SUMMER

ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Poison Ivy, Mosquitoes, and Ticks, Oh My!
- July 1, 2020
Poison ivy, mosquitoes, and ticks sure do make it less pleasant to spend time outside in the summer, but not impossible! Getting outside is always worth it and more important than ever for kids right now. This time of year, we get a ton of questions from concerned parents about how to keep these summertime pests and nuisances away. Spoiler alert – it’s not always possible. And in that case, how should you treat bites and rashes on kids when encounters with poison ivy, mosquitoes and ticks happen. Today, Leslie Alvis, Ohio mom of four, is here with all the information you need to know to prevent and treat poison ivy, mosquito, and tick bites. She shares her experience battling these pesky parts of nature and how her family handles their inevitable encounters.

The threat is real

Have you ever felt like outdoor threats are worse now than when you were a kid? If you do any research about ticks, poison ivy, or mosquitoes, you may decide it’s true! And you wouldn’t be wrong. Poison ivy is actually thriving in the increased carbon dioxide levels on the earth right now, making it more prolific and more potent. Thanks to the spread of the black-legged and dog ticks, Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are on the rise across the United States. And mosquito-borne illnesses lurk behind the whining of mosquitoes, even in your backyard.

If you spend some time Googling any of these problems, you may decide the safest thing is just to keep your children indoors! But being outdoors holds many more benefits than risks. The memories and skills our children develop outside will last so much longer than the itch of poison ivy or mosquito bites. We just need to take extra measures to identify and prevent these threats. Today I’d like to share some tips and resources with you about poison ivy, mosquitoes, and ticks.

Summertime pests

I love being outside, always. I’m also passionate about getting my kids outside in every season, despite the obstacles. Every season has them. Here in Ohio, we face a triple scourge in the warm months—poison ivy, ticks, and mosquitoes. They threaten the safety and fun of our everyday adventures outside. But despite these pests, I want my children to experience the wonder of life outdoors. I want them to know how to forage for wild berries, to hear the echo of birdsong in the thick summer woods, to design and build a wilderness fort with their own hands, to clear a homestead from an overgrown patch of land. Sometimes, though, making these adventures a reality is hard. There are bugs, poisonous plants, and things that bite and itch and sting.

We’ve always spent a lot of time outside, but this year is especially outdoor-oriented for us. We just sold our house in town and are renting a house in the country while we build our own homestead just down the road. We are now living and working on the edge of a large, swampy woods that is swarming with poison ivy, ticks, and mosquitoes. Dealing with these problems, and doing my best to protect my children from them, is literally my everyday.

Poison ivy

Let’s start with poison ivy, because I’m pretty sure (despite all the turbulent worldwide events) 2020 is going down in my family’s history as “The Year of Endless Poison Ivy.” I’ve jokingly dubbed our homestead “Poison Ivy Acres.” I grew up in the country, hiking and playing in the woods, and I have never seen poison ivy like on our property.

Our poison ivy is vibrant, huge, and absolutely everywhere! It hangs overhead from the trees, snakes through the underbrush, and has aggressively infiltrated the meadow. It’s even coming up in my garden. If we step off the driveway, we’re in poison ivy. Sometimes up to my toddler’s armpits. Despite our constant efforts to kill it off, it’s the scourge of our summer. But we’re also determined not to let it ruin our lives, or keep us from working as a family on our dream.

Poison ivy identification

Poison ivy is a vined plant best identified by its groupings of three leaves, often with jagged edges. The old adage, “Leaves of three, let it be” helps with quick and easy ID. I recently learned the second line to that saying: “Vines with hair, beware.” Poison ivy is often found growing low to the ground on the edges of wooded and wild areas, but it also uses its hairy vines to climb trees. Poison ivy oils, found on not only the leaves but also the vines and the roots, contain a strong irritant called urushiol. These oils cause most people to break out in an itchy, blistery rash 24-48 hours after exposure to the skin.

The oils from poison ivy can remain active on surfaces for up to five years and be transferred to your skin from your clothes, your pets, your kids’ boots….the list goes on and on. Poison ivy is considered most potent in the spring and summer, when the new leaves come out, but you can contract a rash at any time of year from the stems and roots of the plant. It can also survive for YEARS on surfaces, so it’s possible to get a poison ivy rash in the middle of winter from a pair of boots sitting in your garage.

Although innocuous-looking, poison ivy is nasty, mean stuff. But can you deal with it? Yes, you certainly can!

Poison ivy prevention

The best way to avoid getting poison ivy is to keep the oils from coming in contact with your skin. Wear long pants and boots when you know you might be walking through poison ivy. Obviously, the best prevention would be to avoid any contact with the plants at all. Sometimes that’s possible. You’re walking along a nice trail through the forest, you notice some poison ivy leaves growing along the edge of the path, and you steer your whole family away from it. Simple enough.

