OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SUMMER
The Ultimate Summer Challenge
- June 10, 2020
Are you looking for new ways to improve your photography AND make memories with your kids this summer? Do you want to combine your passion for photos with fun outdoor activities your kids will love? If so, we have the answer! The Ultimate Outdoor Summer Challenge is my way of combining two of my biggest passions (photography and outdoor adventures). Join me as we create some fun memories with your kids and beautifully capture them this summer!

The Ultimate Summer Challenge

Run Wild My Child is partnering with Hello Storyteller (an online photography community) to bring you a unique and inspiring summer full of fun outdoor activities and creative photography tips! Whether you’re a newbie photographer looking to learn or an experienced photographer looking for ways to get inspired while making memories with your kids, this challenge will help fuel YOUR creative outlet during your kids’ fun!

Photo credit: @aspoonfulofwhimsy

8 weeks of fun!

Each week (for 8 weeks total), you’ll receive a fully-detailed 4-page PDF containing 2 pages from Run Wild My Child on each outdoor activity and 2 pages from Hello Storyteller filled with photography tips, advice, and inspiration. I’m handling the activity side and we’ve selected 8 simple, yet fun activities designed to get you and your kids outside, exploring and playing together. Paired with each activity, a HelloStoryteller Mentor or Pro will provide instruction and insight on how to photograph and document each of your adventures. From camera settings and creative angles, to the best time of day and location to shoot, to helpful editing suggestions!

Photo credit: @melindamaephotography

Activities for the kids

Each week of our course we roll out a new activity. You don’t need a ton of prep time or planning to pull these activities off. Just a sense of adventure and a desire to have fun and make memories. All the activities are budget-friendly, open-ended, appropriate for all ages, and safe for social distancing. You’ll get creative ways to make each activity fun for your kids (no matter what age), as well as thoughtful tips, gear/packing lists, and suggestions for you as the parent.

Our summer activities include: blowing bubbles, nature hike, pool time, bike riding, and more! (We’re not going to ruin the surprise by giving them all away!)

Our activities were designed to be applicable no matter where you live and can easily be adjusted to fit your schedule, location and comfort level. If you can’t do one of the activities, no worries! We’ll be available in an exclusive Facebook group to help you come up with alternatives or find an activity that will work for your family.

Photo credit: @jenniferconnellyphotography

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for any parent that wants to spend time with their kids this summer, have fun outdoor activities planned for them and wants to learn how to take better photos of their kids. Here are few of the most common questions I’ve received so far…
- What if I’m not “outdoorsy”? – While these activities are designed to get you outside as a family, they don’t require you to climb a mountain or hike the Appalachian Trail. We’ll meet you at your comfort level and hopefully gently encourage you to expand your horizons. We’re not going to make you do anything you don’t want to, but I think you’ll be really excited about the activities we have planned.
- What if I live in the city? – You don’t need access to mountains or rolling farmland – a city park or a backyard will suffice for most of these activities.
- What if I don’t have a fancy camera? – You don’t need a fancy DSLR to take great photos. Most phones are equipped with amazing cameras and there are tons of simple editing apps that will take your phone photos to the next level! We’ll show you how.
- What if I know nothing about taking photos or editing them? – That’s ok! In order to get good (or even get better) you have to start somewhere. We’re here to help hold your hand through the process and answer your questions!
- What if I’m already a good (or even amazing) photographer? – Please join us! This challenge will be fun for even expert photographers because it’s all about spending quality time with your kids outside and capturing beautiful moments. You’ll still get a lot out of the activity descriptions and will hopefully get inspired to try some new things. We’d love to have all skill levels represented and would welcome your expertise, feedback and encouragement for our newbies just getting started in their photography career.
- What if we’re still socially distancing? – 100% fine! We chose activities that were safe to do distant from others. Some areas are more “open” than others, but we know everyone has a different comfort level. If there are any activities you’re uncomfortable doing, we’ll help come up with alternatives.
Photo credit: @aspoonfulofwhimsy

When and where?

If the Ultimate Outdoor Summer Challenge sounds like just the inspiration you need to pick up your camera and get outside with your kids, sign up today! Our course is open for pre-sale right now and the first email will go out June 22nd. All adventures will be rolled out weekly after that. The course wraps up mid-August, just in time for back to school.

Photo credit: @jenniferconnellyphotography

Who’s involved?

Well, me! Do you need more than that? 😉 Just kidding! Run Wild My Child is handling the outdoor activity side of the challenge and a team of Hello Storyteller photographers will be handing the photography side and doing the teaching. Here are the amazing mamas (and their Instagram handles so you can swoon over their images) that will be putting together the materials for each activity and coaching you through the photography lessons:
- Kristen Ryan – @kristcx
- Melinda McIntyre – @melindamaephotography
- Chelsea Wert – @aspoonfulofwhimsy
- Jennifer Connelly – @jenniferconnellyphotography
Photo credit: @melindamaephotography

What’s included?
- 2-page detailed Activity PDF for each week (8 weeks total)
- 2-page in-depth Photography PDF for each week (8 weeks total)
- Membership in an exclusive Facebook Group where you can ask all your summer activity and photography questions, as well as take part in a Live Q&A video with me (Run Wild My Child) and a Hello Storyteller photographer each week!
- Opportunities to be featured on both Hello Storyteller (@hellostoryteller) and Run Wild My Child’s (@runwild.mychild) Instagram feeds
- All participants that complete activities all 8 weeks will be entered to win a prize pack of goodies! It’s going to be an awesome prize!
Photo credit: @kristcx

Sign up today

The pre-order period for The Ultimate Summer Challenge is open NOW!! Whether you’re a newbie photographer wanting to learn or are an experienced photographer wanting fresh inspiration, this challenge has something for everyone. Sign up NOW so you don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity. I can’t wait for you to join us!

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More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!
CRAFTS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOORS INSIDE, SPRING
DIY Flower Suncatcher
- May 26, 2020
Looking for a fun and simple way to bring a bit of color and nature into your home? Want an excuse to go out and pick some beautiful wildflowers? Are your kids are bored and need a fun craft project! We’re here to help! Today, Kathleen White, Arizona mom of three shows us how to make a DIY flower suncatcher with simple everyday items you probably already have at home. This fun and easy craft will encourage your kids to get outside and enjoy nature and give you a fun way to display it at home.

Bring the beauty of nature inside

With all of us being in our homes a little more than usual lately, it’s more important than ever to bring nature inside to us. We’re always looking for ways to bring more nature into our indoor lives and fun ways to stay entertained. Flower suncatchers are the perfect combination. This is a fun and super easy DIY project that you can do with kids of all ages. It’s easy to get the whole family involved in the process. Let’s get started with what you will need!

Gather your supplies

The beauty of this DIY flower suncatcher is that you probably have all of these items sitting at home. No need to leave your house, except to go pick some flowers! And since we’re all about getting kids outside, this is my favorite part of the process! Here are all the supplies you’ll need:
- Paper plates (preferably the old school ones, not foam plates)
- Markers or paint
- String or yarn
- Press N Seal wrap
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Flowers, leaves, grass, etc
Go flower picking

The first thing you need to do is to collect your flowers. Time to grab all the kids and get them outside to explore! Give them their mission to find as many flowers, leaves, foliage, grass, etc. as they’d like to use. Spend this time getting some of that energy out so they’ll be ready to focus on the craft when you get home! We chose to use a flower pot that was sitting around to put all of our treasures in. You can use whatever you have at home (bag, box, bowl, etc.)!

If you want to protect tiny hands, you can take along a pair of gloves. Not necessary, but may be a good option if you’ll be picking thorny flowers. Have fun with the flower picking portion of this project! Make it an adventure! Choosing different shapes, sizes, and colors will make each suncatcher unique!

Instructions for making a flower suncatcher

Step 1: Cut out the center circle from the paper plates.

Step 2: Once you have cut out all the circles, let the kids decorate the front of the paper plates. You can use colors, markers, paints, stickers or whatever else you have on hand.

Step 3: Place a sheet of the wrap paper on the front of the plate. Turn it over and add flowers. Next, place another sheet of the wrap paper on top and press the plate flat to allow the two pieces to stick together.

Step 4: Use the scissors to cut off any excess wrap around the edges.

Step 5: Punch two holes in the top and add your string so you can hang it up!

Show and share

See, I told you it was easy! Making DIY flower suncatchers is such a fun project for kids and a great way to display your nature treasures. The kids were so incredibly proud of their suncatchers. They added nature elements and fun color to our space and reminded us of our fun outing.

Are you ready to make your own DIY flower suncatcher? We want to see it! Post a photo of your suncatcher on social media and use the hashtag #runwildmychildDIY so we can see and share your creations!

About the author

I’m Kathleen, wife to my high school sweetheart and mama to 3 energetic littles. I’m a photographer in love with telling compelling stories of life’s beautiful chaos and photographing families authentically. I am slightly obsessed with window light, Saturday morning snuggles, and documenting our adventures. We recently took the biggest leap of faith of our lives and are currently traveling full-time around the United States in our RV!

You can follow our adventures in the following locations:
Website: http://www.faithboundtravel.com
YouTube: Faith Bound Travel
Instagram at @faithboundtravel
Other RWMC posts from Kathleen: Kathleen
HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY
Tips for Photographing Family Hikes
- April 29, 2020
Hiking is one of our family’s favorite ways to spend time together outdoors. Along with our traditional outdoor hiking gear (backpack, water, snacks, etc.), I always bring my camera along to document our adventure. Some of my favorite photographs of my kids are from family hikes, as they explore and play. Today, we have the amazingly talented Kristen Ryan, Oklahoma mom of 2 and photographer extraordinaire, here to give us some tips, tricks, and advice for photographing family hikes. Whether you’re shooting with a big fancy camera or your iPhone, these tips will help you capture some incredible moments outdoors with your kids and take your hiking photography to the next level.

Hiking with kids
Setting out on a hike with the family can be a great way to get outdoors and explore together. It can be a way of getting exercise while also enjoying some great views. Sometimes we need to get a little creative to keep the little ones enjoying the moment and pushing forward, there are so many fun activities to keep kids entertained and engaged while hiking. The Run Wild My Child website has some great resources for doing just that, check out some of these great articles:
Family hiking photography tips

When it comes to taking hiking photos, sometimes it’s at the top of my to-do list and sometimes it takes a back seat to just keeping my kids going. Hiking with kids tends to be all over the place and you never know what each day and hike will bring. I try to keep my expectations low and go into our hike armed with my camera, but willing to wait for the right moment. Today, I want to share with you some tips for easily capturing beautiful photos from the day and still allowing everyone to enjoy the hike uninterrupted.

1. Let everyone forget you have a camera

If your family is like mine, they don’t want to have to keep stopping for photo ops. In fact, the more you ask for pictures the less likely they will be willing to pose for you. My way to work around this is by letting them forget I have a camera. I try to set myself up for candid photos so that they don’t have to be moved or directed or interrupted from what they’re doing.

To get the shot I want without interrupting, I will pause a moment on a winding trail and wait for them to spread out along the turn to capture them in a line. If they stop to enjoy a view I will make sure I’m ready to capture the moment quickly before enjoying it with them. I will run up a little further on the trail to be ready for them to pass by then join in at the tail. My family is much more tolerant of my photo-taking if they don’t have to be interrupted during their hike.

2. Take advantage of the breaks

The next best trick for capturing great family hiking photos is to take advantage of your breaks. Need to stop for a water break or did you find a beautiful view? Use these pauses to capture the full scene. If we find a beautiful view I love to stop and take a water break at these spots. It gives the kids a moment to rest and it gives me some time to capture the beautiful surroundings as they enjoy and explore. I will have the kids sit in a safe spot where they can sit and have a drink and I will walk around them snapping a few photos with the beautiful scenery in the background.

3. Use nature as a leading line to your subject

Getting a great family hiking shot is all about the perspective and the angles. You can change so much just by changing your own position or using the natural elements around you to frame your subject. There are lots of opportunities to do this when you’re hiking. I just love how nature can so easily frame my subjects and that trails make great leading lines. Using natural elements is an easy way to draw your eye straight to your family even with a busy background.

