Are you looking for easy ways to spend more time outdoors with your children? In our technology-obsessed world, finding the time for outdoor family activities can be difficult. And sometimes time-consuming when you need to gather everyone's things before heading out the door before you can get yourself ready. In this blog post, I'll share easy tips and new ideas on how to enjoy more outdoor activities with your kids. Whether it's planning a high-energy activity like hiking or something simple like eating lunch outside, these ideas will help you make meaningful memories together. Keep reading to discover more ways to be intentional with how you spend your time with your children.
Why is Spending Time Outdoors Important?
In the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Heather Eliassen report, "Time Spent In Nature Can Boost Physical and Mental Well-Being", explains how exposure to green spaces has been shown to improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of chronic illnesses and improve mental health in adults and children. Some other ways spending time outdoors is beneficial are:
- Reduce screen time
- Improve concentration
- Gain social skills
- Sensory Imagination
- Problem-solving skills
- Emotional well being
- Fine motor skills
- Creativity and imagination
- Connection to nature
How to Spend More Time Outside?
Spending time outdoors seems like a simple step to take to improve your and your family's physical, emotional, behavioral, and mental health. Then why the thought of putting on your shoes is so daunting? It could be because as the parent you are expected to get everyone ready before heading out, another thing to add to the mental load of checklists. It could also be because you are tired from work, busy with errands and chores. Its valid to feel that way. However, it doesn't have to always feel like this.
I suggest you prepare two lists of activities, one for when you have low-energy days and another list for when you have high-energy days that way you always have an idea on what activity to take on that day.
Low-Energy Outdoor Activities:
- Eat lunch outside
- Walk around your neighborhood
- Sit on your porch
- Read a book or magazine
- Lay out a cute blanket and read a book
- Farmers market
- Beach walks/ Boardwalk
- Window shopping
- The park
- Library
- Botanical Gardens
- Make fairy gardens
- Birdwatch
- Look at bugs
- Draw with Chalk
- Listen to music on speakers
- Light yoga/ Stretch
- Blow bubbles
- Bonfires
High-Energy Outdoor Activities:
- Chores like car washing, mowing, gardening
- Hike
- Bike
- Rollerskate/ Skateboard
- Dance
- Jumprope
- Camp
- Amusement Parks
- Seasonal Fruit Picking
- Fly a kite
- Hula Hoop
- Hang clothes to dry
- Kick ball
- Shoot hoops
Being home watching Netflix or doom-scrolling sounds the most comforting but the least beneficial to you and your family in the long run. It's a hard habit to break which is why I hope you find good low-energy outdoor ideas to use on those days you are busy and have no fuel left.