But what about that unconcerned toddler sitting in the middle of a poison ivy patch? What about when your kids dash ahead to a stream and as you follow, you realize they’ve run blindly through three-leaved greenery? In shorts! What about when you’re working to clear and build a homestead that’s knee-deep in poison ivy? (That’s me! Plus my four children. And my husband. And our dog.)

Washing to prevent poison ivy

The first thing to do is wash the poison ivy oil off. If you can wash the exposed skin with soap and water within a reasonable amount of time–several hours for most people–chances are you won’t get a poison ivy reaction, or at least not much of one. Since our family can’t avoid exposure right now, washing is our primary defense.

Every time we step off the driveway or garden area on our homestead, everyone gets scrubbed from head to toe as soon as we get home. (Pro tip: use a shower, not a bath, so your children aren’t sitting in the oils you’re trying to wash off.) All the clothes go straight in the wash. On a perfect day, I’d wipe down boots and wash the dog, too, but let’s be honest…that doesn’t really happen. I’m sure some of the rashes we’ve gotten have come from second-hand exposure.

For washing off poison ivy oils, we typically use an old-fashioned laundry soap, Fels-Naptha. It’s cheap and effective. An all-natural option is a Poison Ivy/Oak bar like this. Some people have told me you should use a lye-based soap. The point is to get the oils off. This really works.

Despite spending long days working in an astonishing amount of poison ivy, we have had surprisingly few major reactions this year. Yes, we keep getting little patches here and there. But, as long as we wash well, we avoid the worst of it. (My older kids sometimes skip washing after a quick excursion through the woods. They definitely regret it later!)

Explaining poison ivy to kids

Side note about explaining to kids the way the oils spread and why it’s so important to wash all over. I was having a hard time getting this concept across to my littles, until I saw my oldest daughter playing in charcoal from an old burn pile. Her hands, her arms, and her face were all covered in black soot. And she had no idea she had smeared it all over herself. So, I showed her in the mirror, and explained that poison ivy oils spread by touch in exactly the same way. It finally made sense to her why you have do more than just wash your hands to get rid of poison ivy.

On-the-spot poison ivy remedies

What about when you can’t get to soap and water right away? You’re out hiking and hours from getting your kids in the shower and someone just rolled in poison ivy. Don’t panic—there are a couple of ways to counteract those oils. Jewelweed is a natural antidote to poison ivy and often grows in shady areas nearby. If you don’t mind a little herbal therapy, just pick some jewelweed leaves, crush them in your hands, and rub the exposed area of skin with the gooey leaves. It counteracts the oils naturally.

If you’re not quite into something that green and juicy, alcohol-based hand sanitizer will also help cut the oils and clean the skin. We use both of these options when we know we won’t be able to wash with soap and water soon.

Poison ivy treatment

Kids tend to get into poison ivy more than adults. They also have a different idea about how to “scrub up” after poison ivy exposure. Often you will have someone with some red, itchy patches a couple of days after a wilderness adventure. Poison ivy is miserable, but it is treatable.

Calagel is a favorite over-the-counter remedy for the itching of poison ivy reactions. Jewelweed salve is a natural alternative and seems effective as well. We’ve also been using these poison ivy pills. They really do seem to help. When worst comes to worst, an antihistamine (like Benadryl) will help relieve the misery. The rash usually clears up within several days without needing medical attention, but you can always call your doctor if you’re worried about a severe poison ivy reaction.

Ticks

Ugly, small, and persistent, ticks are an insect that carry a variety of diseases. They transmit illness by burrowing their heads under the skin of their victims and staying there for a long period of time. Tick-borne diseases are nothing to take lightly. As someone with a close relative who contracted Lyme Disease from a tick bite and remained diagnosed for months, I’ve seen firsthand the effects of Lyme Disease. It really terrifies me. But I have to remember the facts. Tick bites are often preventable and many times harmless. And tick-borne illnesses, when caught promptly, are treatable!

Different kinds of ticks live in different areas of the country and carry various diseases. You can learn more about identifying ticks here. They are most commonly found in tall grasses and thick woods, but can appear anywhere. We found one on our two-year-old this morning as she was getting in the car to go to church. I think it came from the dog…but I really have no clue.

Tick Prevention

Preventing tick bites is fairly straightforward. If you know you’ll be in an area with lots of tick activity, dress appropriately and use an insect repellent rated for ticks. Dress yourself and your children in long pants, tucked into your socks, and tall boots. Tuck in shirts. All these measures give ticks fewer places to bite. They climb until they find exposed skin, so it also gives you more time to notice them and harmlessly brush the tick off your clothing.

But let’s be real—are you really going to get your offspring in long pants and tall boots for a hike on a 90-degree summer day? Sometimes that just won’t happen. So that’s where insect repellent comes in! Spray your clothes, not just your exposed skin, to help discourage ticks. If you aren’t sure what kind of repellent to use, try this helpful tool here. For a plant-based DEET free option that works great on kids and pets, try TickWise from 3 Moms Organics (get 10% your order with the code RUNWILD10).