When capturing your family, let the trail be a natural leading line through your photograph. I love to get low and allow the trail to guide my viewer’s eye through the frame right to my family and the story I’m wanting to tell. If you are in a tree-covered trail, try using branches and logs to help to frame your subjects. When having a scene full of similar colors and patterns, your family will stand out among the crowd just by contrast.

4. Stand out with color

Another way to get great photos of your family hikes is to have them stand out from the background. I don’t mean physically, but visually, with bright pops of color. This takes a little forethought, but it can be really helpful in photos. When we’re getting ready to go hiking, I try to keep my kids in bright solid colors. This helps them stand out a bit from the trees and bushes along the trails and brings your eye to them in a photograph. It is also a bonus when my kids like to run further up along the trail away from me. They still stand out and helps me to keep an eye on them while also giving them some freedom. This lets them enjoy the hike even more, because they feel like they are in charge of it.

5. Let them climb

If your kids are like mine, then they love to climb. They’re fearless and I sometimes have to regulate what they want to take on. 🙂 But climbing, even the smallest of rocks, is actually a great photo opportunity. I love it when we come across a place for them to try it. This is another great way to get them to stand out from the background and set them apart from the scene. You can do this by allowing them to get higher than the horizon. This doesn’t necessarily mean letting them go rock climbing up a cliff, but even a small little hill or boulder will do the trick.

You can make any hill or incline look much bigger by bringing your camera all the way to the ground and tilting your camera up to them. This will bring your horizon line down and make them appear higher. It also makes them stand out from the background! This is a great family hiking photography tip because they’ll be so proud of themselves and impressed when you show them the photo later.
Family hiking photography

I hope these tips and tricks will inspire you to get outside and go for a hike with your family. Don’t forget to take your camera along and try taking some images of your kids while you’re out and about. Not only will you capture moments in time you’ll want to remember forever, but you will get a little better with your photography skills with every photo you take! So grab your camera and hit the trails!

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!

Do you take photos of your family hikes?

About the author

Hello, I am Kristen. I am a wife and mother to two kids and three dogs. We love to be outside as much as we can. Our family loves to go camping together and have made it a goal to visit all of the Oklahoma state parks. We are over halfway there! I am a hobbyist photographer who enjoys documenting my family in creative ways. You can find me on Instagram at @kristcx.
CRAFTS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, URBAN NATURE
Creating Nature Fairy Gardens
- April 22, 2020
Are you looking for a nature activity for your children that requires no special preparation or supplies? Has the last month left you burnt out from trying to keep your children’s’ days full of magical projects that you have to shop for, plan, and oversee? Are your outdoor adventures currently limited to your own yard? Then this is the perfect activity for you! Today we have the amazing Leslie Alvis, Ohio homeschooling mama to four, here sharing a timeless nature play idea that can be adapted for any age or situation – the nature fairy garden. It’s a simple activity that requires only the materials you find in your own backyard! Nature fairy gardens can keep kids busy for hours gathering materials, building their unique creation, and then playing with it. It’s a wonderful way to incorporate nature and imaginative play.

Building memories with fairy gardens

Several years ago, when my oldest daughter was just a toddler, I found myself with an unexpected block of time to play with her outside. We were on vacation and I wanted to do something fun outdoors with her. However, we didn’t have any special activities or materials. My son was happily exploring the woods nearby and the baby was napping in the cabin. I was searching for something special we could do in the yard. I remembered one of my favorite outdoor activities when I was growing up: building a miniature dollhouse out in nature. Years before fairy gardens were a thing, I loved to build miniature gardens and houses with bits and pieces of nature. I spent hours designing and creating these little fairy gardens, and then playing with imaginary characters inside them.

A magical nature fairy garden

My daughter and I collected some moss, sticks, nuts, and rocks. We found a hollow at the base of a huge oak tree and began to build our own little fairy garden. I didn’t realize the significance of our creation until months later, when we were back at that cabin. My still-tiny daughter grabbed my hand and tugged me out to that same tree, begging me to build another fairy house with her. Our little nature project had made a lasting impression on her.

Building a nature fairy garden was something she wanted to do again—and again, and again. Now, building nature-oriented fairy gardens is something both of my older daughters love to do, too. And occasionally my son might join in, making a stockade or a fort of his own. They put their imaginations to work and create all kinds of fairy garden spaces.

Getting your fairy garden started

Building a nature fairy garden is so easy! You may have to get your children started with some materials or ideas, but they will probably carry on with little help. Unless, of course, you’re having too much fun to let them play alone!

To start with, pick your location. We like to use the base of a large tree where the roots jut out and make a natural hollow. The more interesting the space, the better! One of my daughters just spent two days playing in a little clump of grass for her little fairy house. Basically, you can use whatever place catches your eye.

Gathering materials for your fairy garden

The next step for your nature fairy garden is to have your child(ren) scout around the yard, neighborhood or local park for tiny bits of nature: sticks, moss, bark, nuts, unique stones, leaves, and flowers. We usually gather some small sticks to build our walls and moss for the floor. You can also lay down leaves or bark for the floor, or just use dirt. You can poke sticks into the ground for walls, transplant plants to create a natural border or build stone walls. Nature fairy gardens are immensely versatile. They easily adapt to different seasons and situations.

Making a potted nature fairy garden

Even if you don’t have a backyard, you can gather materials for a nature fairy garden and create one in a pot! Just start with a nice wide pot full of potting soil or sand. Then see what you can collect on a nature walk in a woods or park somewhere (as long as it’s a place where it’s okay to pick up natural materials!). You can build a nature fairy garden for your porch or even inside. You may wish to purchase some small plants for your pot (succulents or flowers). Just check the labels to make sure they aren’t going to take over your entire fairy garden space as they grow!

Adding finishing touches to your fairy garden

When you’ve created your basic structure or space for your fairy garden, your children get to decorate it. Our fairy gardens are usually dollhouses of sorts, and they get furnished accordingly. Stones become tables and shelves; seed pods and nuts, food. Acorn tops make perfect fairy dishes. I love seeing the amazing ideas my children come up with. This week we had an oven (with flowers baking inside) and a table built out of stones and bark. Both girls’ fairy gardens featured a stone shelf nestled in an uneven bit of bark. My daughters also created a bed in a nest of grass for a pine cone doll, a room hidden under a moss covering, and countless flower dolls.

The joys of creating fairy gardens

Once kids start creating their own fairy garden, they begin to see everything around them with new eyes. Every little thing around the yard has new potential. I’ve found that while I might have to get them started, my children very quickly take over this project and play for hours (or days) without me. Their imaginations and the beauty of nature combine to make creative, delightful fairy gardens. To me, this is the great benefit of outdoor play like this. I love seeing my children enjoy nature, using their hands and their imagination to entertain themselves and create something beautiful. They come back to their fairy gardens over and over.

Have you ever created a nature fairy garden?
What unique spin did you put on it?

Hi, I’m Leslie Alvis! I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, wife to my high school sweetheart, and mom to four rascally kids. They love the outdoors as much as I do, and our yard often feels like the scene from “The Sound of Music” where you hear voices and laughter and can’t find any children until you look up into the trees. I love writing, photography, and all things outdoors, and do pretty much everything with my kids tagging along. We live in Northeast Ohio on the edge of Amish Country, where it’s perfectly normal to park beside a horse and buggy at the grocery store.

We homeschool, which basically means that I’m trying to teach my kids to use their minds without losing my own. While we follow a traditional curriculum, I weave every outdoor adventure I can into our educational journey. I believe that the lessons children experience firsthand sink deepest into their hearts and minds, and there is so much we can learn outside in the beauty and wonder of nature.

You can find Leslie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @c_l_allofus
Client work: @lalvisphotography
RWMC posts: Leslie Alvis
BEACH, BIKE, CRAFTS, GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, HIKE, HOLIDAYS, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, WATER
15+ Activities to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids
- April 14, 2020
Earth Day is next week and the world needs you and your actions! There are so many things parents and kids can do to help protect, preserve and restore our planet – from cleaning up, to recycling, composting, planting a garden or just enjoying the beauty of nature! Today, we have Chelsea Furlong (professional photographer and eco-conscious mom of 2) here with 15+ eco-friendly activities kids and families can do together to celebrate Earth Day. And bonus that all these activities can be done at or around the home, while socially distancing.

15+ Earth Day Activities With Kids

Earth Day 2020

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. On that historical day, 20 million Americans filled the streets with protests to stop the destruction of our precious planet. This essentially started what became the planet’s largest civic event and an environmental movement. Since then, Earth Day has been celebrated annually worldwide on the 22nd day of April.

While this year is a bit of an anomaly and we’ll have to celebrate at (or close to) home and away from others (no marches or protests this year), there’s no reason why this can’t be the best Earth Day celebration ever! Use this as a way to avoid shopping/purchasing anything new (especially plastics) and use what you’ve already got on hand in new ways. Get creative and make the most out of the things you already own or can find in nature close to home.

Celebrating Earth Day with kids

Getting kids involved in taking care of the planet when they’re young encourages them to continue the tradition as they get older. It’s a parent’s job to teach kids to be good stewards of the earth encourages them to love and respect their planet and nature. There are so many amazing ways you can celebrate this day with your kids and family while being conscious of your carbon footprint. Here are some of my favorites!

1. Nature scavenger hunt

Make a list of things found in nature around your home, neighborhood or a local park. Then go out for a walk or hike with the family and see how many items you can find. In order to save paper, you could make the list on your phone or a reusable dry erase board or reusable writing board. We love our Boogie Board writing tablets for things like this!

2. Neighborhood clean up

Grab some gloves and garbage bags and beautify your neighborhood by removing all the trash humans have tossed around. My kids actually love doing this because they almost always find treasures they want to clean up and keep. Our oldest son keeps a whole lot of other people’s discarded items to use in creating art and sculptures, and we don’t mind one bit! We get to enjoy his creative mind while giving the trash a second life before it’s tossed into a landfill for decades, centuries, or possibly forever.

3. Family bike ride

Going on a family bike ride is a great way to get the family outside enjoying what Mother Earth has to offer while being active and adventurous! Head to your favorite bike trail or try a new one. You can enjoy your town or city without polluting the air and you’ll feel so great afterward!

4. Get out on the water

Spend the day observing nature from the water. Instead of using something motorized, try a kayak, rowboat, stand-up paddleboard, or other pollution-free water vehicle.

5. Make a bird feeder

There are TONS of ways to DIY a bird feeder using recycled materials. We made bird feeders using recycled toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, and even pine cones! We have a great post on making ec0-friendly bird feeders with kids using materials you already have at home! No need to leave the house!

6. Practice Earth Day yoga

My kids love doing yoga! Celebrate Earth Day with kids by doing a special outdoor kid-friendly yoga session. Stand barefoot in the grass so you can feel the earth under your feet and are grounded. Breathe in the fresh air and feel the sunshine and wind on your skin. You can pick some earth and animal-related poses to do. Tree, turtle, butterfly, lotus, and frog are some of my children’s’ favorite yoga poses.

7. Make seed bombs or seed paper

Another great activity to celebrate Earth Day with kids is to make seed bombs (with clay) or seed paper using recycled paper scraps you have lying around the house or in your recycling bin! You can bomb an area in your yard or neighborhood and see how they grow over the spring. Or give them out as gifts to friends or leave them on a neighbor’s doorstep as an Earth Day present. Feel free to use my seed paper valentine instructions as a guide, with a few swaps. Change the color (to blue/green) and shape (to a circle like the Earth) to match the Earth Day theme.

8. Start a garden

Kids love playing in dirt! Have them help you make a family garden. You can plant a flower garden or edible garden, and work together to take care of the plants. If you don’t have a lot of space or live in a city, you can always do a potted garden or patio garden! We don’t have a lot of space to plant edibles where we live, but we still try to grow some herbs and vegetables every year using pots and containers. Here are some recommendations for easy vegetables to grow with kids and a great post on how to make gardening enjoyable for kids.

Eco Tip: Be sure to buy the pots/containers pre-loved at a thrift store or from someone else!

9. Plant a tree

There’s no better time than Earth Day to plant a tree! Spring is a great time to plant and Earth Day is a great reason. Pick a special spot to plant a family tree that you all can visit for years to come! If you plant a fruit tree, you’ll also have the added benefit of beautiful blossoms and fruit you can enjoy once your tree is mature.

