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We as humans love to embrace the outdoors but with more and more easily accessible technology and home comforts children are preferring the comfort of the indoors even in the warmer months!
So what can we do as parents, teachers, guardians to make the outdoors more appealing and somewhere they will want to spend their free time?
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Here’s a few suggestions:
Lead from example
Children follow a lot what they see. The first step would be to make this appear part of regular daily activities. If you are spending lots of time outdoors and embracing a variety of activities they will likely follow. You don’t have to be going outside every day with fully packed excursions, it can be as simple as spending time in the garden instead of the living room with the Tv. Simple changes can make a world of difference.
Embrace the dirt
Don’t tell children off for getting mucky! Let them enjoy playing in the dirt, making forts and getting their clothes filthy. Try to minimise negative reactions that could impact their future selves from partaking in these activities in the future.
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Lets get collecting
Encourage them to explore and collect items on their adventures. It could be delicate with flower pressing or creating a little rock collection. Give them a place where they can show off what they find! This will encourage them to keep exploring outdoors to grow their collection and find new ways and things to expand it. All of these can lead to hobbies which will only encourage their desire to play outdoors.
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Craft projects!
At home craft projects are the perfect excuse to go outdoors and explore for materials. We regularly share our favourite at home crafts. From collecting leaves and flowers to taking photos there is all sorts of projects you can do. Check out some of our previous ones here.
Create an environemnt they and you can enjoy
The garden is a fantastic environment to keep the kids entertained. Try getting the whole family involved with creating a space everyone can enjoy. A nice serene space for the grownups to enjoy a book and cup of tea, a fort for the kids to play with their toys. It can be as big or little of a project as you like but can keep the whole entertained. Also if kids are involved in the process they are much more likely to send more time there once it is complete as they had a hand in its creation.
These are just a handful of ways you can encourage not only the children to spend more time outdoors but the whole family. Which will you be trying this summer!?