Tick bites

Sometimes a sneaky tick will circumvent your best attempts to keep it away. Or maybe your area, like our homestead, just has a lot of ticks. When you’ve been in the woods or tall grass, it’s best to check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks immediately afterward. Check especially the areas around sock lines, waistbands, and hairlines. If you find and remove a tick promptly, you can often avoid any kind of reaction or illness.

Tick removal

If you do find a tick on any member of your family, don’t panic! Get some tweezers, grasp close to the skin’s surface, and firmly pull the tick straight out. You want to make sure you get the entire tick and don’t leave the head embedded under the skin. I know, it’s freaky. Whether it’s on a child or a pet, my heart jumps into my throat every time one of my kids shouts, “I found a tick!” It’s happened several times lately because our homestead seems to have a lot of tick activity. I just can’t get used to it.

But, I have learned to successfully remove the whole tick, and so far we have avoided any kind of worrisome reactions. (If you put the tick in a bag and stick it in the freezer, you’ll have it on hand for testing if your child develops any kind of illness or reaction. This seems especially important if you are in an area not widely known for having tick-related illnesses. An tick-borne illness can be harder to get diagnosed, and having that tick available to show your doctor can be really helpful.)

When tick bites turn bad

Watch the area around the bite for several days, keeping an eye out for redness, swelling, or the trademark “bulls-eye” rash of Lyme Disease. There are other tick-borne infections that can also cause a bulls-eye rash (such as STARI), you should call a doctor if you develop any kind of fever or rash after a tick bite. Getting prompt diagnosis and treatment for a tick-borne illness will allow a speedy recovery! This website has a lot of really helpful information on tick prevention, identification, illness, and removal.

Mosquitoes

Who doesn’t despise the whine of a pesky mosquito in your ear? I think we’re all familiar with the seasonal plague of mosquitoes. They breed in stagnant water, thrive in wet areas, and come out when the air is still, especially in the evenings. Just the mention of them makes me itch. We live on the edge of the swampiest woods, and the mosquito issue is real. Their bites are itchy and irritating, but they can also carry nasty illnesses.

Protecting my children became a bigger deal to me as I realized that kids are more susceptible to mosquito bites. It seems like we adults have learned to notice and slap away mosquitoes a lot quicker than our oblivious young children. Some of my biggest mom fail moments are when a toddler wakes up with an eye swollen shut from a mosquito bite (my little ones are really allergic!). It happened again this week after we took an excursion back into Grandpa’s mosquito-laden woods. I failed to get insect repellent on my littlest one’s face and the mosquitoes found the tender skin near BOTH her eyes. For two days I wanted to cry every time I tried to see her sparkling blue eyes behind her puffy eyelids.

Mosquito prevention

Just like with ticks, there are two keys to preventing mosquito bites: covering the skin and using insect repellent. If you know you’re going to be in a swampy area, or sitting around outside in the evening, try to cover as much skin as possible. Bring along some lightweight long-sleeved overshirts, or dress your kids in shorts that roll down as pants. These little precautions help a lot to keep mosquitoes off the sensitive skin of our little ones.

And for the rest of the skin…there’s bug spray. I really don’t like using strong bug repellents if I can avoid it, especially around small children, but I think our littlest ones need extra help to protect themselves from mosquitoes. I’m always on the search for a good insect repellent that I feel safe using around young children and babies. We really like this plant-based product. But, like I learned this week–you have to apply spray everywhere you don’t want mosquitoes! A quick pass over the back of a hat won’t protect the face from aggressive mosquitoes. When we head back out into the woods this week to pick wild black raspberries, I’m planning to spray some repellent onto my hands and gently rub it on her face like I would sunscreen.

We’ve also been burning citronella candles and these insect repellent sticks when we’re outside in the evening, and they help discourage mosquitoes. A smoky campfire works, too! My daughter claims that a good smearing of mud really helps keep the mosquitoes off…but I haven’t tried that one.

Mosquito bite treatment

As with poison ivy, if your kids do get mosquito bites, there are lots of products that make the reaction more tolerable. My favorites are a salve with llavender essential oil (one of the only essential oils universally considered safe for children) and Calagel. Mosquito bite reactions usually begin to disappear within a few days, and rarely need any medical attention. If your child should begin to run a fever or have a disturbing reaction, always consult your doctor.

Enjoy your summer, despite the pests

Yes, poison ivy, mosquitoes and ticks are annoying and can cause problems. But many of the issues are preventable and unfortunately, they’re just another part of being outdoorsy. Don’t let these warm-weather problems keep you from experiencing the wonder, beauty and benefits of being outdoors! Know the risks in your area, find a good insect repellent, dress appropriately, and head outside! There’s a world of wonder waiting to be discovered.

What are your best tips for dealing with warm-weather pests?

