Children can spend more time outdoors if they are exposed to these 13 entertaining activities.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re arranging a road trip around rockhounding chances or creating your own outdoor play area; these enjoyable family activities are guaranteed to pique your child’s interest in the outdoors.
If the allure of screens and the comfort of the couch has made the outdoors a difficult sell to your child, start by reminding yourself that you don’t have to travel to a national park to get your youngster to enjoy the great outdoors. Nature, after all, may be found everywhere. A list of doable ideas to infuse a little more fresh air into your family’s daily routine is provided below to help your child spend more time outdoors as your wish.
Contents
- 1 1. TAKE A SHOT AT ROCKHOUNDING FOR A CHANGE IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
- 2 2. TOY CARS CAN BE USED FOR OFF-ROADING
- 3 3. SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS TO PLAY WITH CAMP KITCHEN
- 4 4. ORGANIZE YOUR OWN OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE
- 5 5. TAKE BARBIE ON A WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
- 6 6. MAKE SOMETHING WITH YOUR HANDS
- 7 7. VISIT A BIRD – WATCHING PRESERVE
- 8 8. STICKS ARE USED TO SPELL IT OUT
- 9 9. MUSIC IN THE STYLE OF ROCK
- 10 10. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR DANGER
- 11 11. ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WHEN THEY SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
- 12 12. BRING YOURSELF TO THE WATER TO ATTRACT YOUR CHILD SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
- 13 13. SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS TO PLAN A TRIP TO SEE NATURE
1. TAKE A SHOT AT ROCKHOUNDING FOR A CHANGE IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
Do you have a geology enthusiast on your hands? Or perhaps it’s just a kid who enjoys digging in the dirt? This is also a good suggestion for your kids to spend more time outdoors.
Rockhounding, also known as amateur geology, is a wonderful opportunity for families all over the country to spend quality time together outside. Mineral specimens, rocks, semi-precious stones, petrified wood, and invertebrate fossils are collected from the soil as part of the activity of mineral collecting.
In order to avoid getting into trouble when on a road trip or while on a “field trip” that is only dedicated to digging for rocks and gems, it’s a good idea to double-check land ownership before embarking on a rockhounding excursion of any kind. You can also learn about rockhounding etiquette and rules and regulations on the Bureau of Land Management page so that your family can have precious time to spend more time outdoors. A good shoes will be an ideal partner for your kids in this activity.

2. TOY CARS CAN BE USED FOR OFF-ROADING
When my son was a toddler, he and his friends would take a handful of his prized vehicles to a park where they would vroom-vroom over pebbles, dirt, and twigs until they were exhausted. This gave them a more tactile experience than simply rolling them around on a coffee table, and they enjoyed sending cars careening down steep slopes.
Apparently, when you want your child to spend more time outdoors, they need to have some toys to be as friends. Then they will feel happy to enjoy.
3. SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS TO PLAY WITH CAMP KITCHEN
If your child enjoys preparing meals out of fake ingredients, he or she will enjoy playing “campfire” in the backyard. After you’ve helped him pack his pretend pots and pans, rubber chicken, and whatever else your little chef proposes into his backpack, you’ll set out to gather kindling and start a pretend “fire.”
4. ORGANIZE YOUR OWN OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE
You can make your backyard just as exciting and adventurous as traveling to a particular trip by designing a special outdoor play space for your children. It is possible to encourage exploration and sensory play for your children right in your own home, whether through the construction of sandboxes or tree houses, hammocks or tire swings, or even a mud kitchen den (a small outdoor space equipped with bowls and utensils as well as a sink, water and mud!).
It’s also fun to build up an obstacle course to keep the kids moving while simultaneously providing them with imaginative playscapes to encourage their growing imaginations. Some ideas include creating an imaginary gnome garden, a bear cave, or a wild animal safari. One-time tasks, such as making rainbow bubbles, can also be a fun and memorable experience.
Don’t think to be much complicated about spending more time outdoors with your child. You can take advantage of your available facilities as well as space. Just need some creative ideas. You totally can achieve it successfully.
5. TAKE BARBIE ON A WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
I remember taking my Barbie Country Camper to the backyard with my siblings and playing in it as Barbie, Skipper, and Ken roughed it. It was one of my favorite toys when I was a kid.
The kids would dig for treasure while we pretended a cool-looking stone was a nugget of gold, or we’d pelt them with “rain” (which involved Mom’s watering can). This type of imagination is sparked by being in the great outdoors.
So, when my son was younger, I would encourage him to bring his superheroes to the park with him. Is there a more effective way to demonstrate the Hulk’s power than to having him hoist an actual “boulder?” (Okay, so it was a rock, but it was still impressive.)