10. Make earth art

Doing an art project is always a fun way to celebrate and document any holiday. Making art from natural materials is so much fun to create. Plus, there’s a fun added benefit in that other people will find joy when they come across your artwork! You can use any kind of materials you find in nature to create a masterpiece on the ground. We like to use shells, sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, petals, nuts and sand.

11. Start composting

Starting a compost is something that has been on my list to do for years now and I think Earth Day is when we’ll start! My oldest son has been bringing me food scraps daily, asking to put it in a compost instead of the garbage. I promised him we would do some research and begin one soon. We don’t live in a rural area and don’t have much of a backyard space so our compost will need to be small. However, there are plenty of great options for composting in small spaces and in the city! A friend uses this composting tumbler in their backyard and adds the finished compost to their flower beds. You could research composting with your kids and start this year, too! And when you start your compost project, make sure to include a few bins for little hands so the kids can help out, too!

12. Have a picnic

A great way to get outside and enjoy nature is by having a picnic. You can have a picnic inside or outside! But be sure to keep it earth friendly by:
- packing your picnic in reusable containers,
- bringing reusable utensils/straws/water bottles, and
- bringing cloth napkins/hand towels.
Bonus: Try to reduce your picnic carbon footprint by preparing a vegan meal!

13. Take a hike

One of our favorite outdoor activities is hiking. Hiking always inspires us to take care of our beautiful planet by reminding us just how impressive nature can be! This year, if you can safely get out to a place away from others, take a fun Earth Day celebratory hike. Bring along a bag to pick up any trash/litter you see and some binoculars to do some birding while you’re out!

14. Make nature crowns

Nature crowns are a really fun and easy craft you can make and wear in celebration of Earth Day! No need to buy anything, just use whatever you can find in nature. You can make nature crowns out of just about anything – flowers, grasses, clover, vines, sticks, dandelions or wildflowers! Be creative and have fun with it!

15. Make nature paint brushes

Head out on a nature walk and collect different materials to use as paintbrushes! Pick up things like sticks, leaves, long blades of grass, flowers, etc. Take them home and dip them in paint to make a family piece of artwork to hang up forever. It’s a great way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. You’ll be able to look at the art you made and remember the time you spent with your children for years to come.

16. Earth Day puppet show

Another fun way to celebrate Earth Day with kids is to make puppets with materials from your recycling bin. Or, you could make sock puppets from all those single socks you have lying around! You can have your children do some research online or read some books about ways to protect our planet. Then they can share what they’ve learned by putting on a puppet show! This is also an amazing activity to share with family and friends on FaceTime or other video chatting app during quarantine. You don’t have to leave your house and you can bring some joy to others in isolation from a safe distance!

17. Make sculptures, art, or robots using items in your recycling bin

My kids love making art from trash! It gives those items one more life before they get tossed into the recycling bin or trash can. Use materials you would normally throw away or recycle and repurpose them into art, a sculpture or a robot (or a monster or an alien or anything!). Let them paint and decorate their creation. Display it proudly!

18. Build a fort

Another great way to celebrate Earth Day is to head out into the woods with your family and make a fort together! Use materials found on the ground to design a shelter. (Do NOT take down anything alive! I’m sure you’ll have plenty of options that are no longer alive and that have fallen to the ground without the help of humans!) You could have a picnic inside your fort, read some books, or just sit in the quiet and observe Earth’s gifts surrounding you.

How will you celebrate Earth Day with your family?

About the author

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. Our family loves biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
RWMC posts: Chelsea Furlong
CRAFTS, HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES, SPRING
How To Make Natural Dye For Easter Eggs
- April 8, 2020
Spring brings with it blooming flowers, rain showers, and Easter eggs! If you’re like us, you’re probably stuck at home right now looking for things to do with the kids (here’s a huge list if you need more ideas for outdoor spring activities for kids). Dying eggs with natural ingredients one of those activities (#88)! It’s also a super fun social distancing activity for the whole family. Today, Texas photographer and mom of two (with another on the way), Tiffany going to walk you through how to make natural dye for Easter eggs, using household, backyard and pantry items that you already have at home like spices, fruits, veggies, and foraged plants! Get ready for the fun!

Up your Easter fun without leaving the house

While lots of egg dying tutorials will use super colorful dyes made from fancy ingredients, we’re going to make this simple and easy for you. We want to show you how to use household items from your fridge, pantry, and backyard to make dyes. No need to put yourself at risk by going to the grocery store. And no need to purchase expensive store-bought Easter egg dyes. There are lots of items you can use to make all sorts of colored dyes right around your home. Your kids will be so surprised and impressed that dyes can be made from so many ordinary things! And this will surely elevate your Easter egg hunt to the next level.

Gather your household materials

Start by having the kids collect items that can be used to make dyes. For this tutorial, we used blueberries, beets, the tops of carrots, wildflowers, and turmeric. So many things you have on hand WILL work! Have some fun by searching your yard, pantry, and your fridge! Have some fruits or veggies going bad?! Perfect!

Some other ideas for items to use to make natural dye are: purple or red onions, dandelions, raspberries, spinach, paprika, kale, green onions, chili pepper, red cabbage, red peppers, or yellow onion skins! The options are endless, and super fun to experiment with!

Supplies for naturally dyed eggs
- hardboiled eggs cooled to room temperature (note: brown and assorted color eggs will dye differently)
- fruit, veggies, spices, foraged plants and flowers from the backyard
- water
- white vinegar
- glass Mason jars
- sheer pantyhose
- rubber bands
- scissors
- wildflowers/foliage for decorating eggs
- strainer (cheesecloth or a paper towel also work!)
How to make natural dye for Easter eggs

Put 6 cups of water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add 2-4 cups of whatever natural substance/ingredient you are trying to pull color from to the boiling water. Make sure your ingredients are chopped up, which helps with the color extraction process. Add 3 tablespoons of white vinegar. Let the mixture boil for about 10 minutes, then turn the heat down and simmer for 20 more minutes. Remove from heat and strain the liquid into a mason jar(s). Repeat the process for each additional dyes and colors.

Naturally dying eggs

Place hardboiled eggs into each dye and let them sit. We HIGHLY recommend you soak the eggs at least 24 hours! The longer you leave them in, the more pigmented your eggs will be! After eggs are desired color, remove from dye and place on a towel or paper towel until dry. Please note these dyes WILL stain fabrics, so be extra careful.

Adding flowers and prints

We love to make our naturally dyed eggs a little extra fancy with flower and leave prints and added dried wildflowers. To do this, start by cutting pantyhose into 5-6 inch strips. Lay the small plants/flowers of your choosing across the egg. Carefully place pantyhose around the egg pulling them as tight as possible from the opposite side and secure with a rubber band. Repeat as desired. Place the eggs in the jars with the dye for at least 24 hours (as recommended above). Remove the eggs and let dry. Use scissors to cut pantyhose off off eggs at the base of rubber band and carefully remove the pantyhose. This is the fun part! You can leave the flowers/greenery pressed on or remove them for a print!

Natural dye for Easter eggs

And that’s it! Making natural dye for Easter eggs is easy as can be. We hope you’ll give this fun technique naturally dying eggs using household items and foraged materials a try. Make sure to tag us in your images if you post them online and we’ll be sure to share! We can’t wait to see how your eggs turn out and all your creative dyes. Stay safe out there.

Have you ever made natural dye for Easter eggs?

About the author

Tiffany is a homeschooling Mama of three earthside children (one baby boy on the way) and one baby girl that travels among the stars. She is a vintage obsessed, wicker collecting, tree-loving photographer, creator, painter, writer and loves to document her children’s childhood and is passionate about sharing her take on motherhood, raising children outside of the “norm” and in nature. You can find Tiffany on Instagram at @dear.wildlings.
GEOCACHING, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PRINTABLES, SPRING, URBAN NATURE
10 Outdoor Social Distancing Activities for Kids in a City
- March 19, 2020
With social distancing firmly in place and schools being closed for the foreseeable future, parents all across the country are trying to figure out what to do with your kids. While it’s probably no surprise to anyone reading this website, we HIGHLY recommend getting outside and into nature with your kids. But only if that’s a safe and viable option. If you have access to the great outdoors and time to spend, by all means, we hope you take advantage of it.

However, outdoor social distancing may not be easy for everyone. Particularly those who live in a city and may not have close access to wide open (and remote/unpopulated areas). However, there are still things you can do outside as a family that keep your distance from others and give your kids the chance to burn off some of that energy. Today, we have Desirée Macke, Southern California mom of 2 here sharing 10 ways to get outside while being socially distant in a city.

An unexpected turn of events

This spring was supposed to be full of travel and adventure for our family. However, in the blink of an eye, like the rest of the country, our plans were quickly thwarted due to COVID-19. When schools were canceled for multiple weeks I quickly went to work planning where we could go exploring with the kids. Joshua Tree National Park immediately popped into mind. It’s one of our favorite places. I had full intentions of loading the kids up to go rock climbing to get away from it all. Then, things regarding health and safety escalated and our plans were set aside.

Social distancing in a city

For a moment I went into panic mode. How in the world were we going to get the kids outside while social distancing in a huge city? All the places we enjoy going (National Parks, the beach, local parks, etc.) are always full of people. It’s not like we can simply turn to our backyard…we don’t have one! We live in a townhome. Right now, for many people in urban areas, getting outside while being safe can be a bit challenging, particularly because we all like to go outside to the same places.

I took a deep breath, looked at what we do have at our disposal. I put together a list of 10 outdoor social distancing activities for kids and families in cities so that you can still get outside all while staying safe and active.

1. Geocaching

A while back we covered the basics of geocaching. Our kids don’t get much screen time, so geocaching is really fun and exciting for my kids. When I hand over the phone to my son so he can follow the map, read the clues, and search for geocaches, it’s a really big deal. We’ve found several caches in our neighborhood while out for a walk. There are many more near us that we’ll be hunting down in the next few weeks. We’ll have plenty of time to do so!

2. Agents of Discovery app

This may be pretty specific to Southern California, but, there are a LOT of people here, so I hope I’m reaching someone who is searching for things to do with kids! While visiting a local nature center/trail we enjoy hiking, we discovered there is an interactive app that is great for kids to utilize while hiking. Along the trail, there are multiple challenges the kids complete to earn points.

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes my kids lose interest in our hikes very quickly. However, this app keeps my kids engaged while on the trail. Bonus points: the whole family learned a copious amount of information on the flora and fauna in our area. Now my son wants to visit all the trails included on the app. It’s beeen a great outdoor social distancing activity for my kids to keep them active and entertained.

During this time, please use your best judgment on whether being out on the trials is smart and safe for you, and those you may encounter on the trail.

3. iNaturalist app

I promise this is the last tech/screen suggestion. But, this is one of my favorite apps because it can be used anywhere! Since we’re stuck around the house, we’ve been taking many walks around our neighborhood. I’ve learned over the years that the kids need a goal on our walks to keep them occupied and entertained. Otherwise just walking around can get pretty boring for them.

During our walks, I ask them to find plants, flowers, even animals, that they don’t know the names of. We then turn to iNaturalist, snap a photo of said plant/animal. The app then pulls up a list of items that are likely to be what we have discovered, and we select the answer that best fits what we have found. It’s been really neat to learn together what we have right here in our little neighborhood. Using an app like this to learn and document our adventures has been a really fun and educational outdoor social distancing activity for the kids.

4. Scavenger hunt

Anyone can do a scavenger hunt! Anywhere! Trust me, they’re super easy to put together and really fun for the kids! It only takes a few minutes of planning. I usually compile a quick list of easy-to-find items just before we head out the door. You can write them all down on a piece of paper, in your phone or keep a tally in your head. Tell the kids what they’re looking for and let them explore! Once the kids find all the items on their list they earn a prize (which is usually just something from our pantry).

The great thing about scavenger hunts is that you can completely customize them to your specific location and to your children’s ages and skill level. I will often make two different lists. For my son, I’ll ask for specific things, such as, “find a maple leaf”. For my youngest, I keep it pretty basic for her, “find a yellow leaf”.