About the author

Leslie is an Ohio farm girl and chaser of light, children, and sometimes chickens. She’s a lover of Jesus, wife to her high school sweetheart, and a homeschooling mom of four wild rascals who love the great outdoors as much as she does. As a family, they love hiking, camping, fishing, and just about any outdoor activity. She and her husband are just beginning the process of building a homestead from the ground up, doing most of the work themselves. Leslie has a lifelong obsession with writing and capturing everyday life from behind the lens.

You can find more from Leslie in the following locations:
Instagram: @c_l_allofus
Client work: @lalvisphotography
RWMC posts: Leslie Alvis
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!
GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Quick & Easy Kid-Friendly Snacks from the Garden
- October 15, 2019
It may officially be fall, but the plants in my garden are still going strong! We’ve got heirloom and cherry tomatoes for days, squash and carrots that are still growing and lots of herbs, onions, and potatoes! We’ve talked extensively on this website about the benefits of gardening with children and how fun and easy it can be to grow fruits, veggies, and flowers. And while it’s an absolute blast to dig in the dirt and care for your plants, the real fun comes when you get to eat them! Today, we have Wisconsin mom, photographer, and homesteader Brandi Rondinelli here sharing four quick and easy ways to make kid-friendly snacks from the garden. These snacks are the perfect way for you to enjoy the fruits of all your hard work with the kids in a healthy, easy, and delicious way!

Gardening with kids

There is nothing more rewarding than growing your own food! Am I right or am I right? Having the ability to go into your yard and gather food for dinner, lunch and snacks is so neat! It’s a novelty that still amazes me every year. And my kids love it just as much as I do! The whole gardening process is an amazing experience for both kids and adults. From choosing the plants we want to grow to planning the garden and then carefully planting the seeds, my kids are involved in the process from day one. They love having a say about what we’ll grow, and they learn so much about the life cycle of plants.

Watching the sprouts come in and tending to each plant daily over the course of the summer is also quite an experience for the kids. We love taking care of our plants, nurturing them, and singing to them. But in my opinion, harvesting your crop of fruits and vegetables is my favorite part of the process! There’s nothing like biting into a strawberry you grew with love or serving a meal to your family that you took care of together.

Benefits of gardening with kids

There are so many amazing benefits of gardening with kids. Creating a garden with your children is a wonderful way to spend quality time with them outside and teach them about nature and the environment. Kids get the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and outdoor activity. It teaches them responsibility for caring for living things by watering, pruning, weeding, and fertilizing. Gardening teaches them patience and tenacity. It makes them think about where their food is coming from and encourages them to eat healthy. Planting a garden is a cheap and easy activity that educates and nourishes. It’s a great life skill, and of course, it’s fun!

Easy kid-friendly snacks from the garden

My kids love being part of the gardening process, but they really get excited about our harvesting days. When our plants are ready, we’ll spend the whole day harvesting, canning\storing & eating all of our goodies! Just the pure joy on their faces pulling out the carrots that they’ve watched grow for months is worth every dirty fingernail. I definitely try to transfer this excitement about harvesting into eating our haul! Here are a couple of quick and easy ways that we make kid-friendly snacks from the garden.

Straight from the garden snack ideas

My favorite way to eat the goodies from our garden is straight off the plant, outside in the sunshine! There’s something absolutely divine about plucking a cherry tomato off the vine and tasting the warm sweetness of it! It’s heavenly, and I highly recommend you try it! There are so many different fruits and veggies you can plant that you can eat straight from the garden, with little to no prep work. Here are a few kid-approved snack ideas straight from the garden!
- sliced cucumbers
- strawberries
- cherry tomatoes
- sugar snap peas
- green beans
- bell peppers
Tips for enjoying veggies straight from the garden

Letting kids eat veggies straight out of the garden can be a fun and educational experience, but it’s important to ensure their safety and health. Here are some tips for parents:
1. Thoroughly Wash the Vegetables: Even if they’re homegrown, you may want to wash the vegetables to remove dirt, insects, and any potential contaminants. Use clean, running water, and consider using a vegetable brush for root vegetables like carrots and potatoes.
2. Teach Proper Handling: Show kids how to properly pick and handle vegetables to avoid damaging plants and ensure cleanliness. Encourage them to use clean hands or tools.
3. Inspect for Pests: Check vegetables for signs of pest infestation. While some insects are harmless, others can carry diseases. Remove any insects before consumption.
4. Avoid Chemical Pesticides: If you use any pesticides in your garden, ensure they are safe for food crops and follow the recommended waiting period before harvesting. Organic and natural pest control methods are often safer for gardens where children will be eating the produce directly.
5. Supervise Younger Children: Always supervise younger children to ensure they’re not eating plants or parts of plants that aren’t safe for consumption. Educate them on which vegetables are safe to eat and which are not.
6. Introduce Gradually: If your children are not used to eating raw vegetables, introduce them gradually to avoid any digestive discomfort. Start with small quantities and observe how they react.
7. Emphasize Cleanliness: Encourage good hygiene by having kids wash their hands before and after handling garden produce.
8. Educate on Edible Parts: Teach kids about which parts of the plant are edible and which are not. For example, tomato leaves and stems are not edible, while the fruit is.
9. Be Aware of Allergies: Keep an eye out for any allergic reactions, especially if it’s a new vegetable your child is trying for the first time. Consult with your pediatrician if you have concerns about food allergies.
10. Use Safe Water Sources: Ensure the water source used for your garden is safe and clean, as contaminated water can transfer pathogens to your vegetables.
By following these tips, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for your children as they explore and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of their gardening efforts.

