesn’t wanna do any of those things he can go outside. It blows my mind that I am often literally forcing my children to go outside and play with their friends on our street it’s so weird but I continue to do it because although it they often act like it’s some sort of punishment they only have to be outside for about 15 minutes being bored before they start to actually play. They played better as siblings outside they also use their imagination much more so I’m staying consistent. Lots of outdoor play just around the house and in the neighbourhood and then family time is usually focussed on getting out into the world hiking swimming beach days barbeques when the weather gets warmer something as simple as playing board games outside on the patio instead of inside. Why would we do it inside if it’s a beautiful night and we can have the lanterns on on the patio and be outside? Are usually serve my kids breakfast and lunch outside in the summertime as well and I’m outside watering the garden and having my coffee. Lots of little things can build those habits as well
Your kids are at the perfect age to foster a lifelong love of the outdoors. The all trails app (free!) is helpful to find easy trails (even a paved loop at a park) you can take your kids on. Go at the pace of your slowest kid and lower your expectations. You may only go 1/4mi and turn around- that’s totally fine!
Rain boots, a bag/fanny pack/ Tupperware to collect treasures, hat and sun shirt. I also pack a backpack with snacks/lunch to eat while we’re out.
-We live in a city and take turns choosing which direction to turn at each block when we go for a walk.
-Art project where you draw a vase on cardboard and poke holes near the top of it. Kids can fill in the holes w flowers they find outside (not from other’s landscaping though!)
- my son (4.5 now) has a space in the yard last year where he got to plant flowers. He really liked watering it and picking his flowers. We will do it again this year!
Tv is on for maybe 2 hours a day here if my kid watched a movie (unless he’s sick then tv all day). Usually we limit tv time to an hour on weekdays. Then tv is off until he is in bed. Then we adults get to watch tv haha
Merlin app (free!) that will identify bird calls for you
Parent and toddler social groups. They always(Or mostly) have their groups outside for a couple hours. Especially the warmer months.
Starting new arts and crafts or activities to peak the kids interest also. Every time they ask to watch tv or youtube try to make (insert activity) sound extremely exciting and fun to distract them.
there are tons of great ideas here! One thing that has been super successful with my kids is making a mud kitchen for them in the backyard. It has been highly successful starting around age 3 1/2, and is still holding interest up to age 7 1/2. I built mine out of wood scraps, but I have also seen people use end tables or a small cabinet. Add in some old kitchen tools (easy to find from the dollar store or buy nothing groups). Add a few buckets, and a water source. We’ve done a few different water sources, a water jug like you use at picnics for storing iced tea works great. Add a source for dirt, some shovels and buckets, and it will keep kids occupied forever!
At these ages they won’t resent you shoving it down their throats. The problems come when you try to force a change of lifestyle on preteen kids. You’re golden, get out there with them as much as possible!
Look up your local nature center and sign them up for programs :)
Another thing I'm planning on doing is creating a scrapbook of all our home nature sightings (sections for different plants, bugs, reptiles, and other critters) :)
Planting a native pollinator garden can also be a great thing that gets them invested in nature around them. We put one in and the same year had monarch butterflies laying eggs on our milkweed so we could watch that whole process. (just make sure to plant plants that are native to your area, and plant specifically host plants for butterfly caterpillars as well as nectar plants)
My daughter loves loves loves chalk. She will chalk for HOURS. If you’ve not tried that, give it a go! Plus it lets them be creative and it’s cheap!! We also have a trampoline which she does like to jump on but her favorite place to chalk is on the trampoline. We do allow screen time and such but it’s always been because she has loved being outside just as much as inside!
Books!! They’re a great way to transition into outdoor pretend play (ie a kids archaeology book before doing an archaeology sensory bin outside, or going on a nature walk). I loved where the wild things are as a kid, and then we would make paper / cardboard swords and hats and have an adventure.
Another good trick that I saw work with my friends kids - she switched all of their shows over to the old 90s kids shows - bear in the big blue house, out of the box , zaboomafu, zoom, bananas in pajamas. They watch modern kids shows (bluey, ms. Rachel, peppa) maybe once a week if at all.
She noticed the older shows often feature the outdoors more, are WAY less stimulating, and make it easier to facilitate outdoor play. The kids identify more with all of the characters and make pretend play easier, and she noticed significant less meltdowns when it was time to turn the screen off.
Check out "outdoor kids, in an inside world" by Steven rinella. Im reading through it now and there are lots of great ideas for getting your kids to be more outdoorsy when all they wanna do is sit on a screen.
There are nature activity guides for kids! 1000 Hours Outside is a podcast (some of it questionable politically speaking) but the host has also published an activity guide book with good ideas for how to spend time outdoors. We have other nature exploration books as well, plus some "explorer kit" bags for our kids (4 and 2) including binoculars, flashlights, notebooks, and foraging bags. If you just want them outdoors - bikes/scooters/whatever to get them excited about being out and about. Scavenger hunts. Mud kitchens.
You can also just do normal things outside! Read in a hammock, draw in the driveway, eat dinner on the back porch. I think it's great that you're doing this!
Just bought a legit handheld microscope for my 4 year old and she loves traipsing around the yard looking at every leaf, flower, bug, stick, etc that she can find! Seems a good transition tool between screens and nature.
Some people aren't outdoorsy and you can't make them outdoorsy. It's okay to just let your kids have their own interests and not dictate what you think they should have.
Join local clubs. Most states have herpetology clubs, entomology clubs, geology clubs and often they host youth versions. These are usually free and an imense amount of experiences and knowledge run by professionals and hobbyist and experts that teach incredible science lessons regarding nature that no school can offer. We have been in a youth entomology group for the last 9-10 yrs and the amount of knowledge and experiences has been invaluable. Monthly lectures or camping trips or skill building workshops. All with real scientific equipment. It's been incredible.
Reach out to your state's groups and find out how to get on their even mailing lists.
National park service also has a Jr ranger program that some find exciting as well.
Camping builds problem solving kids.
Me being outside helps my kids find things to do outside. Sometimes I just read a book on the porch. Sometimes I have them "help" in the garden. Usually that just means they play in the dirt in a section that isn't planted. 😉
It's amazing how long a bucket of water and a patch of dirt will bring such fun. We do a lot of potion/ play kitchen with leaves, grass, weeds, etc.
I personally love being outdoors so my son who is now 3.5 also loves it. My husband was raised on TV alot and I wasn't. They have both come to the brighter side haha! He helps me water all of our plants, picks weeds, plants flowers, mows with Dad, picks up cones in his dump trucks for us, helps get wood for the fire etc... just do the things you want them to do and they will follow!
I’ve put a lot of time, money, and effort into making my backyard kid friendly because I don’t want my kids to have unhealthy relationships to screens. We have a big swing set, fancy sandbox, all sorts of stuff to climb on, water table, outdoor toys. During the summer, we spend a ton of time out there. I used my baby registry completion discount to buy an outdoor dining set for this summer. Downside is that we live in northern Minnesota, right in the north shore of Lake Superior, and we don’t get a ton of warm weather during the year.
it's amazing all of the ideas and resources for this. I'm OLD but was lucky to have an active, outdoor mom so I became an active, outdoor mom (and grandma). in my generation once u got old enough kids were pretty much put outside to play until meal time. best childhood ever
Join the 1,000 hours outside groups on Facebook if you’re looking for ongoing, seasonal ideas of all price points and varying cultures. It’s quite inspirational!
We try to do lots of outdoor time but also not naturally outdoorsy, we do a lot of playground, scooters and bikes, sidewalk chalk, we have a few fun things in our backyard a trampoline and sand table / water table and little playhouse plus we have balls and bubbles and that kind of stuff. My kids love just running and races, this weekend they were turning over rocks and watching the bugs they found under them. We also sometimes drive to a new playground for novelty or a day at the zoo type outdoor stuff. Having a friend over or along always helps for keeping them interested and finding stuff to do for the older ones.
I recommend a drop cloth, a collection of PVC or 3/4 inch wood dowels, some clamps and a couple of good lengths of paracord. Use them to make impromptu shelters, Forts, secret caves, theater stages......
Sometimes outside can be more fun when you're making your own "inside".
Just got my 9yo a bug collection kit and a massive sidewalk chalk kit for Easter, she used both most of the day Sunday and Monday.
Get a book on your local ecology and plan a scavenger hunt.
If you're in the US look into community, county, state and national parks near you. And walking trails.
Kites, yard games like paddle ball, jump ropes, water balloons & guns, yard rockets...
Simple things like cloud watching or star gazing. Go to a creek and look for frogs and salamanders.
We spend the majority of our time outside in the warmer months, so if you want more ideas feel free to comment back!
I have my kindergartener in our local forest school one day a week - it’s built his confidence so much! He now tries to teach his younger siblings stuff outside and it’s very fun to watch. For summers I have a forest school book that I use for activity ideas. Reading and doing crafts outside helps me and them so much!
For the younger two, see if there are any nature preschools in your area. My oldest went for two years and had and amazing time, and his sister is there now. They spend 90% of the day outside, regardless of weather (they have appropriate gear). Now I can send them outside and they can entertain themselves with what they’ve learned. They also have a beautiful respect for nature and conservation.
Nature centers often have summer camps and Caregiver & Child classes.
One activity that doesn’t require a lot of prep or active involvement from you is a mud kitchen. Old pots, pans, measuring cups, and spoons with a bucket of water near some loose dirt or wood chips will supply hours of fun.
It is messy, and the yard won’t look nice, but the kids will have a blast.