They should spend more time outdoors until they find the treasure, for sure, without any boring.
6. MAKE SOMETHING WITH YOUR HANDS
For little ones who enjoy painting on paper, painting on snow or the driveway will be a thrilling experience. Make a mixture of water and food coloring and pour it into spray bottles to allow your child channel the artist Jackson Pollock.

7. VISIT A BIRD – WATCHING PRESERVE
According to Jane Kirkland, author of the children’s book Take a Backyard Bird Walk, “Once kids are introduced to this pastime, a love of nature develops on its own.” In order to see birds, children must look everywhere from the sky to the ground and everywhere in between.
Learn about the birds that live in your area is a great idea to attract your children to spend more time outdoors. Bringing a pair of binoculars the next time you go for a walk with your toddler is a good idea.
Birds of prey can be found in trees, shrubs, telephone poles, and patches of grass. Take note of the colors, size, and behavior of a bird. Take time to listen to its melody and observe how it soars.
Younger children will require your assistance in identifying the birds they are observing, but older children can take notes and afterwards identify the species in books or on the internet. Bird feeders, birdbaths, and nest boxes can all be used to attract birds to your yard.
8. STICKS ARE USED TO SPELL IT OUT
While on a walk, use a twig to make letters in the sand or mud, or play the alphabet game (identify elements in nature that begin with the letters a, b, c, and so on) to pass the time.
The time will be longer and your children can spend more time outdoors to do those activities and forget how boring it is.
9. MUSIC IN THE STYLE OF ROCK
At our local botanical garden, one of my children’s favorite hobbies is to collect natural items such as rocks, acorns, and sticks, which they then store in storage containers. We shake them in order to hear the various sounds they produce.
Nature always has their own magic. Rocks, leaves or woods, even some mud also can attract your kids to spend more time outdoors to explore them.
10. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR DANGER
According to Veilleux, “one winter, my kids and I drove up to Mount Agamenticus in southern Maine and found ourselves standing face-to-face with an eerie snowy owl, which turned and glared at us.” “It was truly fantastic to have such a close interaction with the creature.”
Although you wish your child to spend more time outdoors to keep them active, you should consider the danger of the destination or the activities they will try.
11. ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WHEN THEY SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
Judy Chen, a New York City mom of Leo, 5, and aunt of Hazel, 7, is not a big fan of camping, but when Leo begged, she and her husband agreed to take the kids on an overnight vacation to the Adirondack Mountains.
It was difficult, but it was well worth it, especially as a teambuilding activity. It was important for the family to finish dinner before dark, so the children assisted in gathering sticks for a campfire and toasting marshmallows while the adults prepared the meal and cleaned up after themselves.
“The kids learnt to be resourceful and patient, and they discovered that they don’t need much to have a good time,” adds Chen. “They were pleased that they were able to assist, and it was a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time together as a family.”
Whenever the problems come, your children need time to solve it. That is the reason they have to spend more time outdoors. But, you should consider the suitable time to involve helping them otherwise, they will feel alone and may give up later on.
12. BRING YOURSELF TO THE WATER TO ATTRACT YOUR CHILD SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS
Aquatic habitats can reveal a plethora of creatures that your child may have never seen before, as well as textures, noises, and scents that they may have never experienced before.
“Tide pools are a favorite place for my daughters,” Veilleux explains. “They go on a treasure hunt for sea shells and other ocean treasures, which they subsequently use to decorate their sandcastles.” It’s no surprise that water has such a positive influence; according to a study conducted by Michigan State University, people who live with a view of the ocean or a lake report being generally happy.
For sure, playing with water is an activity helping your child spend more time outdoors and stick with this.
13. SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS TO PLAN A TRIP TO SEE NATURE
Perhaps you might consider planning a trip to spend more time outdoor with an adventure travel destination where you can go hiking, rock climbing, rafting, or visiting hot springs, among other activities.
The terrain for these activities may be right in your own backyard, or you may want to consider visiting one of the destinations listed by U.S. News & World Report as the best adventure vacation destinations. Your family can spend more time outdoors such as the Grand Canyon (which ranked first on the list).
The second one is Yellowstone (which boasts 3,000-plus square miles of mountains, canyons, geysers, and waterfalls), or the Adirondacks (which offer a variety of hiking, biking, and camping opportunities).
You can go skiing, snowshoeing, or bobsledding in the winter and biking, fishing, hiking, canoeing, and whitewater rafting in the summer.
For more outdoor activities ideas, browse this post and find the most suitable one that can apply for your kids.
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