It seems the moment you walk in the door, the kids are on their tablets or staring at the TV.
Watching their eyes glued to devices, utterly oblivious to the world around them, you feel a twinge of guilt and wonder where you went wrong.
Somewhere along the way, we all succumb to letting our kids spend too much time on technology.
Life gets busy, and the easiest thing in the moment is to hand kids a screen.
Kids spend too many hours with technology and far too little exploring the great outdoors.
This shift impacts their mental and physical health. We’re made to live under the sun with the wind in our hair.
Fortunately, getting your kids to enjoy playing outside is easier than you think.
1. Give the Okay to Be Messy
How will your kids possibly have fun if they know you’re worried about stains on their clothes or dirt getting tracked in the house? You’ll need to get okay with messes when you have a family who loves spending time outside.
Let your children know that mud, dirt and grass stains are perfectly acceptable and expected. Invest in some stain remover and basic cleaning products, and you’ll be ready for anything.
2. Take Family Time Outside
Board games and movie nights are great options for spending time as a family, but ensure you’re also spending some quality time outside.
Doing so will let your kids see the way you value being in nature.
Pitch a tent and have a campout in the backyard — with smores and a good story.
Take regular family walks or hikes, exploring new locations and visiting familiar ones. Head to the closest body of water and spend the day splashing around.
Whatever you choose, make the day about family and sunshine. Leave the phones on silent and the tablets at home.
3. Try New Things
Battle boredom with an idea jar. Ask your kids for bucket list items they’d like to try out and add some of your own to surprise them. Make sure you have any equipment or supplies on hand for each activity.
Write every one of them on a slip of paper or a popsicle stick and add them to a mason jar or pretty cup.
When the kids complain they have nothing to do outside, refer them to the jar.
You can also use it to inspire new family outdoor activities so you can all try something new. Some great options to get your ideas started are:
- Geocaching
- Making your own bubbles to use
- Competition for the best mud pie
- Build an outdoor obstacle course
- Do a scavenger hunt
4. Use an Outdoor Toy Rotation
If you’ve ever tried a toy rotation for your children’s indoor playthings, you know first-hand the burst of creativity and energy they get each time you make the switch.
Too many options easily overwhelm kids, which decreases their attention span and independent play. When they only have access to a smaller toy selection at one time, they can enjoy it more fully.
Outdoor toys work the same way. One week you could put out bubble makers.
The next could be outside-friendly dress-up clothes and props, and the following week might be different types of balls — you get the idea.
Change up what they have to play with and their toys will seem new each time, and they’ll play longer with them.
5. Let Them Stew in Boredom
As challenging as this next tip may seem, it’s essential to you let your kids stew in their boredom sometimes.
If you’ve provided some outdoor toys and they’re sage, it’s time to leave them to their own devices.
Yes, there’s a time and a place to get out and have fun with them, but you’re not their cruise director.
Requiring independent play encourages self-confidence and stretches their creative muscles. You’ll be amazed at the games they create to entertain themselves when they don’t have access to technology or your imagination.
6. Invite Friends Over
Friends are vital to getting kids outside, especially if you have an only child or a wide age gap between your kids.
Get familiar with your neighbors who have kids, and see if you can arrange an open yard policy between your homes so your kids can roam back and forth but always within view of a parent.
You can also establish regular play dates with other families with kids. You can watch the kids outside and provide supper so the other couple can have a date night, and then they’ll reciprocate when you’d like to get out.
7. Frame Outside Time as a Learning Opportunity
Some kids are more resistant to spending time outdoors than others.
If yours would rather sit inside and read a book, give them a nudge to take the same text outside.
Plant them under a shady tree or on a blanket in the grass and let their imaginations run under the sun.
You could also get them interested in more intellectual outdoor activities like bird watching or identifying bugs, trees or animal prints.
Challenge them to learn about more species and help them track down hard-to-find critters using their book knowledge and growing outdoor skills.
Be a Role Model
Ultimately, kids will copy what they see their parents do.
If you regularly get outside, they’ll notice. It’s much easier to get kids to spend time outdoors when the whole family makes a habit of getting out there.
Drink your morning coffee on the porch or read a book in the shade some afternoon. Get a weatherproof table and eat as many meals as you can outside.
Making nature your second home will naturally encourage your kids to do the same.