5. Nature bingo

Much like the scavenger hunt and iNaturalist, we utilize nature bingo while we’re on our morning walks. This is a great and easy outdoor social distancing activity for kids. Each child has a BINGO card filled with plants, flowers, and animals we typically see in our neighborhood. The game is a great way to keep the kids moving along our sidewalks with little to no complaining, and a goal to reach. They get pretty excited when they hit a BINGO, and I get excited that we’ve clocked more hours outside.

Above is a blank Bingo printable you can print off and fill in as you go.

6. DIY sidewalk chalk paint

You’ve probably seen this fun and easy craft idea, but it’s worth repeating because the kids love it. I’m not sure what they enjoy more, the making of the paint, or the actual painting. Either way, it keeps them busy, entertained, and outside.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own sidewalk chalk paint:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup corn starch
- Food dye colors of your choice
- Muffin tin
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Paintbrushes
In your mixing bowl add the warm water and corn starch. Whisk until cornstarch is dissolved. Pour your mixture in equal parts into the muffin tin. Add food dyes. Let the kids grab a paintbrush and go to work!

We are fortunate to have a patio, so the kids generally head out there to paint the pavers. But if we’re feeling extra adventurous we’ll paint the sidewalks around our front door.

7. Obstacle courses

We are lucky to have an alley that serves as our makeshift back yard. When the kids get tired of just riding up and down the alley on their bikes/scooters/etc. we’ll make an obstacle course. Getting the kids in on the creation of the course makes it that much more fun. Seeing their minds work to put together their course is just as much fun as watching them navigate the course. We use whatever we can find in our garage: jump ropes, plyo boxes, sidewalk chalk for the start and finish line, anything we can pull out!

I know not everyone has an alley, but many obstacle courses can be created in parks that have large green space! Think cones and hula hoops! Again, please use discretion during this time when visiting your parks.

8. Slackline

We may not have a yard or huge trees. However, we DO have a garage. That space has been maximized to the fullest. We purchased the kids a slackline and have it set up in the garage! We have it hung high, with different ropes and rings hanging from the line. The kids like to pretend they are Ninja Warriors, and monkey across it, aiming for the best time, or simply making it across without falling. If you don’t have a garage, check out parks with open spaces and large trees. It’s been a fun alternative to the monkey bars and traditional playground equipment we’re used to, but trying to avoid.

9. Leaf confetti

We mentioned making leaf confetti in our 100+ Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids, but it is worth mentioning here, and applies any time of the year! And, this project has been our saving grace on those afternoons where we’re starting to get the wiggles and need an activity. This one engages our gross motor skills (walking around our neighborhood), fine motor skills (paper punching), and eye-hand coordination.

As we walk around our neighborhood the kids collect leaves they deem worthy of paper punching. Once we’ve gathered a hefty amount, we head home and start punching away. The different shaped punchers give the confetti a little more of a whimsical feel, but any shape will do. After a large amount of confetti is made the most fun is tossing it in the air!

10. Puddle jumping

More often than not, my kids are in school when it rains, so many puddle opportunities have slipped by us. However, during our time social distancing, we have had several days where it has rained. We could view this as doomy and gloomy. But, instead, we have taken advantage of all the puddles! All we need our rainboots and rain jackets, and we go. to. town. on every puddle we find. The kids always have so much fun splashing away, and this activity is perfect to get outside, as most people opt to stay indoors when it rains.

During this incredibly crazy and uncertain time, one thing holds true. We all need to get outside for our health and sanity.

If you live in an urban area, what are some of your favorite outdoor social distancing activities for kids?

About the author

I’m Desirée; wife to Scott, mom to Marcus and Julia. I’m the domestic engineer (that’s my fancy term for stay-at-home-mom) of the family. My husband, kids, and I love the outdoors. Our favorite ways to explore are hiking the coastal trails near us as well as combing the tide pools for aquatic treasures. To quench our thirst for wide-open spaces beyond the hustle and bustle of our urban jungle. We love to visit state and national parks, as well as conservation areas and nature preserves.

You can find Desirée online in the following locations:
Personal IG: @desireemacke
Cookie Biz IG: @coolingrackconfections
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING
Four-Leaf Clover Hunt with Kids
- March 17, 2020
While a four-leaf clover may bring you love or luck once you have it, you don’t need a ton of luck to find one. All you need is a little patch of clover and a little patience. Today, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to go on a four-leaf clover hunt with your kids. Using a few of the following tips and tricks, you’ll not only increase your chances of finding a little luck, but you’ll also get to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine while you’re at it. If you need a super simple outdoor activity to keep the kids entertained outside (with very little/no prep work required), this activity is for you!

Love, luck, faith, and hope

Four-leaf clovers have long been associated with good luck. The leaves of a four-leaf clover are said to stand for faith, love, hope, and, of course, luck. Four-leaf clovers have been used over the years to bless new marriages, help lonely souls find their soulmates, heal the sick, ward off evil spirits and are even rumored to allow the holder to see magical fairies.

Do you see the 4-leaf clover in the photo above?!

Clover fun facts for kids
- The white clover’s Latin name is Trifolium repens.
- Clover is a genus of the pea family.
- Clover grows worldwide, mainly in Northern Hemisphere, but also in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes on mountains in the tropics.
- For every “lucky” four-leaf clover there are approximately 5,000- 10,000 three-leaf clovers.
- Some clovers produce five or more leaves? Some traditions say that anything over four is actually bad luck!
- The world record for leaves on a clover is 56!
- Three-leaf clovers are said to represent the holy trinity.
- It is believed that Ireland is home to more four-leaf clovers than any other place, hence the phrase “the luck of the Irish.”
- Some traditions say that four-leaf clovers are only lucky if you keep them hidden, while others say your fortune doubles if you give your clover to another.
- Abraham Lincoln carried a four-leaf clover with him everywhere for good luck. However, on the night he was assassinated he was not carrying it.
How to find a four-leaf clover

If you want to go on a four-leaf clover hunt with your kids, you don’t need much! Find a nice patch of clover where you can start your hunt. According to research, there is usually one four-leaf clover for every 5,000-10,000 three-leaf shamrocks. Around 200 clovers can be found in a 60-square centimeter plot of clover. Therefore, a space of about 1.2 square meters (or 4 square feet) should contain at least one four-leaf clover.

Start your four-leaf clover hunt by slowly scanning the patch of clover. Don’t try to look at every clover individually. Instead, stand above the clover and look for any that jump out at you as different. Look for a diamond shape, instead of a triangle. Many times the fourth leaf of a four-leaf clover is smaller or a different shade of green than the other three leaves. This anomaly will help you find the lucky clover in the patch that looks different than all the others.

If scanning the patch from above isn’t working, try getting down on your knees. Gently skim the surface of the clover patch with your hands. Focus only on the clovers that your hand touches, checking for that extra lucky leaf.

If you think you see a four-leaf clover, gently separate it from the other nearby clovers to make sure it has four leaves. Sometimes clover is clumped close together and gives the false impression of four leaves.

Extra lucky or not lucky?

If you’re lucky and find a four-leaf clover, stay in the area and look for more. The genetic mutation that caused the four-leafer is more likely to produce another nearby.

Don’t worry if you don’t find a four-leaf clover; they’re rare for a reason! The more often you look for one, the more likely you are to eventually find one. In the meantime, get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of the clover patch.

Have you ever found a four-leaf clover?
NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Winter Nature Walk Ideas for Kids
- February 20, 2020
Exploring nature outdoors with kids doesn’t have to stop when the weather turns cold! Winter is a great time to get outside, get active and create memories with your family. There are so many great benefits of getting outdoors with your kids during the cold winter months. We’ve got a huge list of great winter outdoor activities for kids, and today we’re doing a deep dive into one of them. The absolutely fantastic Jemma (UK mom and teacher) of Thimble and Twig is here sharing ideas for taking a winter nature walk with kids.

Winter is wonderful

Even though some of nature is sleeping, it’s fun to watch the changing seasons and there’s still so much to learn about nature during the winter. It’s fun for kids to think about why animals hibernate and what’s happening to the trees. And to top it all off, winter is really beautiful! Ice crackling underfoot, sculpted snowflakes and the little glimmers of green leaves and red berries beneath the frost. If you’re looking for ways to get your kids out and about this winter, here are some great ideas for a winter nature walks with kids.

Things to do on a winter nature walk with kids

There are so many great things to do while on an outdoor winter nature walk with kids. Sometimes our nature walks are completely unstructured, giving us the freedom to explore and play at our own pace as we want. But other times (particularly with younger kids), we like having planned activities to do on our nature walks. This keeps the little ones occupied and entertained.

Make a mandala

There are still lots of greenery around during winter to make some gorgeous mandalas. Making a winter nature mandala is a lovely outdoor activity for kids to create in our garden or whilst on a woodland walk. Use leaves, twigs/branches, pinecones, grass and anything you naturally find in your area. Try adding red berries or moss for some added extra color.

Penny hike

A penny hike is a good way to keep kids interested on a long hike and actively looking forward to your progress. Before you begin, assign heads to left and tails to right (or visa versa) and then every time you arrive at a junction – flip your penny to decide whether you’ll turn left or right on your walk. Kids will love being in control of your destination and not knowing ahead of time which way you’ll go!

Hansel and Gretel walk

Remember how Hansel and Gretel used breadcrumbs so they didn’t lose their way? Kids will love leaving a trail for themselves so they can follow their way back! You might want to use flour as opposed to breadcrumbs because any dogs may ruin your route back otherwise!

Matchbox challenge

Do you always have pockets full of sticks and stones that your kids collect? A sweet activity for little ones that helps them observe nature more carefully is to give them a matchbox to collect their nature treasures. Having to choose only tiny things to pop into their matchbox helps them examine nature with more of a keen eye. Plus, you won’t end up with a backpack full of huge rocks or giant branches!

Cloud chart

Winter has some spectacular sunsets and the cloud formations in the sky during the day can form in beautifully interesting ways. Kids will enjoy examining the clouds and making a few observations. Try at different times of day to identify the following:
- Height: Where in the sky the cloud typically occurs (low-level, mid-level, or high-level)
- Color: The color of the cloud
- Shape: The form the cloud typically takes
- Weather: Draw the weather that occurs with the clouds
Start a nature journal

Nature journaling for kids is a lovely activity that helps expand your child’s creativity and curiosity by helping them record their observations. They can write, draw or even paint their nature adventures and nature finds. Here are loads of great ideas and tips on how to start a nature journal with kids.

If you’re unsure of what kind of nature journal to use with kids, here’s a lovely nature journal for kids that’s easily printable and includes 21 activities to help your kids explore nature and have magical outdoor adventures.

Examine snowflakes with a magnifying glass

If you’re lucky enough to have snow in the winter, let the kids see what the snowflakes look like up close. They truly are magical and unique! Catch them on a dark cloth or dark glove and observe them up close and personal. The kids could even draw them in their nature journal. Another idea is to study icicles. Have the kids figure out how and why they form? Measure them over the course of a few days and see how they change.

Take a footprints walk

Going on a footprints walk is all about being observant of the things around you. This one is great on a snowy day. All you need to do is look for footprints in the snow or mud and try to identify who/what made them. How many can you spot? Use an animal identification book to track them back to their owner.

Go on a senses walk

What does winter sound like? How does winter feel? What smells do you smell in winter? Can you paint winter? Can you taste the snow? What sounds remind you of winter? Go on a walk and see how many senses you can engage.

How to warm kids up on a winter nature walk

Kids can get chilly on winter walks, which makes them unmotivated. In order to keep them moving, one of my favorite things to bring with us on a winter hike is a flask of hot chocolate. This is great for warming kids, up but also for motivating them to the next stop.

As for warm clothing, thermals are really useful in winter. Separate layers are essential for trapping the air and keeping the skin dry and warm. Woolly hats are also an essential item on a long cold walk. With the majority of your body heat escaping from your head, the best way of ensuring that your kids are as toasty and comfortable as possible is to pop a hat on them. Gloves are also necessary for little hands. The best kind of ones are ski gloves that don’t get wet even when your kids are collecting treasures or playing around with snow. Usually, wool gloves get too wet when kids are playing, so it’s best to keep their hands snug with waterproof ski gloves.

Things to take on a winter nature walk with kids

As I mentioned, a flask of hot chocolate is wonderful on winter walks! You might also like to take a basket/bag to collect things, notebooks or nature journals; pens and watercolour paint tins are also good for making notes and drawing pictures. Kids might like binoculars or a magnifying glass to look through. A kids’ identification book for birds or bugs is also useful.