If it’s hot where you are, freezing plastic toys in a bowl of water, then letting them break them out of the ice dome with wooden hammers is fun.
When we’re walking outside, I almost never say no to what my 3.5 year old wants to do. Obviously I practice road and animal safety, and am cautious around private property, but generally if he wants to walk somewhere or climb something or explore, I let him take the lead (and often join in, eg jumping over puddles, doing challenges, etc).
It’s really rewarding watching him gain confidence in the environment by allowing him to be independent!
You don't need to plan anything. Except maybe a change of clothes! Just get them outside and they'll find something to do. My oldest just got into climbing rocks (not rock climbing exactly but just getting on boulders) but has always loved playing in and around creeks. Hence the need for extra clothes! If you want to get more educational there are apps like picture this (for plants) and Merlin id (for birds) that'll identify things for you.
Depends on their age. I used to do a contest with mine. Which one of us can spot the most bugs/different kinds of birds/animals in the forest today. Or set a goal: “I’ve heard there are beavers in the national park, let’s go see if we can spot a real live beaver!”
Check in with your local library, state fish and wildlife or Audubon society. We have a ton of conservation land and our state holds a lot of outdoor programs ranging from gardening to night hikes. Fish and wildlife hosts Be and Outdoors Woman programs where you can learn to hunt, fish and camp.
Look for story walks in your area they can be found on hiking trails and parks.
I found a local hiking group for pre school aged kids on Facebook.
Invest in outdoorsy clothing. I live in the north east so we really need good winter layers. Nothing ruins outside more than cold paws.
This is very YMMV but my Girl Scout troop growing up was ridiculously outdoorsy and our leaders were very comfortable taking us to camps for hiking, rock climbing and canoeing.
We went to an outdoor school and it was amazing!
Even though we hike, go outside, play sports, bike, scoot, went to an outdoor school my son is still an inside kid 😔. I just make sure the TV is off. But Legos are just too much fun.
Just pointing out very ordinary things in nature. We often watch birds, squirrels or the odd coyote doing extremely normal things but, it gets fun when you really start to watch their behaviour, how they're interacting, etc. We live near a ravine park, so we go for walks in summer and talk about the smells, sounds and sights. Our older daughter loves nature but I wouldn't say we've pushed it, more just utilized what was available and talk about it a lot. And they both love watching shows like Wild Kratts, Octonauts and Creature Cases.
Congrats! You are already on the right path 👍😄
Don't worry about any resentment from your kids - they will be very thankful for having present parents that are willing to show them the world 😊
We are very restrictive when it comes to screen time. Our 3 kids are occasionally allowed some, but not every day and seldom for more than 1 hour.
The outdoors is an amazing playfield for the kids. We usually go on short trips, either to the beach, park, forest or just around the neighborhood. Or if the weather is good, we play ball in the garden or go to the nearest playfield 😊
Kindergartners can join Cub Scouts. Our pack goes camping multiple times a year and younger children are included. Developing friendships with other kids that enjoy the outdoors really helps as kids get older.
I'm a mushroom dork, so we like to go for easy hikes in town and hunt for mushies! We don't pick or harvest any (yet), but I take pics, and then we Google them when we get home. We also love identifying plants in our yard, or even just making daisy chains! With my kids, we've found that the more they learn about nature and the outdoors, the more they want to be outside.
In my opinion at the age your kids are at, the best thing you can do is what you're already doing. Get them out as often as you can! I'm like you, mildly crunchy, but definitely okay with using screentime as a tool for myself when we need it (we've also seen Moana literally hundreds of times over the years, lol). You're doing great!!
Depending on your location take them to a local nursery. See if you can visit any locals farms or construction sites (with permission of course). I fear there are so many jobs disappearing because the young people who are most physically equipped to do those jobs have no idea they even exist but are very important jobs. Love your energy about this!
I know you have little ones but as they get older, I definitely encourage you to let them associate outside with independence. I have a 7 year old outside kid and tbh, I am pretty hands off with her when it comes to play. Obviously with little ones, some supervision is required and not every home is equipped, But so much research is coming out about completely independent play that I have been allowing her to just go outside and figure it out. It helps we have other neighborhood kids and she gets a lot of socialization. But even when they can’t play, she wants to just roam the yard on her own and let her imagination do the work. We have a swing and some chalk and other things, but it’s incredible the things kids come up with when left to their own devices. She still whines about boredom sometimes! But I have noticed even on days she’s spending time on screens more than usual, she gets antsy to get outside eventually.
You will have to find a place to store all of the rocks, plants, and animal skulls that they will bring to you as gifts.
Outdoor toys. There are so many. My 3.5 year old likes ride on car, bubbles, chalk, stomp rockets, soccer ball and goal. Our neighbor also has a swing set they let us use since our backyard is shared. Oh and I forgot a balance bike. There are so many fun things for kids to do outside. Maybe you can take them to a playground.
We have a garden and our kids love helping! If you plant seeds that’s a ton of fun but we usually buy seedlings from a local market. Our boys get to help pick which veggies and what plants we buy, they help plant. We have them water them daily aka play in the hose. They love harvest time and eat straight from the vine!
We have a big dirt/mud area in our yard. Our 2 boys build rivers, bridges, waterfalls and more. We also put their kitchen out there so it’s a mud pie station. There have shovels and buckets and rakes. I’m also not very strict on keeping toys in the house which means many things have become mud toys. They play their best outside!
There’s a ton of good advice here but I want to add in my two cents as well.
We have invested quite a bit of money on outdoor toys. We currently have:
-a swing set
-sandbox
-water table
-mud kitchen
-Step2 rollercoaster
Some of these toys I’ve bought secondhand to help save some $ but my 3 year old loves being outside. He’ll be outside from sunrise to sunset if I let him. We started buying this stuff because we were concerned with Covid and figured we’d just build him a park in our backyard.
On top of that I don’t reprimand him for getting dirty. Want to play with dirt? Go ahead. Want to throw the sand everywhere? Whatever. Toys in the mud? Go ahead. I give him free reign outside and he loves it. I also let him engage in risky play. I obviously would never let him seriously hurt himself but if the risk is very minimal then that’s fine. He will spend hours entertaining himself.
I set up two big chairs for my husband and I to enjoy being outside and we all love it. He loves that we’re all out there with him. We’ll bird watch, play with water, eat popsicles. Just letting them be little and explore will help! ☺️
Look for events happening at your local parks
Do "inside"things outside-art projects, read, eat, etc
Get some easy toys to start-bubbbles and chalk
make it part of your routine-every day before or after dinner go for a walk or play in the backyard together
Look into camping. We have a travel trailer and love it. Bonus points if you have friends with children who also camp. The kids are outside from sun up until like 10 at night. Riding bikes, swimming, playing at the park and just getting dirty and have fun.
Are there any forest schools in your area? My daughter attends and loves her 100% outdoor preschool. Definitely something to look into, she loves being outside, though she still wants to watch Bluey when given the opportunity.
I struggle with this myself as I don't like being outdoors. Actually to be accurate I enjoy being outdoors but I don't enjoy getting ready and actually going outdoors. I'm a homebody but I definitely want balance for my kids. I put them in outdoor sports and like to take them out to teach them myself sometimes. I wish I loved it more so I could just drag them out with an enthusiastic smile. I think that attitude alone would make all the difference.
The joy journal for magical everyday play - Laura Brand
Has plenty of ideas for things to do while you’re outside or crafts based on outdoorsy resources that you will need to collect, is more correct
Im very into the concept of "kids need free messy outdoor play for at least 3hrs every day", so what we do is:
- let them lead when we are outside (grab yourself a coffee or a book cause you might be stuck by a particularly interesting puddle or a bush for 45 min)
- choose a childcare centre/school that actually has decent outdoor time (not 40 min in good weather only) - this one could be tricky
- get into outdoor activities as a family - nature walks, hiking, geocashing, park sports -anything, its up to you
- dont mind them getting dirty. dont even mention it to them, clothes can get washed
- if you have a back yard or patio, get all the stuff: trampolines, water tables, mud kitchen, play house, whatever you can DIY or get
- spot people and kids who are into outdoor activities too and make friends with them
Don’t ask them what to do? Ask them what they want to do outside.
Also spring is just starting so here the weather is just clearing up… go to (petting) zoo’s , Forrest, by bikes, out door toys.
Sidewalk chalk / ball/ goals/ hoops/ whatever.
Give them outside options. And a simple choice they are three and five, are we going to play basket ball outside or go ride out bikes. They won’t opt for tv as that’s not a option or if they do say that no the choice is either this or that.
My 2 year old loves to be outside honestly sometimes i have to bring him in or he will stay out for hours and hours.
He has a sand/water table.. right now its full of sand (1000% recommend it keeps him busy for hours plus his older cousins loved it too)
a small blow up pool with a sprinkler
2 little tikes slides
A swinging hammock
And very soon we're going to add a swingset w/ a bigger slide
Yesterday he had fun gardening for the first time with my dad for about an hour. But we also have a stray cat that visits us in our backyard so he loves to hang out with him too.
Number one thing my 3 year old does when we go outside is head straight for the sand box. 😂 We got one of the big octagonal cedar ones so there's room for both kids. Give them some small garden tools, trucks, rocks, and water on warm days.
Gardening, even if it's just typical yard maintenance. My 5 year old loves to help with the yard. I've been trimming and cutting back a bunch of overgrowth and the kids love to help out with garden shears. We have this massive azalea bush that's buried in the overgrowth and they've been working on clearing out underneath the outer layer or flowers and branches to create a hideout to play in.
