We all know the importance of outdoor play. I know we all get nostalgic when we think about our childhoods enjoying the great outdoors! Times are sure different know, but don’t worry. In this post we share with you some outdoor play ideas that are sure to work in this century!
Saturday mornings have got slight more complicated in the last few weeks as the youngest has started playing football. And he loves it …they are all at that age where the ball goes one way and they all run after it, it gets kicked back the way it came and they all turn around and chase it again. But who cares if its nowhere near perfect, we are getting that all important bit of outdoor play at the weekend!
Yes, it can be a struggle to get everyone up and ready but, there are some advantages to all being out on a Saturday morning …no one is watching a screen of any kind which is always a plus in my book. They are all running or jumping around releasing energy and hopefully building a habit for exercise.
The statistics tell us that childhood obesity has doubled in the last ten years and that obesity in adolescence may be linked with premature onset of Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. The Kaiser Family Foundation carried out some research about today’s children and their exposure to television, computers, music, mobile devices, and video games and it has shown that this media use can be up 7 ½ hours a day in children between the ages of 8 and 18.
I am quite strict on how much time I allow my kids to be in front of ‘screens’. It can be a battle! Times have changed since I was a kid and the world is a lot more technological; but surely there is more to life? And still stuff to do outside?
In my other guise as a field teacher at a local country park I am amazed at how many kids don’t go outside! Or those who are scared of being in the woods, don’t like being in a flower meadow or finding out what lives in a pond.
Outdoor play ideas and tips
So here are a few top tips for getting the kids involved in outdoor play, away from screens and exercising all in one go:
Make an investment
If you can afford it invest in a trampoline. We had a joint Christmas present for the three children from both set of grandparents; but we have never looked back. The last few weeks they have been bouncing with conkers!
Take up sports
Encourage them to have a go at any extra sports on offer at school. Mine certainly get to have a go at things I never did – or in some cases had never heard of!
Check out what your local secondary school might offer younger children; ours offers a huge range from swimming to judo.
Family exercise
Family walks – we have always taken them out. We notice behaviour is much better if they have been exercised! I do think there are some similarities between dogs and children! And although there is much complaining before we go they love it once we are out.
As they get bigger, try family bike rides it doesn’t have to be far. Drinks and snacks can be packed up to have en-route
Make it fun
With smaller ones, try treasure or scavenger hunts where they are looking for something or a few things. Armed with their own collecting bag, this can be a lot of fun.
There are loads of options and they don’t all have to be expensive. At the moment the National Trust has a booklet 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾.
My 10 year old has done 39 of them; admittedly Cubs and now Scouts has helped, but we have about a year to complete as many as we can.
How do you get your kids involved in outdoor play? What do you do that’s worked? Let us know in the comments or find us over on Twitter!
If you’re looking for more outdoor activities, why not check these out?
Take a look at these wonderful ideas to get the kids outdoors from around the web.
50 Simple Outdoor Activities For Kids
This list of 50 outdoor activities for kids is bound to give you some great activites your kids will definitely enjoy!
Let Them Go Barefoot and 6 Other “Rules” for Play
Childhood101 brings us some wonderful "rules" to enforce for your kids to make the most of being outdoors.
Fun Outdoor Activities for Families
You don't have to travel far or spend a lot of money to enjoy the outdoors. Check out these fun outdoor activities for families.
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Helen
Beckie Whitehouse
Beckie is a mum to three kids, and works in the Cambridge area as a coach.Feel free to get in contact for a no obligation discussion.
November Chizurumoke
Wednesday 15th of January 2020
Now I feel like I missed a lot in childhood. I was adventurous but never dared swimming and bike riding. I am hydrophobic. With my kids, it's going to be different.
eric
Tuesday 5th of November 2013
This post is great. In fact, we are also contributed into this bad habit. We turn on tv to make children stay calm so that we can do other things. I always try to allocate sometime in the weekend to have fun outside
eric
Tuesday 5th of November 2013
Yes it is true. Unluckily, we are contributed in this bad habit since we often turn on the tv to make children stay cam and we can do other things. Children cannot deny fun, try to offer fun outside activity
Karen Daniels
Sunday 18th of November 2012
Great blog! Kids need more outside time. It makes for healthier, happier children. Stop by my blog at mommyessence.com and view my post called 'playing with peers'