Kale chips from the garden

One of our favorite super easy kid-friendly snacks from the garden is kale chips! We plant kale in the spring and pick handfuls of it throughout the summer for chips, salads and side dishes. The kids loves making kale chips and we try to keep it around all the time for a quick easy grab-and-go snack that’s healthy and delicious. The recipe couldn’t be easier and within minutes of picking, you have a tasty snack for the whole family!

Kale chip cooking directions:
1. Rip the kale into small/medium pieces and place in a large bowl
2. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the kale (be sure not to drench as they will end up soggy)
3. Add salt or seasoning of your choice (e.g. garlic salt, ranch seasoning packet, etc.)
4. Toss to coat
5. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees for about 8 minutes or until crispy
6. Enjoy!
Juicing from the garden

Juicing is another wonderful way to incorporate your garden goodies into kid-friendly snacks from the garden. Making our own juice is one of our favorite ways to get more fruits and vegetables into our meals. The benefits of juicing are plenty! From lowering cholesterol to building your immune system, boosting your energy and improving digestion. But the best part about juicing is that it’s so easy! You can use whatever you have on hand. Feel free to throw in fruits and veggies from your garden, but also anything you have in the fridge (not from your garden).

There are a million different juice recipes and you can customize any of them to your taste or needs. If you grow celery, you can juice just celery for some amazing benefits! Carrots with beets, cucumbers and kale make a great juice, using all ingredients from your garden.

One of our favorite green juice recipes is made by blending the following: 2 apples, 2 bunches of kale, 1 thumb of ginger, 2 cucumbers, 1.5 lemons, 1/2 a pineapple, and 6 oz of water. Oh man, this one is good! It’s green, but the kids love it!

Garden herb-infused water for kids

Herbs are another fun plant to include in your garden and use in various ways. You can use herbs for seasoning meals, making teas, infused oils and even soaps, if you are feeling creative 🙂 This year, we grew the following herbs: Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Sage, and Basil. We used all of these herbs in so many different ways, either fresh from the garden or dried for later use.

One of our favorite ways to incorporate fresh herbs into our diet is to make herb-infused drinks for the kids. The subtle flavors of infused water are so much better for kids and adults than the overly sweet flavor of most juices. Also, most fruit juice also contains a lot of sugar, which you avoid with infused waters.

There are so many great combinations of fruits, vegetables and herbs to add to water to make it more fun and flavorful. Infused water is best 2 to 4 hours after you’ve made it. Or, you can let it infuse overnight in the refrigerator. Here are few delicious and herb-infused waters for kids:
- cucumbers and rosemary
- basil and strawberries
- lemon (or lime) and mint
- orange slices and basil
- honeydew and mint
- watermelon and basil
- red pepper, pineapple and basil
- apple and thyme
More garden snacks for kids

Here are a few more creative ways kids can eat and enjoy vegetables from the garden. These ideas can help make vegetables more appealing and enjoyable for kids while incorporating the freshness and nutrition of garden-grown produce.
1. Veggie Sticks with Dips:
  - Slice cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and celery into sticks.
  - Serve with a variety of dips like hummus, ranch, or yogurt-based dips.
2. Homemade Veggie Chips:
  - Thinly slice vegetables like zucchini, sweet potatoes, or beets.
  - Toss with a little olive oil and bake until crispy.
3. Garden Fresh Salsa:
  - Combine diced tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and cilantro.
  - Add a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt for a fresh salsa to enjoy with chips or as a topping.
4. Veggie-Packed Smoothies:
  - Blend spinach or kale with fruits like bananas, strawberries, and a splash of juice or milk.
  - Add a spoonful of honey for sweetness if needed.
5. Zucchini Bread or Muffins:
  - Incorporate grated zucchini into a bread or muffin recipe.
  - These can be a sweet and healthy snack or dessert.
6. Stuffed Peppers:
  - Hollow out bell peppers and fill with a mixture of quinoa, black beans, corn, and cheese.
  - Bake until the peppers are tender and the filling is heated through.
7. Cucumber Sandwiches:
  - Slice cucumbers into rounds and use them as a base for mini sandwiches.
  - Add fillings like cream cheese, smoked salmon, or turkey slices. Serve them at a fun outdoor tea party!
8. Veggie Pizza:
  - Top a pizza crust with tomato sauce, cheese, and an assortment of garden vegetables like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and spinach.
  - Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
9. Carrot Cake:
- - Use freshly grated carrots in a homemade carrot cake recipe.
  - This can be a delicious dessert that sneaks in some extra veggies.
Garden snacks for kids