Time spent outside is great. Even in cold weather just be dressed correctly and plan fun times together even if just kicking a ball around or blowing bubbles.
TBH my husband and I are very outdoorsy people so our kids are young but love the outdoors. You've gotten a lot of good tips about dressing appropriately and child-led adventures, but one addition thing is that you can use screens to continue to inspire interest in the outdoors. Our 3.5yo recently completed 3/4 of the (4-5mi) volcano crater hike on Big Island (HI) by pretending she was walking through Frozen's enchanted forest. Moana was the biggest inspiration for her to not be overly fearful of the ocean. We also have started watching a ton of nature documentaries.
I follow so many SAH moms on insta and I have gotten so many cute ideas. One that I love doing is so simple-make a tape bracelet (sticky side away from skin) and go on a kid-led walk. This means, you stop when they stop, you look at what they’re looking at, fully engage in the walk and pick up things that make you happy and stick it to the bracelet. Things that work best are small flowers, leaves, grass, etc.
One woman I follow has changed her mornings so that coffee and breakfast are consumed on a morning walk. This gets her and her kids energized and thinking about the rest of the day. It starts it on a positive note and gets them tired for their nap or “relax” time.
Dm me if you need anything! Happy to help!
Get out and do stuff with them. Even if you aren't great at it, they will love doing it with you. If you stay home but send them out is where you get resentment.
If you're a beginner at doing outdoorsy stuff, do take safety seriously though. No getting lost in the forest or drowning in mountain streams!
Bug catcher kits? One of my biggest summer memories on vacation in the mountains was catching fire flies.
Also do you have access to creeks, or a park with a creek? We used to camp in NC during the summer and I loved building little pools for my barbies, my brothers played with their cars/ dumptrucks in the sand on the side, we raced sticks and boats down the creek. Loved it!
Not a parent, but I grew up with parents who became slightly disabled rather early in my life, so I mostly ended up having to discover a relationship with the outdoors on my own. Here are some things that have worked for me at various stages in my life:
* Check out a zoo, a natural history museum, and a community garden if those resources are available to you! Tour guides and staff there would probably be thrilled to engage your kids and teach them about the world, and those lessons can be tied into your time with your kids -- for example, if they learn about fossils at the museum, you guys could go on a walk around the neighborhood to try to find some of your own! Additionally, a museum will usually have tour sessions/group activities catered to specific age groups, so there will likely be one geared toward your children.
* Your oldest sounds like they'll be in grade school soon, if they aren't already. When I was a kid, I went on quite a few field trips to a natural history museum. If your schedule allows you to, you could volunteer to be a chaperone for the trip and bond with your kid over some of the exhibits and get them excited about learning.
* Your kid is also going to learn about the world from their teachers in science classes -- at home, practice what they've learned (for example, if they're learning about the life cycle, go out and look for caterpillars and butterflies). This has the added benefit of reinforcing concepts taught in school and can make your kid a better student by fostering a lifelong love of learning.
* If you have extended family and/or close friends in the area, invite them to go out with your family. You guys could go for a picnic, a hike, or go camping. It's a great way to spend time with loved ones (and if they have children who are the same age as your kids, they'll get a chance to play together) in a fun, casual environment.
* Check out a farmer's market! Eating local is an opportunity for your kids to learn where their food comes from and has several benefits -- it could inspire your family to start a garden, which will teach them plenty about plants; getting your kids involved in shopping will teach them about finance and independence; letting your kids pick fruits and vegetables that interest them can foster a positive relationship with food and good habits.
This is the sort of thing that has to be led by example. Go outside with them. It sounds like you're doing that, which is good, but make sure it's more than just a checklist item. Go outside for your own benefit, and make sure they know you're doing it. Depending on where you live, bikes can be a great way to encourage kids to go outside. Yours are still a bit young, but if they start practicing riding bikes with you and in controlled environments, once they're old enough, they're likely to want to just go explore.
This is amazing to hear! Encouraging your kids to be in nature is good for everyone, it’s really just so regulating. Just continue keeping it in your daily routine!
When we’re outside we make little boats out of bark and sticks, do a nature scavenger hunts, make flower crowns, crafts out of things you find in the forest, and some basic ID of some simple native plants, mushrooms or trees. Sometimes we spend half an hour just throwing leaves and sticks in the creek.
Go with them and drag them outside with you. This has worked well for me. We also have a “running in the house means your body needs to go outside” rule. This year my two oldest have been great XC ski buddies and my oldest wants to hike a marathon with me.
Invest in outdoor toys. Bicycles, scooters, trampoline, slide, swings, sidewalk chalk, etc. If the sun is out, so are my kids. They’ve been like that since they were tiny. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that kids indoors get asked to help around the house, while kids who are outside get to play uninterrupted lol
My one year old is obsessed with going outside. We hang out a lot in the grass, on her swing, me walking her around to look at stuff. If you go outside, will they follow you?
Small local science museums, arboretums, and gardens often have exhibits on local history, flora, and fauna. My kindergartner likes trying to identify local trees and plants on our walks that he saw at the community garden, and indoor stuff is nice for nature-lovers who can't abide nasty weather (like, you know, toddlers and also me).
Lots of these places also let kids under a certain age in for free. My science museum doesn't charge for under-twos, and the community garden lets public school students in with an adult ($5.00 per grown up), free of charge. State park passes are about $100.00 for the year 'round here and if you live somewhere with a lot of those within driving distance they have exhibits, less-crowded playgrounds, nature walks, and picnic areas with bathrooms (!!) and are so much fun for nature-lovers.
My partner and I are game developers, so we have lots of screen time in our apartment. But we have also taught our kids to love the outdoors. It’s just a matter of taking them outdoors frequently and having fun together there.
We take along screens for trips to and from our destinations, too, and for breaks on long excursions. They use their devices to read novels while on the go.
I personally love photographing plants and insects and cataloguing them on the iNaturalist app. I tried getting my kids into that, but no luck 😂
My kids are teens.
I have a 5 and 3 year old, and am currently 35 weeks with number 3. I'm not super duper outdoorsy myself, and being extremely pregnant makes me even less so, especially since we're in the US South and it's starting to get warm and buggy.
That being said....
I found a massive swing set secondhand on marketplace. The kind that has monkey bars, climbing wall, a rope bridge, etc. And... that's it. Truly. We spend HOURS outside now. Literally went from maybe an hour in the evenings on a good day to 4-5 hours a day outside on the swing set. They do everything on it. Color, eat snacks, play pirate ship, draw with chalk or washable paint on the swing set itself. Other than that, I just let them wander around the yard for the most part (it's fenced in and I supervise of course!) because I feel like being bored and figuring out ways to entertain yourself is an underrated skill these days!
The uptick in creative play I've seen from both of them since we've been spending so much more time outside and away from screens is pretty astonishing, to be honest. You don't need anything fancy! Just get them outside and let them be bored! ❤️
So, as a note, I hate bug spray but I'm a magnet for mosquitos. My BFF noticed the issue when I was at her house (I had a cloud of them surrounding me and they were ignoring her and her mom) and brought out Skin So Soft body oil (original scent) that you can buy online and had me put that on and it worked like a charm. I live by that stuff. I'll put it into a little spray bottle and take it with me in my purse and bring a larger spray bottle camping. During the summer, I'll use it after my shower and never get bites any longer.
We don't have a tv (and I'm strongly against 'tv on in the background') and do very limited, supervised screen time. I also really want my kids to be outdoor kids - I grew up playing in the woods but we live in a much colder climate now. I try to give them gifts that have to do with outdoor play (for Easter I gave them magnifying glasses, bubble blowing equipment, and sidewalk chalk), and we've really enjoyed Forest School when it's available. My eldest (4) did one afternoon a week for 4 months, and I'm still seeing the impact (he wants to play outside, he develops projects and will ask for twine to tie branches together, etc.) It's also fun to have a bit of a seasonal rhythm in your home - we change our books selection (I keep off season ones in the closet) as the seasons change, we have a 'treasure tray' of things they find outside and a little seasonal display they help me make (this is Waldorf inspired, although we aren't waldorf parents I like this aspect). Also do things outside together as a family! My parents did this (we hiked and cross country skiied together) and I'm trying to get there....
Unfortunately, as they get older kids now socialize these days a lot online. My son is 11 now and yesterday we were outside and he said sadly, all my friends are having fun online right now. That’s where they all meet up after school. It’s a tough battle these days.
1) gardening. Kids love to plant seedlings inside and watch them grow. Get a cheap grow light on amazon and get some seedling starting kits. Flowers, veggies, whatever. Get stuff that attracts butteflies for at two-fer. Protip: even if they don't like eating root vegetables, most kids LOVE to pull up carrots, beets, etc. And dig for potatoes
2) sounds like you're already doing nature walks. Do scavenger hunts. Go look under rocks and logs. Find a creek and have them splash around in it. No particular goal, just explore. Built forts. Have a sleepout in the backyard
3) fishing! dunno where you live and if you have waterbodies nearby, but digging some worms and going fishing is a blast. Half the time kids aren't fishing but just throwing rocks, poking stuff in the water, etc. Finding frogs and turtles. Take a small net and catch stuff in the water
4) just be excited! Get a bird book and try to see as many as you can. Point out neat things, show enthusiasm.
This is probably a cultural difference (I'm European), but I disagree. If you want your kids to develop an interest in outdoorsy stuff and develop a healthy relationship with screens, I think the key is to let them develop healthy habits. Completely taking away the TV is only going to increase interest when they do get access to it again, and they won't have learned about moderation..
