These days, many adults and children spend much more time indoors than before.
We can most likely blame the rapid rise of technology, since it’s so much easier to play a game or scroll online indoors than to get outside.
This isn’t always a good thing, especially for children who are still developing and have so much to gain from the outdoors.
If you’d like to encourage your kids to spend more time outside, let’s break down the benefits of outdoor play and ways to encourage it.
Benefits of Outdoor Play
Unstructured outdoor playtime supports children’s development by building self-esteem.
The outdoors exposes them to various situations and, in turn, helps them to learn independently.
Outdoor play also improves physical health by reducing the risk of obesity.
Also, exposure to the sun’s rays supports vitamin D uptake, which supports muscle growth and aids the immune system (don’t forget the sunscreen!).
Playing outside also boosts creativity, as it gives kids a chance to make their own decisions when faced with different obstacles.
Add Fun To Your Backyard
Adding fun equipment like swings, toys, climbing frames, and more is a great way to get your kids outside more often.
Try to get a lot of these things for free by connecting with other parents and by looking at no-buy groups. Garage sales are also a great place to find cheap outdoor toys to fill your yard.
Plan Playdates
Inviting friends of your children over is a great way to give them a reason to play outside.
If they aren’t going outside on their own, you may need to lure them outside by setting up a table with snacks and toys. Also, consider activities they can do outside, such as a treasure hunt.
Use this one! Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
You can even set up arts and crafts for them to do outside. There are no rules saying crafts need to be done indoors. The same goes for books.
Read More: 21 Cheap and Fun Outdoor Activities for Kids
Introduce Gardening
Kids love to get outside and get their fingers dirty with sand and other elements of nature, even more so than adults.
Getting your kids involved with gardening activities is a great way to encourage them to spend more time outside.
Integrate Sports
Instead of just yanking technological devices away from your kids, encourage them to be more active outside.
You can do this by inviting them to play with a ball outside, and it applies to nearly any sport.
It can also help to play sports with them.
Set an Example
A great way to encourage your kids to spend more time outside is to lead the way by example.
It may seem a little hypocritical to tell your kids to spend more time outside when you are not doing it yourself.
Children learn more from what we do than from what we say they should do.
Arrange a Camping Weekend
Weather permitting, a family camping trip is one of the best ways to fully immerse your kids in the outdoors.
Even a single night away from screens and daily routines can spark a genuine love of nature.
You don’t need to rough it in the backcountry to make it memorable. A backyard camping night or a local campground works just as well for younger kids or first-timers.
Set up the tent together, let them help gather firewood or pitch in with simple camp chores, and keep the itinerary loose so there’s plenty of room for exploring.