Happy winter wandering!
We hope this has helped you plan some fun winter walks!

About the author

I’m Jemma and I live in London, England with my husband and 4 kids. My all-time favorite thing to do is take photos and capture memories of my family. I’m on a mission to ensure parenthood doesn’t rush by so quickly by creating mini family outdoor adventures and hopefully some big adventures too one day! I’m a mum to four and an English teacher to many; my passion for storytelling, adventures and nature crafts is packaged up into my blog http://www.thimbleandtwig.com. You can also follow along on our adventures on Instagram @thimbleandtwig.
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Hidden Benefits of Outdoor Winter Play for Children
- January 31, 2020
As the old saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life!” And nothing provides quite a much variety throughout life as the changes of the seasons. When the seasons change, a whole host of new outdoor activities become available for families and for children. And winter is no exception. Today we have Ginny from 1000 Hours Outside, a homeschooling mom from Michigan (where it is a balmy 21 degrees outside, which may actually feel quite nice depending on where you live) sharing her perspective on the benefits of outdoor winter play. Instead of riding out the frigid temperatures and waiting for spring, we hope this post will encourage you to head outside for some beneficial outdoor winter play!

Benefits of Outdoor Winter Play

Winter is worth it

Depending on your location, there will be certain seasons that are more conducive to outside time than others. Winter is probably not too many parents’ favorite season for outdoor play. The gloves, the hats, the scarves, the snow pants, the layers, the whining! We know! We know! It probably takes longer for you to get everyone dressed in their layers than the time you actually spend in the open air. Am I right?

Yes, you’ll have a pile of wet and melting gear afterward. And lots of muddy clothes to wash. But, instead of looking at seasons as good or bad we like to look at them as opportunities to try new things. Yes, winter brings its own set of challenges, but it also brings special magical outdoor activities you can’t do any other time. We promise you that getting outside in the winter months is worth your time and effort! Read on to learn just some of the benefits of outdoor winter play. We just might turn you into a fan of winter after all!

Winter play enhances brain function

Did you know that increasingly complex movements enhance brain function? We tend to think of movements becoming more intricate only through that first year of life. A baby begins by lifting the head and then pushing to all fours. Next, baby is crawling pulling up and finally walking, all within a relatively short span of time. But what then?

After those initial milestones, the milestones continue though not as linearly. Think of the complexity of bike riding and swimming, pitching a baseball and climbing a tree. Children who are given ample time to play outside and try these activities will naturally progress to more difficult bodily movements, all while boosting brain function.

In Smart Moves: (Why Learning is Not All in Your Head), Carla Hannaford, Ph.D. writes “Elderly people who dance regularly decrease their risk of dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease by 76% and those that play a musical instrument decrease the risk by 69%.” These statistics portray the importance of sophisticated movements.

So what, you say. What does all of this have to do with outdoor winter play? Well, I’m so glad you asked! Consider the movements associated with outdoor winter play beginning with the simple act of walking in snow or on ice (in thick/heavy boots and clothing, no less). Immediately, the brain is fired up! This is a new experience – and a complex one. Legs must go higher, balance is tested. Throw in some other activities such as sledding, skiing, ice-skating, snow-shoeing, rolling and even throwing snowballs and you’ve got yourself a season that is filled with opportunities for children to challenge themselves in complex physical ways that benefit their brains and bodies.

Outdoor winter play enhances creativity

Winter brings all new possibilities for creative play, imagination and construction. Forget sandcastes, build a frozen snow castle! Or snowmen, snow mountains, snow towers, snow forts, snow volcanoes, snow lanterns, snow sculptures, snow cakes, etc. You can paint the snow, eat the snow, and make angels in the snow. Snow and ice offer kids a never-ending supply of elements for creative little minds.

There are endless ideas floating around about using simple things you probably already have on hand like food coloring and bowls to create ice ornaments. Or mix food coloring with water in a spray bottle and letting the kids have at it. Interestingly, there is also so much variation between the types of snow that falls. Is it wet snow? Will it pack? Is it dense or light and flaky? Is it good for sledding? Building snowman? And then how should we dress the snowman? You get the picture!

It can be easy to think of a season where everything seems monochrome as drab, one without possibilities. But the elements of outdoor winter play are so open-ended that we have at our finger-tips a literal blank canvas of endless opportunity! Creative opportunities abound during this marvelous season!

Winter play enhances physical health and development

Fresh air does a body good, but so does movement. A good romp in the snow will get the lymphatic system moving, helping our bodies clear out unwanted toxins. Additionally, these outdoor winter play movements involve muscles that may not get as much use in other seasons. The simple act of pulling a sled up a hill gives the legs a magnificent workout. In what other season would we go up and down hills over and over? This trudging through deep snow time and again does so much for a child’s physical development.

Winter is also a time for advancing core strength. All of the balance work, keeping the body upright while sledding down a hill or slip-sliding across a frozen pond, engages the core. Shoveling helps in the exact same way and is considered “heavy work; that is, any type of activity that pushes or pulls against the body. Heavy work is crucial for developing body awareness.

And while this is great for your child’s physical health, there’s another perk of outdoor winter play you may not be aware of! All of this intense physical activity will inadvertently help your child in academia! Students who have a strong core don’t have to expend energy or constantly think about sitting at a desk. It is a well-known phenomenon that this is something many young people struggle with these days, to the point of even falling out of the chairs at school. There’s such a cross-over between all of these benefits!

Winter play strengthens relational bonds

Outdoor winter play engages all the senses. This is one of the reasons time in nature is often so memorable. Some of my favorite childhood memories are shoveling snow with my dad in the early mornings when it seemed that all the world was fast asleep. I remember the dark, the biting cold, and the rhythmic sounds of the shovel against the cement. I can still recall the huge piles of snow that would accumulate along the edges of the driveway, the bit of observation needs to shovel in the right direction so the wind wouldn’t bring it all right back, I remember that indescribable feeling when you’re all finished and you head inside to warm up.

Isn’t this one the simplest things in life? Shoveling with my dad. Just me and him. It doesn’t seem like the kind of exciting memory that a child would value above so many other super fun and exciting activities, but it mattered. It stuck. Think about it…how many of your fondest childhood memories and moments happened outside? The connections and memories you make outdoors seem to stick with you much longer than others. The magic of childhood can be found in the most ordinary places, most of which are outside!

Have we convinced you to get outside this winter?
What are some of your outdoor memories from childhood?

About the Author

Ginny is a Michigan homeschooling mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside. She is a thought-leader in the world of nature-based play and its benefits for children. Her 1000 Hours Outside Challenge spans the globe and many people from all walks of life look to her for inspiration as well as practical tips on how to put down the screens and get outside. Ginny has a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Michigan and is also a children’s book author and illustrator. Her book, The Little Farmhouse in West Virginia was published in February 2019.

You can find more from Ginny in the following locations:
Website: http://www.1000HoursOutside.com
Instagram: @1000hoursoutside
Facebook: @1000hoursoutside
RWMC posts: Ginny Yurich
FAVORITE GEAR, HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hiking With A Toddler
- January 27, 2020
Hiking with kids of any age is always an adventure. But, hiking with a toddler (age 1-3) presents its own set of unique challenges and obstacles. However, we believe that hiking with our kids, even in those difficult toddler years, is incredibly beneficial, rewarding and (dare we say) fun! Whether you’re hiking in national parks or on local trails close to home, making the extra effort to go hiking with a toddler is worth it and sets your family up for years of amazing adventures together. We’re here to help you get started and answer all your questions about hiking with toddlers.

How to go hiking with a toddler

Hiking has always been a favorite activity for our family. Long before we had kids, my husband and I loved to hike together. We like challenging ourselves, discovering new places, and that feeling of getting immersed in nature. Once we had kids, we didn’t want our adventures to end and decided to bring the baby on hikes with us. At first, we stuck to trails close to home and used a baby carrier. It slowed us down a little, but we didn’t mind. He slept in the carrier or happily took in the sights, kicking and cooing along the way. But then, he turned into a toddler and everything changed!

Toddlers have a mind of their own. They’re often assertive and stubborn, opinionated and demanding. They’re learning what they like and how to assert their independence. These are good things, but they can certainly make any activity much more difficult. After three kids (the youngest still squarely in the toddler years), we’ve learned how to hike with a toddler so that it’s enjoyable for everyone. In this post, we’re sharing our top tips and tricks for hiking with toddlers.

Choose the right trail

Choosing the right trail for your toddler is half the battle. Before you attempt a hike with kids, you’ll need to do a bit of homework to make sure the trail is safe, not too long and enjoyable for the little ones. Be realistic about what kind of hikes you can do with a toddler and what is safe/best for your little hiker. Not only consider the length of the trail, but make sure the hike’s not too steep or has lots of uneven terrain. Stay away from unprotected sheer cliffs, mud, swift rivers, etc. For your first few hikes with your toddler, try a short flat paved trail. As your kids get older and more experienced, you can add tougher and longer trails to your hiking adventures.

If you’re not familiar with the trails in your area, there are plenty of resources where you can ask questions and find answers. Travel guides and local websites are great. The AllTrails app is also very helpful and provides information such as trail length, elevation and difficulty. Plus, there are detailed maps and you can search your area for “kid-friendly” trails. If you’re hiking in national or state parks, ask the rangers and park employees for advice and recommendations for appropriate trails.

Dress for the occasion

When hiking with a toddler, make sure you dress them in appropriate clothing for the season and weather. If you’re hiking in the winter, we recommend layers. Start with a warm base layer, then add on from there. Your toddler may get warm if she’s running around, hiking on her own and playing. At this point, you can remove layers so she’s comfortable. However, if she gets tired and needs to be carried, she may cool off and need to put the layers back on. For winter hiking with a toddler, we also recommend a warm hat that covers ears, mittens, wool socks, and waterproof shoes. Toddlers can’t resist a good mud puddle and nothing will ruin a hike quicker than cold wet feet!

Shoes matter

Speaking of the proper shoes, they matter when hiking. Toddlers in particular benefit from wearing proper shoes when hiking. We know it may seem like a waste of money to buy hiking shoes for toddlers when they’ll outgrow them in a few months. However, sturdy shoes with good treads are essential for a successful hike. Cold feet, uncomfortable shoes or blisters will kill a child’s enthusiasm for hiking.

For winter hiking with kids, we love the waterproof and insulated boots from See Kai Run. They’re seam-sealed and waterproof, with thermoplastic rubbles soles for maximum grip on wet and snowy terrain. They have a 3M Thinsulate thermal lining to keep feet extra warm in cold weather. Because of the thicker lining, we recommend sizing up at least one full size (or even 2 sizes) for a proper fit with thick socks, allowing extra wiggle room for toes.

When investing in good outdoor gear for kids, we also recommend buying gender-neutral gear, so that you can hand down gear and clothing among siblings without issue. This has saved us a lot over the years, as kids tend to outgrow seasonal gear much quicker than they can wear it out. Particularly when you get good high-quality products like these See Kai Run boots.

Invest in a good backpack or carrier

And since we’re talking about gear, we also recommend bringing along a quality backpack carrier when hiking with toddlers. Very rarely will a toddler be able to finish a hike completely on their own. At some point, you’re probably going to have to carry him. When this inevitably happens, you’ll be super grateful for that carrier or hiking backpack.

When just getting started hiking with a toddler, we started out using the ErgoBaby carrier. For short hikes with small kids, this worked out great. However, as our toddler got a bit bigger and our hikes got longer, we upgraded to a structured hiking backpack. There are lots of options out there for quality hiking backpacks and you should definitely try a few of them out at the store to decide which one you like. We highly recommend the Osprey Poco AG carrier. It’s got an anti-gravity suspension system with a lightweight aluminum frame and a mesh harness and back panel to keep you cool and comfortable.

Make your toddler walk

While carriers are great, make sure you let your toddler down to walk and explore as much as they can! One of the best things about hiking with a toddler is watching them explore the area around them. For kids, hiking is less about getting somewhere than having fun and playing along the way. The more your toddler can walk/hike on their own, the stronger they get and longer they’ll be able to go the next time. And if you don’t rush them or force them down the trail at your speed, they’ll be much more excited about your next hike.