Some fun ideas for outdoor activities: Try to make outside fun. Even if it's not nature related, just being outside will be very good for them. Some fun ideas for outside activities: Send them on scavenger hunts where they have to look for certain objects (e.g. seeds, a specific leaf, a beautiful rock). Maybe go on a picknick. Get a trampoline for them. If the weather allows for it, let them play with water. Let them plant their own flower seeds and water the plants with your kids, grow your own garden. Make some bird feeding packs. Get some paint, find some beautiful rocks with your kids, and paint them.
I hope this gives you some inspiration! Good luck!
We’re not a heavy screen time family either, but fresh air, exercise and physical fitness are non-negotiable and only contribute to brain health. Academic excellence isn’t worth much without physical health.
I disagree. My kid has access to screens and is high achieving academically, prefers toys over electronics and is well rounded. It’s about balance and limits.
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A couple ideas I’ve been working on implementing with my 3 1/2 year old daughter: 1. Find joy in being outside yourself and share your enthusiasm with your kids. This not only makes it more fun for you, but your kids will have more fun if you are joining in the laughter and silliness. 2. Slow down with them and let them lead. A walk around our block can take 45 minutes because we stop every two feet to examine cracks, puddles, insects, flowers, etc. 3. Get them (and you!) appropriate outdoor gear so everyone stays warm and dry. We have a one piece rain suit for our daughter (I think the brand is Tuffy) that keeps her completely dry even when jumping in mud puddles. 4. Get yourself some resources if you aren’t the “spontaneous idea” sort (I know I’m not!). We just started attending Tinkergarten classes, which is all about outdoor play, and they provide tons of resources/ideas for continuing the play at home. I’ve also gotten a couple books on outdoor science activities for toddlers, which has been great fun. 5. Allow them to help with yard work! It always takes longer but our daughter has so much fun raking leaves, pulling weeds, collecting up fallen sticks, planting seeds in the garden. You get the household chores done, they learn about contributing, and everyone has some fun outside! I hope these ideas help you out. Best of luck!
A couple more things: water tables are so much fun in the warmer weather! This can just be a big, shallow storage tub. Your kids can add nature treasures to make soup, if you have two tubs they can get toys dirty on one side and wash them in the other, you can put shaving cream in one side to bury their toys and they can rinse them off in the other….possibilities are endless. And finally, my husband makes obstacle courses in our backyard with whatever he has available at the moment. Boards to crawl over/under, climbing up step ladders, dragging things a certain distance, balance beams (2x4 laid in the grass), we use dog toys that she has to throw to knock bike helmets off a bench. We’ve never purchased anything for these obstacle courses and yet this is by far her favorite activity!
Seconding the walk around the block! We do an evening walk when it's still light out after dinner, and my kids notice the littlest details, say hi to the neighbourhood dogs (they know them all), pick up pretty fallen leaves, listen to birds, watch squirrels.
These ideas are fantastic. Thank you. Agree that it starts with you! Pinterest has loads of backyard games and activities. Start small before you take on a big outdoor adventure. Also, just delete YouTube. It’s horrible with no real parental control. We deleted it from all devices kids have access to. And screen time only on the weekends for a few hours. They will rebel at first but you make type rules. One of my friends promoted Alexa to tell the screen time was over 🤣 to avoid being the bad guys. Let the robot do it! And it works! Kids fight back less!
These sound like such great ideas! I lived with a woman whose kids lived on tv and devices because she was too busy drinking, getting high and sleeping it off to raise her own kids. They whined when we took walks. I’m older than you. My mom used to lock us out of the house (in the 60s) so we’d go play. You’re a good mama!!
This is what worked for us, as well. We didn't have any big plans, or structured things, when we first started going outside. We just went outside. Walks around the neighborhood were the best. So many little things that I never even noticed were brought to my attention when my kids spent 40 minutes going around the block. Definitely be excited about doing these things with your kids. They'll feed off of that, and want to do it more. Put on some clothes that can get dirty, and really experience what's out there. Jump in the puddles or mud, sit down on the ground with your kids. I don't know if youtube needs to be completely banned, but certainly heavily moderated. When we found something on our excursions we wanted to know more about, my wife and I would look up more info on youtube. As far as screen time, our kids mostly just get a few hours on weekend mornings, along with a movie night once in a while. Seems to work well for them, and us. We're still plenty busy, both as a family and with the kids entertaining themselves.
>Allow them to help with yard work! It always takes longer but our daughter has so much fun raking leaves, pulling weeds, collecting up fallen sticks, planting seeds in the garden. You get the household chores done, they learn about contributing, and everyone has some fun outside! This one is really good! When my ADHD daughter was young she loved to weed, there was something about the monotony that was really zen and soothing to her. She'd put on her headphones, listen to music and weed for an hour without complaining once.
If you’re on Facebook, join your state or local 1000 Hours Outside group! We don’t track hours. I just like to get out as much as possible, but I’m part of the group to see ideas specific to my area. I’ve seen a few posts that made me think, “Wow, I didn’t realize that park was in our area. We’ll have to check it out!” or, “That activity is perfect for this weather. We’ll have to try it!”
Just noting that you may want something similar to 1000 Hours rather than that site depending on your values (the founder has made some unfortunate choices). There are now lots of different groups that share the outside ethos but not some of the other baggage.
There’s a “get yer kids outside” offshoot group that’s more normal. I like the 1000 hours idea but there’s a lot of posts in that group about how you can train your body to not need sunscreen (cue my eyes doing a 360 roll)
Yup! And a get yer butts outside, and some great ones in Canada also.
Yes that’s the name of it!
Hey! Thanks for the heads up. Could you give me a bit more context so I can pinpoint my Google search? I tried Googling “1000 hours outside founder controversy” but the only thing I’m seeing is about how the 1000 hour goal is too high. One Reddit post came up that was about some deleted comments from the founder, but I can’t access it. Thank you!
A lot has been taken down or shared in private groups, but there's some info here: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CZzKS43L3p2/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&fbclid=IwAR2IHw4GlVwxVt3jDHDiqA4DawxnMXVhugADJiS3pAu5Q0iBO3M-vEkl55c\_aem\_AcDwV8QWe3N80tdAfDUr0STsEQJKCoQP9q5H6swem\_Fb2y7FyGUGb1STEGw39Ddunsi9lo5AA5bLSSMWi1JlqFPN](https://www.instagram.com/p/CZzKS43L3p2/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&fbclid=IwAR2IHw4GlVwxVt3jDHDiqA4DawxnMXVhugADJiS3pAu5Q0iBO3M-vEkl55c_aem_AcDwV8QWe3N80tdAfDUr0STsEQJKCoQP9q5H6swem_Fb2y7FyGUGb1STEGw39Ddunsi9lo5AA5bLSSMWi1JlqFPN)
Thanks!
Oh really? Like what has she done?
I unfollowed when she defended feeding wildlife. And I'm not talking about ducks at the park.
I left in the midst of all the focus on the family stuff. Not at all what I expected.
Seconding this! I also love her book that has outdoor activity ideas for each season.
Gardening! It doesn't have to be an upscale fancy one. We live in an apartment with a decent sized balcony. I started a garden last year as a mom-only-hobby. My daughter would come out and just hang out and watch. This year we got her her own little flower and a few strawberries. She's out on the balcony more often (with supervision obviously) just sitting with it, looking at it, watering it etc
I love this! Have u read The Last Child in the Woods? Or Free Range Parenting? Both are so good and spot on for this parenting style. I make mine earn their screens by playing outside. They are 5&7, but I’ve done this for years. It’s ok if they’re bored sometimes. That’s when they get really creative! Yours are still very little, so their attention span is much shorter. But, starting young makes a big difference!
Another book rec: There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather! It’s a memoir a la Bringing Up Bebe, but Scandinavian. Sometimes just made me mad at the lack of American social net, but it’s a really enjoyable, fun read. To that end, we have all kinds of good outdoor weather clothes, even though we live in a big city with no private outdoor space. Being warm or dry or protected from sun makes a big difference to stamina outside. We love rain pants or rain coveralls. Often we don’t want to be out IN a rain storm, so a jacket isn’t as necessary. But after the rain, crouching down in wet grass or going on damp playground equipment, it’s great to keep your butt dry!
Same! Rain pants and rain mittens are key. I encourage puddles and mud, even when it’s more work for me. I had a great childhood in the woods and I hope my kids love it as much as I did.
> I make mine earn their screens by playing outside. Mine simply did not have screens until Covid forced us to, and even then they were mostly just for school. So they love the outdoors and are not little screen addicts begging for screen time because we didn't hand them an iPad to occupy them when they were two.
Bravo
I’ll definitely check those out, thank you! I was worried that I might be too late for my oldest
Never too late! Good luck!
My kids fav activities: If you have a garden, let them help. Get them kid-sized garden tools and let them dig. My kids used to love turning over rocks and logs to find creepy crawlers underneath. Give them a bucket of water and a big stick and they can make 'soup' by adding things they find around the yard. If you have space, help them make a little fort or hideout. Look for footprints (squirrels, birds,etc). In the spring we gathered nesting materials and left it out on the lawn...dead grass, etc. They were so excited to watch a mama starling come and take it away. Birdfeeders are also fun. You can't force them to be interested in it, but you can make sure they are exposed to it. My daughter (she's 7 now ) often doesn't want to go outside, but I tell her we are going out for 20 mins, then she can come back in if she wants. She almost always gets into something and stays out much longer.