I can’t tell you enough how much I love gardening with my kids and enjoying the fruits of our labor together (pun intended). I highly recommend that you try gardening with your kids so you can enjoy so many of the wonderful benefits. If you don’t have the room or the time to maintain a large garden, there are still options, like indoor potted plants, window sill herb gardens and community gardens. Kids will reap benefits from even the tiniest of gardens, so don’t let size stop you. I hope your little ones like these kid-friendly snacks from the garden as much as mine do!

What’s your favorite way to eat from your garden?

About the author

I’m a wife, published photographer & mother of two little wolves. We are a homesteading family & love everything about the outdoors. We have traveled all around Wisconsin and hiked 21 state parks in just 2 years. From raising chickens, kids, having a full garden & a photography business, you could say we stay busy but we always have time for an adventure and new memories.

You can find Brandi online in the following locations:
Instagram: @motherhenshomestead
Website: http://www.soulshinephotographer.com
Run Wild My Child posts: Brandi Rondinelli
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
How to Plant a Butterfly Garden with Your Child
- August 19, 2019
The joy of digging in the dirt, growing flowers, and watching butterflies alight on fragrant blooms make growing a butterfly garden a magical summertime activity for kids of all ages. Today, we have the amazing outdoor adventure mom Josée, from The Backwoods Mama, here teach us all about why butterflies matter, what flower they’re attracted to and how to help butterflies thrive by planting a butterfly garden with your child. Planting a butterfly garden is a wonderful project for children of all ages. And you don’t have to have a lot of space; you can grow a butterfly garden nearly anywhere!

The butterfly is a flying flower, The flower a tethered butterfly.” – Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun

A budding interest in flowers and butterflies

“Maman, look! It’s a butterfly!” my daughter exclaimed with delight.

A beautiful tiger swallowtail alighted on a flower in our garden. We quietly watched as the butterfly sipped nectar and then fluttered away on the warm summer breeze.

Flowers and butterflies have been the topic of many conversations in our home lately. It all started when my children received a special parcel with fifteen tiny little painted lady caterpillars. As those little caterpillars, grew so did our collection of library books on butterflies and flowers. Soon, we were making lists of flowers that butterflies like and making trips to our local garden centre. We had decided to plant a butterfly garden for our soon to hatch painted ladies.

Why do butterflies matter?

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful insects on our planet. Their delicate wings dance like flowers in the wind. However, butterflies are much more than pretty bugs; they are very important for healthy habitats.

Butterflies are crucial pollinators. Some plants, like milkweed, depend on butterflies to help them reproduce. Butterflies are also an important food source for birds, amphibians, reptiles and other creatures. Butterflies are even considered an “indicator” species because they are very sensitive to changes in habitat.

Sadly, the fragile butterfly is under threat because of habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. Don’t despair! That’s where you and your child can help. Growing a butterfly garden helps butterflies by giving them food to eat and a safe place to rear their young.

Attractor flowers for butterflies

Did you know that butterflies can see the color red? It’s true! That’s why many butterflies prefer flowers that are bright red, orange and yellow. Butterflies also taste with their feet – yum!

Another interesting fact about butterflies is that they are picky eaters. Each species of butterfly has its own favorite flowers. However, despite their picky palate, there are many flowers that butterflies love. I have compiled a list below of twenty-five flowers that are sure to attract butterflies to your garden.

These butterfly attractor flowers listed below come in all shapes and sizes. Some will come back every year (perennials) and others will not (annuals). Remember, flowers behave in different ways. Some get really tall or very wide. Other like to spread everywhere. Mint and goldenrod send out runner roots and can very quickly take over an area. Plant these in containers or in areas that you don’t mind be taken over.

Also, some native flowers can be difficult to find. Milkweed is a native plant and can be difficult to find. Check local nurseries specializing in native plants. In our butterfly garden, we have a mix of sunflowers, zinnias, dianthus, cosmos, echinacea, marigold, veronica and yarrow. It’s beautiful chaos and butterflies love it.

25 flowers that attract butterflies
- Allium
- Aster
- Butterfly Bush
- Chrysanthemum
- Cosmo
- Daisy
- Dianthus
- Echinacea
- Goldenrod
- Joe pye weed
- Lantana
- Liatris
- Lupin
- Marigold
- Milkweed
- Mint
- Monarda
- Black Eyed Susan
- Nasturtium
- Snapdragon
- Sunflower
- Verbena
- Veronica
- Yarrow
- Zinnia
How to plant a butterfly garden

Planting a butterfly garden with your child is a wonderful way to connect with nature and help butterflies thrive. You don’t need a huge backyard or a large space to make a butterfly garden. If you don’t have a lot of room, don’t worry! A butterfly garden can come in all shapes and sizes. You can plant a butterfly garden in a pot on your balcony, in a hanging basket or in several containers along the sunny side of your home.