Pack a bag

When hiking with a toddler, you need to make sure you bring all the proper and necessary supplies for a successful trip. You’ll not only need to pack hiking supplies, but you’ll need regular “toddler supplies” like diapers, wipes, etc. Here’s what we usually pack in our bag when hiking with a toddler:
- Water (we really like these water bottles for kids)
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Snacks (see below)
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Bug spray
- Phone
- Plastic bag (for hauling out trash and/or dirty diapers)
- First-Aid kit (band-aids, tweezers, etc.) (hiking safety tips)
If your toddler is strong-willed and independent (aren’t they all?), try giving them their own small backpack to carry. Not only will they love feeling helpful and grown-up, but it’ll lighten your load. Put a few of your child’s essentials in their backpack, along with a small toy or lovely. Keep it small and light – you can add more once your toddler gets bigger and stronger. Pack the bag together so that your child figures out what he/she needs for hiking, knows where it is and will know what to pack for future hikes. This is also great for when your toddler finds a particular rock or leaf they love and can’t live without. If she wants it, she has to carry it!

For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families.

Pro tip: Keep additional snacks, water and a full change of clothes in the vehicle for the return. You don’t want to carry it all, but there’s a good chance they’ll be wet/muddy/thirsty/hungry when you return to the car.

Don’t skimp on the snacks

You should never underestimate the power of snacks for a toddler! Just the word is magic and can get a toddler to do just about anything. When hiking with toddlers, use snacks strategically and wisely. Bring along some fun snacks that you normally give them. That way, when they need a little extra motivation, energy or excitement, you’ve got something special. Also, if they absolutely LOVE hiking snacks, they’re going to be much more willing to go hiking again! Stop often for snacks along the way and again when you get to your destination. That’s a good place to have a bigger snack or even lunch.

Some snack ideas my toddlers have loved are apple sauce pouches, yogurt melts, granola bars, fruit snacks or roll-ups, freeze-dried strawberries, pretzels, crackers with peanut butter, frozen grapes, apple slices with caramel sauce, cereal, bananas, Goldfish, trail mix, mixed nuts, granola, etc.

Play games

My kids love exploring the area around us when we hike, but when they (inevitably) get bored or need some extra motivation, we play games as we hike. Fun games have the ability to turn a boring monotonous activity (walking on a trail) into a fun adventure. You don’t need anything other than your imagination to come up with a fun hiking game.

Here’s a list of a few of our favorites:
- Follow the Leader – Young kids and toddlers really love Follow the Leader. We all take turns being the leader on the trail and everyone behind the leader has to do what he/she does. The leader chooses to do things like walking backward, whistling a song, skipping, weaving like a snake, flying like a bird, grapevine walking, hopping, etc.
- I Spy – We take turns “spying” something and give a clue (“I spy something yellow. I spy something that’s triangular.”) The person who spies the correct thing goes next.
- Scavenger hunt – Scavenger hunts are really fun for kids of all ages to play and work great on hikes. You can either print off a list/pictures of things you want the kids to look for on their hike or just tell them. Set them up for success by making sure the things on the list will be present on your hike. Include some hard and some easy to find items. They can be specific items (find a bee, red flower, mud puddle) or more abstract (find something soft, something that makes noise).
- Alphabet game – If you have older kids that know how to spell, you can go through the alphabet and try to find something that begins with each letter. A is for aspen tree. B is for branch. C is for caterpillar.
- Timed trials – Never underestimate the power of a timer for toddlers. They are all about doing things fast and faster. If your toddler’s having trouble getting down the trail, tell her that you’ll time how long it takes for her to get to the next bench/stump/marker. Then pick the next thing and try to see if she can beat her time! You may even end up with a record-breaking hike!
Geocaching

If you have a smartphone with you, try geocaching on your hike! There are tons of fun caches hidden along trails that give kids an extra incentive to keep going and find treasure. We’ve got a great beginner’s guide to geocaching with kids post if you’ve never tried it.

Have a destination in mind

Going on hikes with a predetermined destination in mind gives kids a goal for the hike and helps keep them going. When hiking with toddlers, start with easy hikes that have a fun destination for them, like a creek to explore, a waterfall, a pond where they can skip rocks or a meadow where they can see cows.

If there’s not a natural destination on your hike, create one! You can do this by choosing a spot to call the destination before hitting the trail. When you get there, break out a picnic lunch or a special snack. Your “destination” can be just a place to stop and play for a while or having a treat! The destination doesn’t have to be anything fancy or super exciting, but just knowing that they have a goal and something to look forward to at the end (or mid-point) of their hike will help keep toddlers motivated to move.

Choose the right time

Consider your toddler’s schedule before planning any day hikes. Most toddlers need at least one (if not two) naps a day, plus lots of frequent small meals and snacks. Try to schedule hikes around your child’s schedule to prevent meltdowns, hangry tantrums and over-tiredness. Make sure to bring snacks and water to fuel your child. If your toddler gets too tired, try putting them in your carrier. Our little ones loved napping in the carrier on hikes, which lets the rest of us spend more time on the trails.

Tired and cranky toddlers are a force to reckon with and can ruin a perfectly lovely outing at the drop of a hat. Do you best to choose the right time to hike with your toddler, but know that meltdowns are going to eventually happen, no matter how much planning you do. Give yourself (and your little one) grace and patience. If your toddler melts down on the trail, do your best to calm her down and get back to your car. Don’t worry, it’s happened to all of us! Hang in there and try again another time.

Go slow & explore

Whether you’re hiking to a destination or if you’re just hiking for the fresh air and sunshine, make sure you go slow and let your toddler explore along the way. When my kids started hiking, sometimes it would take us an hour or more just to go half a mile. While this was initially frustrating to me, I learned to embrace the pace and take pleasure in hiking with kids. Consider the trail from their perspective and find joy in the reprieve from going 1000 mph.

Before you even leave your house, be prepared to go SLOW and take your time on the hike. Little kids love stopping along the way to look under rocks, find the perfect stick or throw rocks in a puddle. Setting yourself up for a very slow hike will keep you from getting frustrated or antsy. Be prepared for a million questions, a very slow pace and lots of stopping along the way. While going at your toddler’s pace won’t get you very far, it will do wonders for your child’s imagination and give you the chance to answer questions about nature and connect with him/her.

End with encouragement

At the end of your hike (and along the way), make sure to give your toddler praise for doing such a great job. Compliment their pace when keeping up. Praise them for things they find/spot along the way. Celebrate when they finish a hike, no matter how long it took. Making them feel like a million bucks when they finish a hike is a sure way to get them to want to do it again. Toddlers love praise and a sense of accomplishment. Be sure to tell them how proud you are of them, how hard they worked and how far they went.

Winter hiking with a toddler

Winter weather adds a whole new complexity to hiking with a toddler. Winter hiking can feel a bit harder than hiking in other seasons, just because of the added gear, layers and precautions you have to take. However, we highly encourage you to push through those, because winter hiking with kids is so incredibly beneficial to them. Not only will they get the fresh air, sunshine and exercise they need in these long dark winter months, but they’ll see things they can’t see any other time and hopefully (eventually) develop a love for all seasons for their unique personalities.

A few safety tips when winter hiking with a toddler: (1) keep an eye on the weather and be aware of winter warnings and advisories; (2) always tell someone where/when you’re going and when you’ll be back; (3) bring extra layers, extra gloves and extra socks; (4) take your fully-charged cell phone with you on hikes; and (5) warm treats on a cold hike are delicious! Consider packing a thermos of warm chicken noodle soup, oatmeal or hot apple cider.

What’s your best advice for hiking with a toddler?

* Photos by the amazingly talented Tiffany, mountain mama of three (+) from Texas. Find more of her gorgeous images at @dear.wildlings.
* For more tried, tested and practical info on this topic, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids.
CRAFTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Winter Outdoor Activities: DIY Frozen Suncatchers
- January 24, 2020
Ice is both beautiful and fascinating to children and adults, alike. It’s amazing that something as simple as water can turn into a glassy solid in any shape. Kids are easily wowed by the freezing process and mesmerized by the beauty and texture of ice. Today, we’re sharing an easy outdoor winter activity that involves turning water and a few simple natural items into beautiful frozen suncatchers that gleam and glisten in the sun. This activity will not only give your child a chance to explore your outdoor area for fun natural items to incorporate into their suncatchers, but will also teach them about temperature and the freezing process.

How to make DIY frozen suncatchers

DIY frozen suncatchers are a super easy craft that you can make outdoors in the winter. There are so many great things about this craft. Not only does this project get your little ones outside and exploring in the cooler weather, but it also requires little to no prep work and no fancy or expensive supplies. These ice suncatchers can be made anywhere at any time, using any variety of supplies and ingredients from your home and outdoor area. All you need is a little imagination and some patience!

Start by exploring outside and collecting

There are three main things you need to make DIY frozen suncatchers: water, a container and natural ingredients for decoration. The water and containers can be found in any kitchen. It’s the natural elements that your children collect and include in their suncatchers that will make them each unique and individual. Start this project out by allowing your children to explore your area (yard, neighborhood, local park/woods) and collect small natural items to include in the frozen suncatchers.

Give each kid a bag or collection box to hold their supplies. Explain that they’ll need a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of objects to include. Then let them choose what to collect. This not only gets them outside in the fresh air but gets them thinking about the variety of plants, leaves, flowers and natural elements in their area.

DIY Frozen Suncatcher natural ingredients

You can use absolutely anything in your DIY frozen suncatchers, as long as it’s small enough to fit in the ice! We highly recommend only using natural supplies that will naturally decompose over time and not cause any issues for animals if they consume them. Now is probably not the time to use marbles or coins or anything plastic. Here’s a list of a few items we’ve included in our suncatchers from a walk around our suburban neighborhood.
- Pine needles
- Leaves
- Flowers/petals
- Twigs
- Acorns
- Pebbles
- Pinecones
- Birdseed
- Orange or lemon slices
- Berries
- Evergreen branches
- Nuts
- Ivy
If you don’t have access to a place to collect natural supplies or want to get extra fancy, pick up a small bouquet of flowers from your local grocery store and use the petals. You’ll be amazed at how gorgeous a frozen suncatcher you’ll get using a variety of colored flower petals.

Choose the right container

Once you have your ingredients collected, you’ll want to choose your containers. You can use plastic lids, paper/plastic plates, pie plates, pans, bowls or silicone molds. No need to buy anything new – get creative with what you already have at home! You can use anything from cupcake tins to bundt cake pans! Teacups to ice cube trays. Be advised that the bigger and deeper your container, the longer it will take to freeze. We used a handful of small shallow paper plates, which worked perfectly. If you’re using anything made of paper, I suggest a thin coating of nonstick spray on the paper to keep the ice from sticking.

Add the water and natural elements

Fill your container with the required amount of water. Try to keep the water shallow so that the suncatchers freeze faster, aren’t too heavy to hang and are thin enough to allow sunlight to pass through them. Once you have water in your container, let your kids add the natural elements they collected to the water in any design of your choosing. Let them create shapes with the items or lay them out in any design of their choosing. Just be aware of shifting items if you have to move them. If possible, make the suncatchers in a place you can leave them to freeze.

For extra fun, add a few drops of food coloring to make a rainbow of beautiful colors in your frozen suncatchers! And if you want to hang these gorgeous creations from tree branches or on a window sill, make sure you add a small piece of string or ribbon half out of the ice in a loop so that it will freeze in place giving you a built-in hanger for your suncatcher.

Pro tip: I’ve heard that if you boil the water before you use it in your suncatcher, the ice will be clear and less cloudy! I haven’t tried this, but that would really make these suncatchers extra beautiful!

Let them freeze

Now comes the hard part for kids…being patient while they freeze! If you live in a place where it’s cold enough for the water to freeze outside, then leave your suncatchers outside in a safe place (where they won’t be disturbed) a few hours or overnight to freeze. If it’s not cold enough in your area, you can place them flat in your freezer until frozen. Just be extra careful when moving them not to shake or disturb the designs.