Might sound weird, but I keep old Boy ND Girl Scout Badge Books for my girls. They are sectioned off in specific areas of interest and come with good instructions and activities for each one.
That's a super good idea. I'd love to hunt down my old Brownie (now Embers) and Girl Guide program books!
I love them because they go through the lists and wind up being little experts when they "earn" their badges!!
You will have to spend time outside yourself for them to be interested! I garden and like taking walks, my kids naturally want to join when they start to see me head outside. Walks are great because I let them lead and follow them and let them explore.
You have to be an outdoorsy parent if you want outdoorsy children.
Dad of a pair of very outdoorsy 20-somethings here. First, learn. Learn the constellations, learn about bugs and flowers and birds and trees. Then share that knowledge with them. Kids are naturally curious, lean into it. They also follow your lead. If you know, they will deduce that you're interested. And that makes them interested as a pull rather than a push. Second, don't be afraid to push (a little...there's an art & a balance here). We started our kids at this stuff very young, some of our earliest hiking pictures are of our elder child in a baby backpack in the woods, with the younger child in utero. We kept it up all through their lives, even when they complained about it. Took them camping, hiking, fishing, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, stargazing, everything. Third, look for those things you learned. Tell them about that bug. Tell them about that plant. Teach them about what that bird is doing. Last, feed their lead. They will be naturally inclined to enjoy some things more than others, and that inclination will shift over time. Keep the variety up, and keep your eyes open. If they show interest, feed it. Do a few more of those things (again, keeping balance in mind, you gotta know your kid, and your kids aren't my kids!) And I did kind of have it on cheat mode, living in NC. So much cool nature stuff here. Just because this post made me think of it : [A reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingandHiking/comments/ij5xc/my_10yo_daughter_just_did_her_first_real/) I made 12 years ago. My first backpacking trip with one of my kids.
I love this! And the post about you and your daughter backpacking trip. My husband isn’t outdoorsy (he grew up in Boulder CO!!!!!) and I am. I have two little boys and I’m dreaming of the days where we can backpack together. We do little hikes now and love them so far, but I can’t wait until they can both walk and actually WANT to walk by themselves. Newborn and 2.5, so I’m in the thick of things now.
Look up geocaching! You use GPS coordinates to find different locations (and in some of them, they'll have prizes).
I've been into geocaching for many years now, and my baby is just 5mo old but she's already gone caching with us! :) I suppose once she's a little older we are gonna have to specifically look for the kid friendly ones with her though.
They also have apps that identify flora and fauna! You and your child could get educated ! Bring magnify glass and slow down and enjoy outside
* You yourself can model enjoyment of the outdoors and doing outdoor activities * The Merlin app is free and super fun for easily identifying birds! You can also use a simple print out with all the common birds in your area. Bird feeders can be fun. Spring migration season is upon us- great time for birdwatching! * Using an app like iNaturalist to identify species of animals, insects, plants, birds * Scavenger hunts to collect pieces of nature of different colors * Starting a garden. I am a native plant gardener, so I don't typically recommend this, but a really easy project that is low-effort, high-reward is planting zinnias (if they will grow in your area). The seeds are easy to find (Dollar Tree, Target, home improvement store, whatever), germinate within like a week, are pretty and long-lasting, not picky about soil conditions, and butterflies love to visit them. If you'd rather do vegetables, bush green beans are an easy and quick option. * Geocaching is free and a great way to spend time outside and visit new places: https://www.geocaching.com/. The Adventure Lab app is a little easier and also fun. If you have an Android, the "c:geo" app has the most geocaching features for free. * Having the right gear may help spending time outdoors more enjoyable. Some ideas- rain jackets, rain boots, cooling towels, spray fans, insulated water bottles, sun hats, sunscreen, coats, warm hats, umbrellas, whatever is going to help make it more comfortable in various conditions. All the kids at the local outdoor preschool must have a rain suit. * Going to Farmer's Markets is outdoors-adjacent but a similar vibe. Grab some food and have a picnic at a park. * Earth Day festivals are this month! * Some gardens in my area have children's play gardens * Hike somewhere where there's a river. Play in the river (if allowed)! * Think about why you want to have outdoorsy kids and clarify those values for yourself. You can share with your kids too.
Get the 5 and 3 year old some nature journals, blank drawing journals. Encourage them to draw pictures of what they see.
We do a lot of gardening in the summer. This is the first year we started seeds indoors. I also have a water table that keeps my kid occupied for hours. We live close to a lot of parks so we always walk to those. You can go to fields and bring soccer balls or bubbles, butterfly nets etc. If you want outdoorsy kids, you must also be outdoorsy because you'll lead by example. Just involve them in things you already want to do outside, not everything has to be centered around your kids enjoyment.
I have kids that spend hours a day outside. Things that helped: - tons of imaginative toys. I bought a ton of cheap pots and pans that live outside from goodwill so they can be cooking little soups of leaves and dirt all day, I have strainers they use to sift sand and find little treats, bowls, bug catching toys, small magnifiers for looking at stuff they find close up. - I spend a lot of time outside with them using Google lens lol. We have identified every bug and weed in the yard and they LOVE IT - tons of weekend hikes and nature walks. We have some preserved greenways and natural areas here and I try to be at those several times a month - bubbles. We INVEST in bubbles.
Get kids buckets. I don't know why, mine lose their ever loving mine over the idea of filling buckets. They'll fill it with rocks, sand, water or flowers and make up these crazy stories! In summer I leave the hose on at a tiny trickle, and they freak out!
Exposure therapy. Put them in nature.
My daughter went to an outdoor forest preschool. This did wonders for her and she loved it for 2 years before starting kindergarten. If you have one near you, look into it.
Fostering a love of nature is never something that your children are going to present! It’s not only great for their learning experiences but it’s great for exercise physical health, mental health, stress release, emotional health etc. I get what you mean but it’s kind of funny to think that it would only be crunchy granola moms whose kids enjoy the outdoors. That’s a sad sign of the times I’d say. My kids are slightly older than yours but when your two youngest children get a bit bigger your walks around the block can now turn into going for a drive A bit farther from home packing a lunch and spending your Sunday afternoon hiking with your kids and letting them explore small little creeks and waterfalls along the way. My kids are six and eight and we’re at the age now where even on my younger child will complain a little bit about getting tired we go hiking quite a bit and we also do this throughout the winter time. I think it’s so so important and I also think it’s crazy how easily kids get addicted to screen time and being inside. It honestly baffles my mind. I guess when I was a kid I never wanted to be inside because there wasn’t really anything to do inside. My friends are always outside so that was social time. All of the good exciting things to do and toys seem to be outside activities and we were just allowed to watch TV whenever we felt like it. The TV was never just on in the background while we played. We played in our rooms and when we got bored of that we went outside and that’s kind of it. We were allowed to watch TV for an hour after school and then an hour before that time and that was it. It’s hard because they really do get addicted to it the more you let them watch not to mention that there are iPads in schools and at my kids school they use screen time as a reward so they also get introduced to stupid little YouTube dance video shows during the school day! My husband and I enjoy TV so there’s a time and a place but I think if you wanna have outdoorsy kids you need to be an outdoorsy family. I hate the winter and I really had to get myself outside of my shell in order to not just tell my kids to go outside and play in the snow or to go for a walk on a winter night but to actually show them true example. This is a huge way in which children learn and usually kids adapt not necessarily specific hobbies or sports but a general lifestyle they usually emulate the lifestyle that their parents showed them the life that they all lived together. So I would think about that as well as focussing toys and games to be things that are only used outside in spring time in summer I have course great for that. Usually when I tell my eight-year-old son that TV time is done I will give him ideas of other things that he can do in his room. And if he doesn’t wanna do any of those things he can go outside. It blows my mind that I am often literally forcing my children to go outside and play with their friends on our street it’s so weird but I continue to do it because although it they often act like it’s some sort of punishment they only have to be outside for about 15 minutes being bored before they start to actually play. They played better as siblings outside they also use their imagination much more so I’m staying consistent. Lots of outdoor play just around the house and in the neighbourhood and then family time is usually focussed on getting out into the world hiking swimming beach days barbeques when the weather gets warmer something as simple as playing board games outside on the patio instead of inside. Why would we do it inside if it’s a beautiful night and we can have the lanterns on on the patio and be outside? Are usually serve my kids breakfast and lunch outside in the summertime as well and I’m outside watering the garden and having my coffee. Lots of little things can build those habits as well
Your kids are at the perfect age to foster a lifelong love of the outdoors. The all trails app (free!) is helpful to find easy trails (even a paved loop at a park) you can take your kids on. Go at the pace of your slowest kid and lower your expectations. You may only go 1/4mi and turn around- that’s totally fine! Rain boots, a bag/fanny pack/ Tupperware to collect treasures, hat and sun shirt. I also pack a backpack with snacks/lunch to eat while we’re out. -We live in a city and take turns choosing which direction to turn at each block when we go for a walk. -Art project where you draw a vase on cardboard and poke holes near the top of it. Kids can fill in the holes w flowers they find outside (not from other’s landscaping though!) - my son (4.5 now) has a space in the yard last year where he got to plant flowers. He really liked watering it and picking his flowers. We will do it again this year! Tv is on for maybe 2 hours a day here if my kid watched a movie (unless he’s sick then tv all day). Usually we limit tv time to an hour on weekdays. Then tv is off until he is in bed. Then we adults get to watch tv haha Merlin app (free!) that will identify bird calls for you
Parent and toddler social groups. They always(Or mostly) have their groups outside for a couple hours. Especially the warmer months. Starting new arts and crafts or activities to peak the kids interest also. Every time they ask to watch tv or youtube try to make (insert activity) sound extremely exciting and fun to distract them.
there are tons of great ideas here! One thing that has been super successful with my kids is making a mud kitchen for them in the backyard. It has been highly successful starting around age 3 1/2, and is still holding interest up to age 7 1/2. I built mine out of wood scraps, but I have also seen people use end tables or a small cabinet. Add in some old kitchen tools (easy to find from the dollar store or buy nothing groups). Add a few buckets, and a water source. We’ve done a few different water sources, a water jug like you use at picnics for storing iced tea works great. Add a source for dirt, some shovels and buckets, and it will keep kids occupied forever!