1. Choose a sunny spot

The location of your garden is more important than its size. Butterflies and flowers are sun-powered, so it’s important to plant your butterfly garden in a nice sunny spot. Make sure you also have access to water, whether that’s from rain, a sprinkler or a hose.

2. Gather your supplies

Once you’ve picked your sunny spot, make a list of supplies. You will need the following items:
- soil
- something (or somewhere) to plant your flowers in (container, pot or hanging basket)
- seeds or flowers to plant
- water
3. Select your flowers

My suggestion is to make a list of flowers that bring you and your child joy (from the list above) and take it to your local garden center, greenhouse or plant nursery. Find someone there that is happy to talk plants and offer you ideas for what kind of plants will work best for your space and climate.

Some things to think about when purchasing flowers are:
- Where are you going to plant your flowers?
- How much space do you have?
- Will the flowers come back every year (perennials) or not (annuals)?
- How much space will your flowers need?
- Will the flowers grow well in your climate?
- How big will your flowers get?
- How much water will the flowers need?
- Is it easier to grow this flower from seed or as a seedling?
4. Plant your flowers

Once you’ve selected your flowers, it’s time to get dirty! If you are planting your flowers from seed, it’s best to get them into the ground early in the season. For flower seedlings, plant them into your pot or into the ground as soon as possible. I find that it’s quite easy to forget about flower seedlings and have them accidentally dry up and die before being planted – oops!

Encourage your child to get their hands dirty and help with planting the flowers. Dirt is good for kids! And don’t forget to give your newly planted seeds and seedlings water so that they can grow.

5. Watch for butterflies

Once your flowers are planted, it’s time to sit back and enjoy your need butterfly garden. Set up a chair, blanket or reading nook near your flower garden and keep an eye out for some colorful butterfly friends with your child. Take out books from your local library about butterflies and enjoy some read-aloud time together. Maybe you will even want to rear your own butterflies!

Rearing your own butterflies

Butterflies have an amazing life-cycle called complete metamorphosis. This process has four stages: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa) and butterfly (adult). It can be very difficult to see all four stages in nature which is why rearing butterflies in your home can be such a great learning opportunity.

These days it’s easy to find butterfly rearing kits from online education stores. One popular butterfly to rear is the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly. My kids reared their first butterflies this season and they just loved it.

What butterflies live in your area?
What types of flowers do they like to visit?

About the author

Hello! Bonjour! I’m Josée. I am a nature lover, blogger, photographer and homeschooler. I live in the sunny Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada with my husband and my three children. We are avid rock climbers, hikers, campers, skiers and adventure seekers. We love exploring new places, both near and far, and enjoy getting outside whatever the weather. I believe in the beauty of raising wild children!

You can find more about Josée and her adventures at http://www.backwoodsmama.com and on Instagram at @thebackwoodsmama.
BEACH, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
15 Water Activities for Kids & Ways to Get Active on the Water
- August 13, 2019
It may be back to school season, but there’s still LOTS of summer left! Temperatures have been soaring around most of the U.S. over the last couple of weeks. It’s only natural that many of us have been gravitating toward the water to catch a break from the heat! Today, we have the amazing Chelsea Furlong, photographer and mom of 2, here with 15 kid-friendly ways to get active on the water this summer! Not only will these water activities for kids keep them cool, but they’ll help with swimming skills, improve balance and coordination and wear them out! This post is sure to inspire you to get outside and into the water as soon as possible!

Get active on the water

Summertime is the BEST time to get active with your family and it’s extra fun when the activities involve water. With two very busy kids in our house, we’re out adventuring on the water almost every single day. We’re lucky to live in Virginia Beach where the weather is warm most of the year and the beach is nearby, but we’ve done lots of these water activities for kids on lakes and rivers all over the East Coast!

Benefits of spending time on the water

As my children continue to grow, our list of family activities to do on the water grows right along with them. Each summer we’re able to add a few more fun water activities to do together that we weren’t quite able to do the previous year. We love being able to create so many incredible memories with our children while also getting plenty of exercise! The more time we spend outside together, the happier we all are. And it doesn’t hurt that the kids are nice and tired when bedtime rolls around!

15 kid-friendly ways to get active on the water

Getting outside and active on the water doesn’t have to be hard. And it doesn’t have to be the same old thing again and again. There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors and keep cool. Here are 15 different water activities for kids that will get your kids outside and active on the water this summer!

1. Stand up paddleboarding

Stand up paddleboarding has become one of our absolute favorite summertime water activities for kids. We started when our kids were young (ages of 4 and 6), so our kids are now great at paddleboarding alone or just sitting along for the ride. Stand up paddleboarding is a great full-body workout. While you’re balancing, your body is using your core, shoulders, arms, legs, and back. If you’ve done it before, you know that it’s even great for foot strength! You’d be surprised at how tired your feet will get from gripping the board to balance.