Learn while you wait

While you’re waiting for your suncatchers to freeze, take the opportunity to educate! Talk to your child(ren) about the temperature at which water freezes and what happens to the water as it solidifies. Discuss the temperature outside and take a guess as to how long it will take for the water to freeze. Check on the status of your suncatchers and note the changes taking place. Note the temperature outside and compare it to the temperature in your fridge or freezer.

Hang and enjoy!

After the water turns to ice, gently remove the ice suncatcher from the mold and examine your frozen suncatcher creation. Hang your sun catchers from a tree branch or window sill. Let your kids use them to decorate a tree or bush in the backyard. The sun shining through the ice will create such a beautiful outdoor sight you’re going to want to do these year-round!

Have you ever made frozen suncatchers?

If you’re looking for more outdoor winter activities and ideas for kids, make sure to check out our post with 100+ Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids.
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Winter Fort Building with Kids
- January 10, 2020
Colder temperatures do not mean the fun of fort building has to stop! For many in the warmer climates, it’s actually the best time of year to head to the woods to build some forts! Winter fort-building is so much fun, with definite perks. In the winter, the risk for snake encounters goes down and the ticks (and mosquitoes) die off, leaving the woods much more pleasurable! There are so many different ways to build a fort with your kids. Today, we have homeschooling mom of two and outdoor adventurer Nichole of Luckey Wanderers here, walking us through how to build an eco-friendly winter fort with kids!

This post contains affiliate links.

Why build forts in the winter?

While we love adventuring outdoors year-round, winter fort building is our favorite. The winter provides a certain sense of freedom and ease to our time spent in the woods. The forest always presents certain inherent dangers, but for our very warm locale, the winter offers a bit of a break from constant awareness of snakes, ticks, wasps, mosquitoes and fire ants. (However, we do still check for ticks every time we return from the woods as a precaution.) The winter also gives us a chance to venture (respectfully) off-trail and explore the woods a little deeper without the oppressive heat and humidity.

Choosing the perfect fort-building location

When we head out for the day, we usually have some sort of idea of the type/style of fort we would like to build. Our plan for this winter fort was to make a tepee structure to enjoy a picnic under. That plan quickly changed when my kids spotted a fallen tree that seemed to be calling to them. Much to their delight, it was also surrounded on three sides by a creek and had the feeling of a moat. It was the perfect location!

What to look for in a location

There are always a few things we look for, no matter what type of fort we are building:
- Three or four long sticks to be made into the tri-pod structure
- Fallen bark to use for a roof or sides
- A clear, flat spot to build on
- A fallen tree to make a lean-to
- Ways to be minimally destructive when gathering supplies (take one stick/bark/etc, instead of all of it)
- Check to make sure the area you are building is not already inhabited by any animals, such as beaver or rabbits
Step back and watch them step up

The process of winter fort-building is a fantastic application of scientific method and hands-on exploration. While I love building right alongside my kids, sometimes it’s an opportunity to step back and let them run with their ideas. Sometimes it works out wonderfully, and sometimes I’m wiping away tears and playing master architect. I highly recommend that you let them experiment on their own. Let them build a tripod or lean-to, only to watch it tumble under the weight of the leaves they piled on top. This teaches them. Allow them opportunities to learn from mistakes and try again. Then, celebrate their victories with them! Share a picnic together in their fort, even if you can only fit your foot inside. They’ll always remember it, I promise.

A note about safety

It’s important to note that even when the cooler temperatures arrive, you should still always be aware of potential dangers outside. There are a few things that we do to help keep ourselves safe when scavenging for materials to build our forts. The rule that I enforce fast and hard is to ALWAYS roll logs slowly TOWARD you. Yes, that’s right. Roll it toward you. Here’s why: if there is a snake hiding underneath, by rolling it toward you, the log is a barrier and gives the snake an escape route that doesn’t end directly on your feet. We learned that tip from a park interpreter at one of the amazing state parks in Arkansas. We also use a stick to lift fallen bark, scatter leaves, and poke around the underbrush. Essentially, we touch anything first with a stick, then with our hands, just to be on the safe(r) side.

Fort-building supplies

Fort building is a simple activity that does not require much. However, there are a few things that we always bring along to make it more fun. I recently discovered a fort-building kit with rubber/silicone hooks that hold sticks together. While those are a great idea, we prefer to use an eco-friendly natural option so we’re not worried about leaving plastic behind. All-natural raffia grass is a great option for fort building. It is the most natural thing I have found to use to secure sticks and logs. Twine works well also, but the more natural, the better.

My kids love using the long pieces of raffia to hang decorations from their fort, or to secure the sticks together. I also love to surprise them with twinkle lights to string up once their fort is done. A durable, outdoor blanket or an old bed sheet or two are also helpful to bring along. These can serve as a roof, walls/dividers or a comfy floor to sit on inside the fort.

Don’t forget the snacks

Whether it’s lunchtime or not, when adventuring outdoors with kids, always bring snacks! There’s nothing better than a snack in the fort you built with your kids. If I’ve planned far enough ahead, I’ll pack a lunch with a fun surprise treat. If not, I throw whatever I have in my cupboard into my Stasher bags and off we go. I love those bags because they can go directly in the dishwasher when we get home. Peanut butter sandwiches for them and a salad for me are always an easy lunch to pack. Plus, while we are hiking in my salad gets nicely mixed. Always remember to pack out what you pack in and remove any trash or food remnants when you leave.

The fruits of their labor

When you plan your fort-building day, be sure to allow enough time for your kids to stick around and enjoy their fort after they build it. I have made the mistake of making the kids leave shortly after they declared their fort complete. Talk about anticlimactic. So let yourselves linger. Give them time to enjoy it. Let them play. Lie down in your fort and take some time to talk about what they learned and what you can observe from within:
- What do you notice when you look at your fort from different angles?
- What types of animals would like your fort?
- Do you think it would survive a storm?
- What could you do to make it even better?
Get out your nature journals and draw your fort. You could even start an art journal just for the forts you build with your children. The possibilities to expand this into a lesson are endless, including studies in physics and mathematics. Or, just have fun with it and enjoy the journey. Either way, fort building throughout the seasons is always a wonderful way to spend time outside.

Tips for winter fort-building in colder climates

If you live where snow and ice are prevalent in the winter months, there are still plenty of options for winter fort-building! You can still take the kids out into the woods to gather sticks and logs. Instead of packing leaves and bark over your fort to fortify it, let your kids experiment with packing snow. Help them dig tunnels in the snow to create an entrance or a moat around the fort. Or, if you’re building a fort around home, use sand toys and buckets as molds to make ice and snow bricks for building an igloo. The options are really endless when you let your (and your kids’) imagination and creativity run wild.

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers. They are on their third year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly twelve years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can find her in the woods somewhere, (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls) or online in the following locations:

Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole

More from Nichole

As a family, we love gardening. It’s a wonderful way to ensure time spent outside every day throughout the growing season. This past year, we embarked on an adventure to grow our own luffa sponges. Did you know you could do that? It took us all year, but now we have the most wonderful gifts that came from our very own backyard. Here’s all the details about our luffa gardening adventure. We also grew some giant sunflowers that turned into a really fun hands-on learning experience at the end of the season. You can read about our sunflower dissection.

Have you tried winter fort-building? What was your experience?
Any tips for building ice or snow forts? We’d love to hear them!
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, GOOD FOR NATURE, HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WINTER
Winter Solstice Family Traditions & DIY Ornaments
- December 18, 2019
The Winter Solstice is quickly approaching. December 21 marks the first day of winter (here in the Northern Hemisphere), which is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The days ahead will be longer and brighter, which calls for a celebration in my books! Many families adopt traditions for the Winter Solstice that they do every year to get outside and celebrate the change of the seasons. Traditions help us remember the past and are wonderful ways to pass love and memories to the next generation. If you’re looking for some fun festive traditions to start with your family to celebrate the Winter Solstice, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we have Holly Morgan, a Midwest mom of two here, sharing a few fun and simple ways her family celebrates the Winter Solstice, plus a tutorial for making DIY Winter Solstice ornaments.

The Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice occurs around December 21st (in the Northern Hemisphere) and marks the beginning of the winter season. It is also the shortest day and longest night of the year. After this day, the days begin to lengthen and the nights begin to shorten, which will continue until the Summer Solstice (around June 21st). The arrival of the Winter Solstice has been celebrated since ancient times. Both then and now, people use the sun, stars, and planets to keep track of time and seasons. We also look to nature to mark the change in seasons and understand more about the world around us and how it works. The Winter Solstice and many of the traditions associated with it center around fire, light, and nature.

The rhythm of winter

For our family, the Winter months are a time to slow down and live in rhythm with the darkness of Mother Nature. To rest and root deeply in our intentions. Each year, the winter season officially begins with the Winter Solstice. This is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year. While winter can feel like a time of dormancy for some, we choose to enjoy the opportunity to slow down. We choose to live in rhythm with the quiet stillness of Mother Nature. We intentionally turn inward and delve into our inner light and intentions. And we always make time for nature play!

Winter Solstice traditions for the family

For us, celebrating the Winter Solstice also means welcoming the return of the light. We thank Mother Earth and celebrate the longer days to come. We do this with several family activities and offerings to Mother Nature and our creature friends. Our Solstice traditions include celebrating with a candlelit family dinner on the first day of the winter season. We also set intentions as a family for the coming year and reflect gratitude for the seeds we have planted. We light a fire to honor the returning light and work together to make an edible offering to our animal friends outside.

These are just a few of the many things you can do together as a family with your children to celebrate the Winter Solstice and welcome back the longer days. Every family is different and can celebrate in their own way. Other ideas could be to have a bonfire with friends, make a snow cake decorated with edible items for the animals, go on a winter hike, bake a yule log, watch a sunrise/sunset or make/light candles. Each of these activities (or any of your choosing) are simple ways to thank Mother Earth for the return of the light and celebrate the longer brighter days ahead.

Celebrate the Solstice with an offering

We celebrate the Winter Solstice each year by making treats for our feathered and furred outdoor friends. These easy bird feeders are made with dried orange slices, pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. For the past three years, we have made these Winter Solstice ornaments that we use to decorate our backyard cedars. It is a great child-friendly activity and a fun way to get the whole family outdoors for some fresh air. With just a few simple ingredients (and maybe a few sticky hands) you will have engaged kids and very happy animals in your yard!

DIY Winter Solstice ornaments

Below is a simple tutorial on how you and your little ones can make some Winter Solstice offerings of your own. Even if you don’t celebrate the Solstice, these easy treats are a perfect way to offer some winter reprieve for our furred and feather friends. These are our ornaments from last year, and we made a few more as the winter months passed on. My son was especially interested in trees and pine cones last year, so we gathered all shapes and sizes from our property and had a very healthy pinecone collection! We strung all our ornaments from the trees with simple jute. They became a treat for the birds and squirrels, which we really enjoyed watching over the season.

What you’ll need
- Oranges (or any citrus fruit of your choice)
- Pinecones – we collect these on walks or in the yard
- Peanut butter
- Birdseed mix (or any seed/nut mix of choice)
- Jute or natural fiber to string ornaments
Directions for DIY Winter Solstice ornaments
1. Evenly slice citrus and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake on lowest oven temperature (my oven goes down to 170 degrees Fahrenheit) for five to six hours, turning once to dry. You can also use a dehydrator.
2. Tie jute onto citrus slices and pinecones for hanging outdoors.
3. Roll pinecones in peanut butter and then roll again in birdseed mixture.
4. We let our dry for a day since the peanut butter was very thin; this seemed to help the birdseed adhere.
5. Find a tree or bush and string your Solstice treats for the birds or squirrels to enjoy on the longest night of the year!
Does your family have any Winter Solstice traditions?

About the author

Holly Morgan lives in the Midwest and is a stay at home mom of two. She loves gardening and growing flowers and herbs for cooking and holistic wellness. Her other crafts include photography, kitchen adventuring, and writing. A Wisconsin native, she is raising her littles to be wild and free through nature play. You can follow Holly and her family’s daily rhythm on Instagram at @hollyandhomestead.
HOLIDAYS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Outdoor Holiday Activities for Kids
- December 16, 2019
Don’t let the December cold keep you indoors this entire holiday season. Get outside and have some fun with your kids during the holidays. There’s so much to do outside this time of the year; so many fun things to see and places to explore. Today, we’re sharing 15 outdoor holiday activities to do with kids. Many of these outdoor activities can be done no matter where you live or what holiday (if any) you celebrate. This December, make it a goal to spend more time outside celebrating together in nature. Put your own twist on these outdoor activities and make them your own. Maybe they’ll even become yearly traditions! So, what are you waiting for? Bundle up and get outside!