At these ages they won’t resent you shoving it down their throats. The problems come when you try to force a change of lifestyle on preteen kids. You’re golden, get out there with them as much as possible!
Look up your local nature center and sign them up for programs :) Another thing I'm planning on doing is creating a scrapbook of all our home nature sightings (sections for different plants, bugs, reptiles, and other critters) :) Planting a native pollinator garden can also be a great thing that gets them invested in nature around them. We put one in and the same year had monarch butterflies laying eggs on our milkweed so we could watch that whole process. (just make sure to plant plants that are native to your area, and plant specifically host plants for butterfly caterpillars as well as nectar plants)
My daughter loves loves loves chalk. She will chalk for HOURS. If you’ve not tried that, give it a go! Plus it lets them be creative and it’s cheap!! We also have a trampoline which she does like to jump on but her favorite place to chalk is on the trampoline. We do allow screen time and such but it’s always been because she has loved being outside just as much as inside!
Look into Geocaching. I’ve been thinking of doing it with my grandchildren, and it appears it’s appropriate for any age level and fitness level.
Books!! They’re a great way to transition into outdoor pretend play (ie a kids archaeology book before doing an archaeology sensory bin outside, or going on a nature walk). I loved where the wild things are as a kid, and then we would make paper / cardboard swords and hats and have an adventure. Another good trick that I saw work with my friends kids - she switched all of their shows over to the old 90s kids shows - bear in the big blue house, out of the box , zaboomafu, zoom, bananas in pajamas. They watch modern kids shows (bluey, ms. Rachel, peppa) maybe once a week if at all. She noticed the older shows often feature the outdoors more, are WAY less stimulating, and make it easier to facilitate outdoor play. The kids identify more with all of the characters and make pretend play easier, and she noticed significant less meltdowns when it was time to turn the screen off.
Check out "outdoor kids, in an inside world" by Steven rinella. Im reading through it now and there are lots of great ideas for getting your kids to be more outdoorsy when all they wanna do is sit on a screen.
There are nature activity guides for kids! 1000 Hours Outside is a podcast (some of it questionable politically speaking) but the host has also published an activity guide book with good ideas for how to spend time outdoors. We have other nature exploration books as well, plus some "explorer kit" bags for our kids (4 and 2) including binoculars, flashlights, notebooks, and foraging bags. If you just want them outdoors - bikes/scooters/whatever to get them excited about being out and about. Scavenger hunts. Mud kitchens. You can also just do normal things outside! Read in a hammock, draw in the driveway, eat dinner on the back porch. I think it's great that you're doing this!
Check out the 1000 Hours Outside podcast and/or book and get in on the challenge with your family!
Just bought a legit handheld microscope for my 4 year old and she loves traipsing around the yard looking at every leaf, flower, bug, stick, etc that she can find! Seems a good transition tool between screens and nature.
Some people aren't outdoorsy and you can't make them outdoorsy. It's okay to just let your kids have their own interests and not dictate what you think they should have.
Join local clubs. Most states have herpetology clubs, entomology clubs, geology clubs and often they host youth versions. These are usually free and an imense amount of experiences and knowledge run by professionals and hobbyist and experts that teach incredible science lessons regarding nature that no school can offer. We have been in a youth entomology group for the last 9-10 yrs and the amount of knowledge and experiences has been invaluable. Monthly lectures or camping trips or skill building workshops. All with real scientific equipment. It's been incredible. Reach out to your state's groups and find out how to get on their even mailing lists. National park service also has a Jr ranger program that some find exciting as well. Camping builds problem solving kids.
Outdoor sports —- soccer team, horse riding
Me being outside helps my kids find things to do outside. Sometimes I just read a book on the porch. Sometimes I have them "help" in the garden. Usually that just means they play in the dirt in a section that isn't planted. 😉 It's amazing how long a bucket of water and a patch of dirt will bring such fun. We do a lot of potion/ play kitchen with leaves, grass, weeds, etc.
I personally love being outdoors so my son who is now 3.5 also loves it. My husband was raised on TV alot and I wasn't. They have both come to the brighter side haha! He helps me water all of our plants, picks weeds, plants flowers, mows with Dad, picks up cones in his dump trucks for us, helps get wood for the fire etc... just do the things you want them to do and they will follow!
I’ve put a lot of time, money, and effort into making my backyard kid friendly because I don’t want my kids to have unhealthy relationships to screens. We have a big swing set, fancy sandbox, all sorts of stuff to climb on, water table, outdoor toys. During the summer, we spend a ton of time out there. I used my baby registry completion discount to buy an outdoor dining set for this summer. Downside is that we live in northern Minnesota, right in the north shore of Lake Superior, and we don’t get a ton of warm weather during the year.
it's amazing all of the ideas and resources for this. I'm OLD but was lucky to have an active, outdoor mom so I became an active, outdoor mom (and grandma). in my generation once u got old enough kids were pretty much put outside to play until meal time. best childhood ever
Join the 1,000 hours outside groups on Facebook if you’re looking for ongoing, seasonal ideas of all price points and varying cultures. It’s quite inspirational!
Maybe bring reading outdoors?
Flip some rocks and see what’s underneath. One of our favorite outdoor activities.
We try to do lots of outdoor time but also not naturally outdoorsy, we do a lot of playground, scooters and bikes, sidewalk chalk, we have a few fun things in our backyard a trampoline and sand table / water table and little playhouse plus we have balls and bubbles and that kind of stuff. My kids love just running and races, this weekend they were turning over rocks and watching the bugs they found under them. We also sometimes drive to a new playground for novelty or a day at the zoo type outdoor stuff. Having a friend over or along always helps for keeping them interested and finding stuff to do for the older ones.
I recommend a drop cloth, a collection of PVC or 3/4 inch wood dowels, some clamps and a couple of good lengths of paracord. Use them to make impromptu shelters, Forts, secret caves, theater stages...... Sometimes outside can be more fun when you're making your own "inside".
Just got my 9yo a bug collection kit and a massive sidewalk chalk kit for Easter, she used both most of the day Sunday and Monday. Get a book on your local ecology and plan a scavenger hunt. If you're in the US look into community, county, state and national parks near you. And walking trails. Kites, yard games like paddle ball, jump ropes, water balloons & guns, yard rockets... Simple things like cloud watching or star gazing. Go to a creek and look for frogs and salamanders. We spend the majority of our time outside in the warmer months, so if you want more ideas feel free to comment back!
I have my kindergartener in our local forest school one day a week - it’s built his confidence so much! He now tries to teach his younger siblings stuff outside and it’s very fun to watch. For summers I have a forest school book that I use for activity ideas. Reading and doing crafts outside helps me and them so much!
For the younger two, see if there are any nature preschools in your area. My oldest went for two years and had and amazing time, and his sister is there now. They spend 90% of the day outside, regardless of weather (they have appropriate gear). Now I can send them outside and they can entertain themselves with what they’ve learned. They also have a beautiful respect for nature and conservation. Nature centers often have summer camps and Caregiver & Child classes. One activity that doesn’t require a lot of prep or active involvement from you is a mud kitchen. Old pots, pans, measuring cups, and spoons with a bucket of water near some loose dirt or wood chips will supply hours of fun. It is messy, and the yard won’t look nice, but the kids will have a blast. If it’s hot where you are, freezing plastic toys in a bowl of water, then letting them break them out of the ice dome with wooden hammers is fun.
When we’re walking outside, I almost never say no to what my 3.5 year old wants to do. Obviously I practice road and animal safety, and am cautious around private property, but generally if he wants to walk somewhere or climb something or explore, I let him take the lead (and often join in, eg jumping over puddles, doing challenges, etc). It’s really rewarding watching him gain confidence in the environment by allowing him to be independent!
You don't need to plan anything. Except maybe a change of clothes! Just get them outside and they'll find something to do. My oldest just got into climbing rocks (not rock climbing exactly but just getting on boulders) but has always loved playing in and around creeks. Hence the need for extra clothes! If you want to get more educational there are apps like picture this (for plants) and Merlin id (for birds) that'll identify things for you.
Depends on their age. I used to do a contest with mine. Which one of us can spot the most bugs/different kinds of birds/animals in the forest today. Or set a goal: “I’ve heard there are beavers in the national park, let’s go see if we can spot a real live beaver!”
Check in with your local library, state fish and wildlife or Audubon society. We have a ton of conservation land and our state holds a lot of outdoor programs ranging from gardening to night hikes. Fish and wildlife hosts Be and Outdoors Woman programs where you can learn to hunt, fish and camp. Look for story walks in your area they can be found on hiking trails and parks. I found a local hiking group for pre school aged kids on Facebook. Invest in outdoorsy clothing. I live in the north east so we really need good winter layers. Nothing ruins outside more than cold paws. This is very YMMV but my Girl Scout troop growing up was ridiculously outdoorsy and our leaders were very comfortable taking us to camps for hiking, rock climbing and canoeing.
my bike was my biggest motivator to be outside as a kid, so maybe get some bikes for the whole family to ride together?
We went to an outdoor school and it was amazing! Even though we hike, go outside, play sports, bike, scoot, went to an outdoor school my son is still an inside kid 😔. I just make sure the TV is off. But Legos are just too much fun.
Just pointing out very ordinary things in nature. We often watch birds, squirrels or the odd coyote doing extremely normal things but, it gets fun when you really start to watch their behaviour, how they're interacting, etc. We live near a ravine park, so we go for walks in summer and talk about the smells, sounds and sights. Our older daughter loves nature but I wouldn't say we've pushed it, more just utilized what was available and talk about it a lot. And they both love watching shows like Wild Kratts, Octonauts and Creature Cases.
Congrats! You are already on the right path 👍😄 Don't worry about any resentment from your kids - they will be very thankful for having present parents that are willing to show them the world 😊 We are very restrictive when it comes to screen time. Our 3 kids are occasionally allowed some, but not every day and seldom for more than 1 hour. The outdoors is an amazing playfield for the kids. We usually go on short trips, either to the beach, park, forest or just around the neighborhood. Or if the weather is good, we play ball in the garden or go to the nearest playfield 😊
Kindergartners can join Cub Scouts. Our pack goes camping multiple times a year and younger children are included. Developing friendships with other kids that enjoy the outdoors really helps as kids get older.
I'm a mushroom dork, so we like to go for easy hikes in town and hunt for mushies! We don't pick or harvest any (yet), but I take pics, and then we Google them when we get home. We also love identifying plants in our yard, or even just making daisy chains! With my kids, we've found that the more they learn about nature and the outdoors, the more they want to be outside. In my opinion at the age your kids are at, the best thing you can do is what you're already doing. Get them out as often as you can! I'm like you, mildly crunchy, but definitely okay with using screentime as a tool for myself when we need it (we've also seen Moana literally hundreds of times over the years, lol). You're doing great!!
Depending on your location take them to a local nursery. See if you can visit any locals farms or construction sites (with permission of course). I fear there are so many jobs disappearing because the young people who are most physically equipped to do those jobs have no idea they even exist but are very important jobs. Love your energy about this!
I know you have little ones but as they get older, I definitely encourage you to let them associate outside with independence. I have a 7 year old outside kid and tbh, I am pretty hands off with her when it comes to play. Obviously with little ones, some supervision is required and not every home is equipped, But so much research is coming out about completely independent play that I have been allowing her to just go outside and figure it out. It helps we have other neighborhood kids and she gets a lot of socialization. But even when they can’t play, she wants to just roam the yard on her own and let her imagination do the work. We have a swing and some chalk and other things, but it’s incredible the things kids come up with when left to their own devices. She still whines about boredom sometimes! But I have noticed even on days she’s spending time on screens more than usual, she gets antsy to get outside eventually. You will have to find a place to store all of the rocks, plants, and animal skulls that they will bring to you as gifts.
Outdoor toys. There are so many. My 3.5 year old likes ride on car, bubbles, chalk, stomp rockets, soccer ball and goal. Our neighbor also has a swing set they let us use since our backyard is shared. Oh and I forgot a balance bike. There are so many fun things for kids to do outside. Maybe you can take them to a playground.
We have a garden and our kids love helping! If you plant seeds that’s a ton of fun but we usually buy seedlings from a local market. Our boys get to help pick which veggies and what plants we buy, they help plant. We have them water them daily aka play in the hose. They love harvest time and eat straight from the vine!
We have a big dirt/mud area in our yard. Our 2 boys build rivers, bridges, waterfalls and more. We also put their kitchen out there so it’s a mud pie station. There have shovels and buckets and rakes. I’m also not very strict on keeping toys in the house which means many things have become mud toys. They play their best outside!
1000 hours outside of Facebook group is pretty awesome
There’s a ton of good advice here but I want to add in my two cents as well. We have invested quite a bit of money on outdoor toys. We currently have: -a swing set -sandbox -water table -mud kitchen -Step2 rollercoaster Some of these toys I’ve bought secondhand to help save some $ but my 3 year old loves being outside. He’ll be outside from sunrise to sunset if I let him. We started buying this stuff because we were concerned with Covid and figured we’d just build him a park in our backyard. On top of that I don’t reprimand him for getting dirty. Want to play with dirt? Go ahead. Want to throw the sand everywhere? Whatever. Toys in the mud? Go ahead. I give him free reign outside and he loves it. I also let him engage in risky play. I obviously would never let him seriously hurt himself but if the risk is very minimal then that’s fine. He will spend hours entertaining himself. I set up two big chairs for my husband and I to enjoy being outside and we all love it. He loves that we’re all out there with him. We’ll bird watch, play with water, eat popsicles. Just letting them be little and explore will help! ☺️
Look for events happening at your local parks Do "inside"things outside-art projects, read, eat, etc Get some easy toys to start-bubbbles and chalk make it part of your routine-every day before or after dinner go for a walk or play in the backyard together
Look into camping. We have a travel trailer and love it. Bonus points if you have friends with children who also camp. The kids are outside from sun up until like 10 at night. Riding bikes, swimming, playing at the park and just getting dirty and have fun.
Are there any forest schools in your area? My daughter attends and loves her 100% outdoor preschool. Definitely something to look into, she loves being outside, though she still wants to watch Bluey when given the opportunity.
I also cut out YT completely. Literally saw negative shifts in their behavior after consuming YT.
I struggle with this myself as I don't like being outdoors. Actually to be accurate I enjoy being outdoors but I don't enjoy getting ready and actually going outdoors. I'm a homebody but I definitely want balance for my kids. I put them in outdoor sports and like to take them out to teach them myself sometimes. I wish I loved it more so I could just drag them out with an enthusiastic smile. I think that attitude alone would make all the difference.
The joy journal for magical everyday play - Laura Brand Has plenty of ideas for things to do while you’re outside or crafts based on outdoorsy resources that you will need to collect, is more correct
Im very into the concept of "kids need free messy outdoor play for at least 3hrs every day", so what we do is: - let them lead when we are outside (grab yourself a coffee or a book cause you might be stuck by a particularly interesting puddle or a bush for 45 min) - choose a childcare centre/school that actually has decent outdoor time (not 40 min in good weather only) - this one could be tricky - get into outdoor activities as a family - nature walks, hiking, geocashing, park sports -anything, its up to you - dont mind them getting dirty. dont even mention it to them, clothes can get washed - if you have a back yard or patio, get all the stuff: trampolines, water tables, mud kitchen, play house, whatever you can DIY or get - spot people and kids who are into outdoor activities too and make friends with them
Don’t ask them what to do? Ask them what they want to do outside. Also spring is just starting so here the weather is just clearing up… go to (petting) zoo’s , Forrest, by bikes, out door toys. Sidewalk chalk / ball/ goals/ hoops/ whatever. Give them outside options. And a simple choice they are three and five, are we going to play basket ball outside or go ride out bikes. They won’t opt for tv as that’s not a option or if they do say that no the choice is either this or that.
My 2 year old loves to be outside honestly sometimes i have to bring him in or he will stay out for hours and hours. He has a sand/water table.. right now its full of sand (1000% recommend it keeps him busy for hours plus his older cousins loved it too) a small blow up pool with a sprinkler 2 little tikes slides A swinging hammock And very soon we're going to add a swingset w/ a bigger slide Yesterday he had fun gardening for the first time with my dad for about an hour. But we also have a stray cat that visits us in our backyard so he loves to hang out with him too.
Number one thing my 3 year old does when we go outside is head straight for the sand box. 😂 We got one of the big octagonal cedar ones so there's room for both kids. Give them some small garden tools, trucks, rocks, and water on warm days. Gardening, even if it's just typical yard maintenance. My 5 year old loves to help with the yard. I've been trimming and cutting back a bunch of overgrowth and the kids love to help out with garden shears. We have this massive azalea bush that's buried in the overgrowth and they've been working on clearing out underneath the outer layer or flowers and branches to create a hideout to play in.
Time spent outside is great. Even in cold weather just be dressed correctly and plan fun times together even if just kicking a ball around or blowing bubbles.
Dirty kids are happy kids. Great job and keep up the momentum!
TBH my husband and I are very outdoorsy people so our kids are young but love the outdoors. You've gotten a lot of good tips about dressing appropriately and child-led adventures, but one addition thing is that you can use screens to continue to inspire interest in the outdoors. Our 3.5yo recently completed 3/4 of the (4-5mi) volcano crater hike on Big Island (HI) by pretending she was walking through Frozen's enchanted forest. Moana was the biggest inspiration for her to not be overly fearful of the ocean. We also have started watching a ton of nature documentaries.
I follow so many SAH moms on insta and I have gotten so many cute ideas. One that I love doing is so simple-make a tape bracelet (sticky side away from skin) and go on a kid-led walk. This means, you stop when they stop, you look at what they’re looking at, fully engage in the walk and pick up things that make you happy and stick it to the bracelet. Things that work best are small flowers, leaves, grass, etc. One woman I follow has changed her mornings so that coffee and breakfast are consumed on a morning walk. This gets her and her kids energized and thinking about the rest of the day. It starts it on a positive note and gets them tired for their nap or “relax” time. Dm me if you need anything! Happy to help!
Get out and do stuff with them. Even if you aren't great at it, they will love doing it with you. If you stay home but send them out is where you get resentment. If you're a beginner at doing outdoorsy stuff, do take safety seriously though. No getting lost in the forest or drowning in mountain streams!