Special thanks to all the amazing members of our Instagram community that allowed us to share their special images in the post. We appreciate you all so much!

Outdoor holiday activities

When you think of the holidays, you probably don’t immediately think about outdoor adventures. We want to change that! Regardless of how many things are going on inside this time of year, kids need outdoor play. They need to burn energy, explore and play outdoors. They need fresh air and sunshine (what little there is this time of year) and room to move! Kids should be enjoying nature and the outdoors year-round. The holiday season is no exception.

There are so many fun things to do and experience outside in December. We’re sharing just a few of our favorite ways to get outside, get active and have fun amidst the holiday chaos. I have a feeling that the more of these activities you incorporate into your holiday, the more fun you and your kids will have! We’re hoping you make getting outside a priority for your family this holiday season.

Photo credit: @andreamartinphoto

1. Make a wreath

Making a holiday wreath with kids is such a fun craft. My favorite craft projects usually start with time outside, exploring and collecting materials. For a holiday-inspired wreath, head outside and look for evergreens and anything colorful. Bring a bag with you to collect all your finds and goodies. You’ll need quite a few branches, so consider bringing scissors or something to use to safely cut the plant without damaging it (leave this with a grownup). Make sure you’re in a public area or have permission to make any cuts to trees/plants or take anything.

Once you’ve collected enough materials, head home and arrange everything around a wreath structure or even a cutout piece of cardboard. Choose your method of adhesion (hot glue, rubber bands, etc.) and get started! Let the kids help as much as they can and give them free rein over their creation. When all’s done, add a few pinecone embellishments, some holly berries or a big bow. Finally, hang on the door for all to see!

2. Hot chocolate stand

While lemonade stands might be all the rage in the summer, hosting a hot chocolate stand in the winter is a great way to put those entrepreneurial skills to good use. The cooler weather is a great excuse to put a new spin on a traditional outdoor childhood activity. Plus, get your little ones in the giving spirit by selecting a charity or cause to receive half (or all) of the profits of their shop. Then, help your kids come up with everything they need to set up a booth to sell hot cocoa, spiced cider, coffee, tea, or baked goods. All you need are your supplies, some change, a table, and a big sign! Choose a location where you’ll encounter some foot traffic and voila!

Photo credit: @dorenehookeyPhoto credit: @embrace_the_deep

3. Holiday lights walk

Going on a holiday lights walk is one of my kids’ favorite holiday traditions. We choose one night in December (close to Christmas) to bundle up and go for a holiday walk to see lights. The kids get dressed up in their warmest clothes and grab a blanket of their choice. We fill travel mugs with hot chocolate and marshmallows. Then we load everyone up in the wagon, stroller or buggy and go for a walk around the neighborhood.

The kids stay nice and toasty in the wagon, all snuggled up together. I drag or push them down our street and around a couple of blocks in our neighborhood to find the houses with the best lights. We ooh and ahh over the decorations and pick our favorites. Sometimes we’ll even bring a Bluetooth speaker with us and play holiday songs and sing along to the music. Depending on how cold it is, we usually stay out around 30-40 minutes. But even 10 minutes up and down our own street feels great once you’re outside and moving!

Photo credit: @crystalphoto.ca

4. Outdoor ice skating

Ice skating outdoors is one of my favorite things to do with the kids during the holidays. There’s something magical about being outside in the crisp air, all bundled up, and slip-sliding around on ice skates under the twinkle lights. Many cities have wonderful outdoor ice skating rinks that are open around the holidays. They’re usually open in the evening, surrounded by lights, so it’s one of the few outdoor activities that you can do in the evening since it gets dark so early.

Make a full family event out of ice skating and see who’s the best. Most rinks have skate rentals for kids as young at two. Plus, there are lots of options for kids that are still learning, including buckets and braces. And for the grown-ups, there’s always the wall to hold onto! After your skate, head out to dinner or for dessert and make a special night out of it!

Photo credit: @littlepinelearners

5. Feed the birds

Making bird seed feeders for the birds and squirrels is a wonderful way to teach kids about kindness and compassion. My kids love making eco-friendly bird feeders from supplies and materials we have at home. Our favorites are pinecones dipped in peanut butter and then rolled in birdseed. Not only do the kids have to get out and explore to collect the pinecones, but they get to get messy while they make these. We also love cutting apples in half and leaving them out for the animals. If we have snow, we’ve even gone to our local park and make a giant birthday cake out of snow and decorated it with birdseed, carrots, lettuce leaves and orange slices for the animals. Here are three fun and easy options for making bird feeders with kids.

Photo credit: @catrinadebruin

6. Cut down your tree

There are so many great reasons to choose to cut down your own (or purchase a live) real tree. Heading out to the woods or local tree farm is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise in the cold month of December. It’s also a fun family tradition you can start and continue doing each year. When you purchase a live tree you’re also supporting a farm that depends on the income from those trees to continue to run. While the trees are growing, they help clean the air we breathe. Once the trees are cut down, they’re replaced with new ones. When they’re in your home, they smell heavenly!

Once you’re finished with a real Christmas tree, it can often be repurposed. Many cities collect the live trees and turn them into wildlife habitats, mulch or other products, or use them to help with erosion. In these cases, the tree gets another life before it decomposes. If you need tips on what to do before you go tree hunting or how to choose the right tree, we’ve got a great post with tips on cutting down your own tree.

Photo credit: @lovely_littlediegoPhoto credit: @sara_mccarty

7. Go caroling

This is another one of my kids’ favorite holiday traditions. Every year, all the kids on our street go house-to-house caroling. It’s honestly one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen and I hope we continue this tradition forever! The kids love it so much. They sing 2-3 songs at each house and collect a donation to give to a local charity. We print off a few the lyrics of around 10 songs for the big kids and the little ones that can’t read shake jingle bells and try to sing along as best they can. We usually hit about 10 houses and then head back to a neighbor’s house for cookies and hot chocolate.

Don’t celebrate Christmas? No worries! There are a million other songs you could sing! No one said that caroling had to include Christmas songs. Make a list of some of your kids’ favorite songs or Google fun/silly kids’ music and learn a few songs. Bust out your favorite Disney songs, like Let it Go, Hakuna Matata and Bare Necessities. Some of our favorites for little ones include: Ram Sam Sam, She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain, You are my Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle, Ants Go Marching, Baby Shark, Wheels on the Bus and Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Photo credit: @e_hawthorne_photography

8. Winter hiking

Another great family tradition to start is to go on a holiday hike. We all tend to overindulge around the holidays and take full advantage of the delicious food and drinks. It’s also easier than ever to skip exercising and opt for snuggling on the couch or watching a movie instead of getting outside and active. Those things are all fine, as long as you also make time for getting outside and enjoying nature. Winter is a great time for hiking, as you can see so many things you can’t in the other seasons (bird nests high in the tree, frozen waterfalls, etc.

Make it a new family tradition to go on a Christmas Day hike after opening the presents to burn off some energy and get some fresh air. Let the kids wear their Christmas jammies or Santa hats! Or make it a New Year’s Day tradition to start the year off with a hike through the woods and get a jump start on your outdoor hours for the year. Check out your local parks and rec department for options to get outside with others. Our state conservation department offers group night hikes in the winter months to listen for owls, coyotes and more!

Photo credit: @zionadventurephotog

9. Make ice lanterns

Ice lanterns are such a fun and beautiful holiday project to make with kids. There are a few different ways to make these, but none of them need much more than a few bowls and cups, balloons and battery-operated tea lights. The first way to make an ice lantern is to fill a cup with water, then place a smaller cup inside it. Let the water freeze and then pull the ice out of the larger cup and remove the inner cup. This will leave you with a hollowed-out ice container. Place a battery-operated tea light inside and set outside along a walkway or around your yard to light a path.

Another fun way to make an ice lantern is to fill a balloon with water and then let it freeze. Once you have a frozen water balloon, remove the plastic ballon and place the frozen globe over a battery-operating tea light in the snow. The whole thing will glow like magic!

Photo credit: @europeanmommyof2

Photo credit: @helendonphotos

10. Attend a tree lighting

Tree lightings are really fun ways to celebrate the season outside with your community. Lots of cities, towns, neighborhoods, and areas have local tree lightings that you can attend with the kids. Most are outside and are accompanied by a special visitor from the North Pole! Our local community’s tree lighting is adorable and filled with kid-friendly holiday activities. All the kids gather outside city hall and sing Christmas carols until Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive. They come roaring up on a fire truck called the Polar Express! There are lots of booths and stands selling hot chocolate, cookies and donuts and holiday goodies from local shops and vendors. The kids have the chance to get a photo taken with Santa or help decorate a gingerbread house.

Photo credit: @dariajungerbalint

11. Create an ornament from nature

There are so many fun ways to use items you find in nature to create beautiful Christmas ornaments for your tree. One of my favorite nature-inspired ornaments is to use small twigs to make stars, trees or snowflakes. You don’t need much for these super cute and easy DIY ornaments that you don’t already have in your yard! Tie a few sticks together with some twine to make a star or use hot glue to create a tree. Leave them natural for a rustic looking ornament or let the kids have fun painting them! They make great grandparent gifts, too. If you want other nature-inspired ornament ideas, Pinterest is full of them!

Photo credit: @ruta_pjPhoto credit: @nina.bogomaz

12. Holiday campfire

Winter is a great time of year to have a bonfire outside. Gather some firewood and those you love and spend some time outside together around a fire. The nights are cold and dark. Take this opportunity to make s’mores and share cups of hot chocolate (put a candy cane in them for extra holiday goodness). And then take the time to bond with those around you over stories of holidays past. Talk about the best gifts you’ve ever received/given, your favorite meals and what you look forward to each year. Sharing songs and memories around a campfire is such a simple and beautiful experience for families. It makes kids feel incredibly special to be part of it, to listen and participate.

Photo credit: @seldabelda

13. Go on a sleigh ride

Do a little research and see if you can find a place near you to take the kids on a real-life horse-drawn sleigh ride. There are lots of places these days that offer sleigh rides, through the woods, in parks, on local farms or through conservation areas. If you don’t have snow or you’re in the city, try a horse-drawn carriage ride! Our local parks offer carriage rides through a winter wonderland of twinkle lights in all size carriages. Some are huge and can fit large groups and some are small and intimate. One even looks like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. A sleigh ride outdoors through the crisp air, while you’re bundled up in blankets is a thrill! It’s something super special and unique that doesn’t happen every day. It’ll be a true holiday memory that will last a lifetime.

Photo credit: @mamabearphoto

14. Candy cane hunt

Last year we started the tradition of doing a small backyard candy cane hunt. Similar to a scavenger hunt, but only for candy canes. All I did was buy a box of candy canes and hide them around the backyard. I hung the candy canes from tree branches and bushes and the fence. Once the whole box was hidden, I sent the kids outside to find them all. I can’t believe how much fun the kids had with this simple game!

It didn’t take them that long to find all the candy canes (maybe 15 minutes), but they loved the game so much we had to do it over and over and over! Then they took turns hiding the candy canes for each other. And then they moved to the front yard. One box of candy canes got them outside and playing for probably five hours! No one ate a single candy cane because they wanted to save them to play again the next day! I think this year I’m going to buy a couple of boxes and hide them up and down the street and let all the neighborhood kids play! This can also be done with nearly anything – it doesn’t have to be candy canes.

Photo credit: @thejohnsonettes

15. Outdoor act of kindness

Get your kids in the holiday spirit by performing some random acts of kindness for others. Put a new spin on your good deeds by taking them outdoors this year. Try to come up with a few ideas of things you could do for others outside. For example, have the kids shovel the snow off a neighbor’s porch or sidewalks. Pick up litter in a local park. Decorate an outdoor tree for the wildlife. Return your neighbor’s trash bins. Leave candy canes on the windshields of cars in a parking lot. Deliver handmade cards to neighbors you don’t know. Leave sidewalk chalk messages of encouragement for people at the park.

What outdoor holiday activities do you do?