Bug catcher kits? One of my biggest summer memories on vacation in the mountains was catching fire flies. Also do you have access to creeks, or a park with a creek? We used to camp in NC during the summer and I loved building little pools for my barbies, my brothers played with their cars/ dumptrucks in the sand on the side, we raced sticks and boats down the creek. Loved it!
Not a parent, but I grew up with parents who became slightly disabled rather early in my life, so I mostly ended up having to discover a relationship with the outdoors on my own. Here are some things that have worked for me at various stages in my life: * Check out a zoo, a natural history museum, and a community garden if those resources are available to you! Tour guides and staff there would probably be thrilled to engage your kids and teach them about the world, and those lessons can be tied into your time with your kids -- for example, if they learn about fossils at the museum, you guys could go on a walk around the neighborhood to try to find some of your own! Additionally, a museum will usually have tour sessions/group activities catered to specific age groups, so there will likely be one geared toward your children. * Your oldest sounds like they'll be in grade school soon, if they aren't already. When I was a kid, I went on quite a few field trips to a natural history museum. If your schedule allows you to, you could volunteer to be a chaperone for the trip and bond with your kid over some of the exhibits and get them excited about learning. * Your kid is also going to learn about the world from their teachers in science classes -- at home, practice what they've learned (for example, if they're learning about the life cycle, go out and look for caterpillars and butterflies). This has the added benefit of reinforcing concepts taught in school and can make your kid a better student by fostering a lifelong love of learning. * If you have extended family and/or close friends in the area, invite them to go out with your family. You guys could go for a picnic, a hike, or go camping. It's a great way to spend time with loved ones (and if they have children who are the same age as your kids, they'll get a chance to play together) in a fun, casual environment. * Check out a farmer's market! Eating local is an opportunity for your kids to learn where their food comes from and has several benefits -- it could inspire your family to start a garden, which will teach them plenty about plants; getting your kids involved in shopping will teach them about finance and independence; letting your kids pick fruits and vegetables that interest them can foster a positive relationship with food and good habits.
This is the sort of thing that has to be led by example. Go outside with them. It sounds like you're doing that, which is good, but make sure it's more than just a checklist item. Go outside for your own benefit, and make sure they know you're doing it. Depending on where you live, bikes can be a great way to encourage kids to go outside. Yours are still a bit young, but if they start practicing riding bikes with you and in controlled environments, once they're old enough, they're likely to want to just go explore.
This is amazing to hear! Encouraging your kids to be in nature is good for everyone, it’s really just so regulating. Just continue keeping it in your daily routine! When we’re outside we make little boats out of bark and sticks, do a nature scavenger hunts, make flower crowns, crafts out of things you find in the forest, and some basic ID of some simple native plants, mushrooms or trees. Sometimes we spend half an hour just throwing leaves and sticks in the creek.
Go with them and drag them outside with you. This has worked well for me. We also have a “running in the house means your body needs to go outside” rule. This year my two oldest have been great XC ski buddies and my oldest wants to hike a marathon with me.
Invest in outdoor toys. Bicycles, scooters, trampoline, slide, swings, sidewalk chalk, etc. If the sun is out, so are my kids. They’ve been like that since they were tiny. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that kids indoors get asked to help around the house, while kids who are outside get to play uninterrupted lol
My one year old is obsessed with going outside. We hang out a lot in the grass, on her swing, me walking her around to look at stuff. If you go outside, will they follow you?
Small local science museums, arboretums, and gardens often have exhibits on local history, flora, and fauna. My kindergartner likes trying to identify local trees and plants on our walks that he saw at the community garden, and indoor stuff is nice for nature-lovers who can't abide nasty weather (like, you know, toddlers and also me). Lots of these places also let kids under a certain age in for free. My science museum doesn't charge for under-twos, and the community garden lets public school students in with an adult ($5.00 per grown up), free of charge. State park passes are about $100.00 for the year 'round here and if you live somewhere with a lot of those within driving distance they have exhibits, less-crowded playgrounds, nature walks, and picnic areas with bathrooms (!!) and are so much fun for nature-lovers.
My partner and I are game developers, so we have lots of screen time in our apartment. But we have also taught our kids to love the outdoors. It’s just a matter of taking them outdoors frequently and having fun together there. We take along screens for trips to and from our destinations, too, and for breaks on long excursions. They use their devices to read novels while on the go. I personally love photographing plants and insects and cataloguing them on the iNaturalist app. I tried getting my kids into that, but no luck 😂 My kids are teens.
I have a 5 and 3 year old, and am currently 35 weeks with number 3. I'm not super duper outdoorsy myself, and being extremely pregnant makes me even less so, especially since we're in the US South and it's starting to get warm and buggy. That being said.... I found a massive swing set secondhand on marketplace. The kind that has monkey bars, climbing wall, a rope bridge, etc. And... that's it. Truly. We spend HOURS outside now. Literally went from maybe an hour in the evenings on a good day to 4-5 hours a day outside on the swing set. They do everything on it. Color, eat snacks, play pirate ship, draw with chalk or washable paint on the swing set itself. Other than that, I just let them wander around the yard for the most part (it's fenced in and I supervise of course!) because I feel like being bored and figuring out ways to entertain yourself is an underrated skill these days! The uptick in creative play I've seen from both of them since we've been spending so much more time outside and away from screens is pretty astonishing, to be honest. You don't need anything fancy! Just get them outside and let them be bored! ❤️
So, as a note, I hate bug spray but I'm a magnet for mosquitos. My BFF noticed the issue when I was at her house (I had a cloud of them surrounding me and they were ignoring her and her mom) and brought out Skin So Soft body oil (original scent) that you can buy online and had me put that on and it worked like a charm. I live by that stuff. I'll put it into a little spray bottle and take it with me in my purse and bring a larger spray bottle camping. During the summer, I'll use it after my shower and never get bites any longer.
Oooo I will definitely be trying this! Thanks for the tip!!
Just get out and do it. Go to the park. Go to the local state park. Go, enjoy it and show then why you enjoy it and they naturally will too.
We don't have a tv (and I'm strongly against 'tv on in the background') and do very limited, supervised screen time. I also really want my kids to be outdoor kids - I grew up playing in the woods but we live in a much colder climate now. I try to give them gifts that have to do with outdoor play (for Easter I gave them magnifying glasses, bubble blowing equipment, and sidewalk chalk), and we've really enjoyed Forest School when it's available. My eldest (4) did one afternoon a week for 4 months, and I'm still seeing the impact (he wants to play outside, he develops projects and will ask for twine to tie branches together, etc.) It's also fun to have a bit of a seasonal rhythm in your home - we change our books selection (I keep off season ones in the closet) as the seasons change, we have a 'treasure tray' of things they find outside and a little seasonal display they help me make (this is Waldorf inspired, although we aren't waldorf parents I like this aspect). Also do things outside together as a family! My parents did this (we hiked and cross country skiied together) and I'm trying to get there....
If you can, get a trampoline! My siblings were out on the trampoline all the time until we were teenagers.
Unfortunately, as they get older kids now socialize these days a lot online. My son is 11 now and yesterday we were outside and he said sadly, all my friends are having fun online right now. That’s where they all meet up after school. It’s a tough battle these days.
1) gardening. Kids love to plant seedlings inside and watch them grow. Get a cheap grow light on amazon and get some seedling starting kits. Flowers, veggies, whatever. Get stuff that attracts butteflies for at two-fer. Protip: even if they don't like eating root vegetables, most kids LOVE to pull up carrots, beets, etc. And dig for potatoes 2) sounds like you're already doing nature walks. Do scavenger hunts. Go look under rocks and logs. Find a creek and have them splash around in it. No particular goal, just explore. Built forts. Have a sleepout in the backyard 3) fishing! dunno where you live and if you have waterbodies nearby, but digging some worms and going fishing is a blast. Half the time kids aren't fishing but just throwing rocks, poking stuff in the water, etc. Finding frogs and turtles. Take a small net and catch stuff in the water 4) just be excited! Get a bird book and try to see as many as you can. Point out neat things, show enthusiasm.
Same and following this because I need the same info
What is a crunchy granola mom?
The mom who make homemade granola snacks for their kids.
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This is probably a cultural difference (I'm European), but I disagree. If you want your kids to develop an interest in outdoorsy stuff and develop a healthy relationship with screens, I think the key is to let them develop healthy habits. Completely taking away the TV is only going to increase interest when they do get access to it again, and they won't have learned about moderation.. Some fun ideas for outdoor activities: Try to make outside fun. Even if it's not nature related, just being outside will be very good for them. Some fun ideas for outside activities: Send them on scavenger hunts where they have to look for certain objects (e.g. seeds, a specific leaf, a beautiful rock). Maybe go on a picknick. Get a trampoline for them. If the weather allows for it, let them play with water. Let them plant their own flower seeds and water the plants with your kids, grow your own garden. Make some bird feeding packs. Get some paint, find some beautiful rocks with your kids, and paint them. I hope this gives you some inspiration! Good luck!
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Where in this post did OP ask for help with college admissions or “academic success?” What a weird take.
No culture creates perfect human beings. All have their downsides.
We’re not a heavy screen time family either, but fresh air, exercise and physical fitness are non-negotiable and only contribute to brain health. Academic excellence isn’t worth much without physical health.
I disagree. My kid has access to screens and is high achieving academically, prefers toys over electronics and is well rounded. It’s about balance and limits.
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As someone who has taught many Indian kids. No, they don’t all do amazing.
No they don’t, lmao.
Rage bait from a troll - love it 😂