Our kids also love to play a game they call “Paddle Battle.” They stand on opposites sides of the board, facing each other, and rock the board from side to side to try to get the other person to fall off the board first! They can play this game for hours and never get sick of it! They enjoy climbing up onto the boards and jumping off of them as well. If you’re not comfortable heading out for a long paddle, your kids will have a blast simply playing around on the boards. They’ll come up with all sorts of fun games!

2. Kayaking

Another favorite water activity of ours is kayaking. Depending on the age/size of your kids, they can join you on a ride or paddle along in their own kayaks! Our kids have learned to kayak on adult-sized kayaks. However, there are wonderful kid-sized kayaks that you can use as well. You’ll be surprised how quickly children will learn how to use their paddles to navigate a kayak. And if they’re able to go a distance on their own (even in very shallow water where you’ll easily be able to walk to them if they need help), the pride on their faces from that sense of independence is absolutely priceless. It’s like learning to ride a bike for the first time!

3. Hiking or trail walking

Sometimes our favorite water activities for kids involve more than just water. Whether you’re near an ocean, lake, river, creek or stream, you should be able to find lots of great walking trails close to water to enjoy! Here on the coast, we have several boardwalks, as well as walking/hiking trails along the inlets. If you’re further inland, you can usually find great hiking trails in state parks or up the mountains beside rivers and waterfalls! If you have young children, it doesn’t even have to be a very long distance. Just a quick trail with water to toss some rocks into will thrill them!

4. Nature hunts

Along those same lines, nature hunts can be an amazing way to spend a few hours by the water! We often find ourselves out on a nature hunt during that rough late afternoon/early evening timeframe when it’s too early for bed, but the kids aren’t tired yet. You know what I’m talking about. That’s a perfect time to go out for a nature hunt if you have some water nearby. We’ll walk or ride bikes to the beach or inlet, and the boys will search for bugs, crabs, turtles, birds, snails, etc. They’re never disappointed.

Kids are so curious – they can find some kind of amazing treasure wherever they go. Even a new rock and a stick is enough to excite my kids. You can either come up with a specific list of items for the kids to search for, find a list online, or forget the list and just see what you happen to come across. No matter how you decide to do it, the exercise, fresh air, splashing, and nature treasures will always be a crowd-pleaser.

5. Pedal boating

Another great way to get active on the water is to cruise around on a pedal boat! I remember trying these out as a kid when we were on vacation at places like campgrounds with ponds or lakes. Sometimes local parks will have these for rent on the lakes. My kids are lucky because their grandmother happens to have one for them to play on at camp! And they love that thing!

Last year their legs were a little short so the adults ended up doing most of the pedaling. This year, however, both boys had both grown quite a bit and were able to reach the pedals on their own. Pedal boats are a surprisingly good leg workout and if you pedal around enough, you’ll likely feel it the next day! Our kids love cruising around where there’s lots of seaweed but still shallow enough for the sunlight to illuminate the creatures swimming below.

6.Yoga

While it may seem like a land activity (and it is), yoga can really be enjoyed anywhere, including on or near the water! You can do yoga on the beach, on docks at the lake, and even on a stand up paddleboard! We like to turn our paddleboard yoga session into a bit of a challenge. We’ll see who can get into certain poses without falling off the board or see who can hold specific poses the longest. There’s no shortage of laughter during that particular activity!

7. Skimboarding

Skimboarding is a fun outdoor summer water activity for kids that my boys have are just getting into this year! At the beginning of the summer, they saw some older guys using them at our beach and they didn’t stop talking about it until I finally broke down and got them a skimboard of their own. At 5 and 7, I wasn’t sure our kids would be old enough yet but they proved me wrong! They’ve had a ton of fun on that skimboard. It takes a lot of patience and coordination. Plus, it occupies them for hours.

8. Dock jumping

Those of you living the lake life will be very familiar with this one! This activity has been a people pleaser for decades and will never get old. My kids can spend an entire day doing this and never get sick of it. Jumping off, swimming back to the dock, and then climbing up the ladder over and over for hours. Such a great way to enjoy a warm day while also getting lots of exercise. Like most everything else in our lives right now, the boys turn this into a competition to see who can jump the highest, furthest, or do the best trick.

We alternate between using the life vests when I’m not in the water with them and no life vests when I’m right there to assist if they get too tired to swim back to the dock unassisted. This activity was probably the best activity we’ve done all summer to help them learn to swim better. They made massive improvements in their swimming abilities after just an hour of jumping without the life vests and swimming back to the ladder! And I was right there to catch them or lend a hand if they needed a little extra help.

9. Surfing

Surfing is something that’s only just now popped up on our radar as our boys are getting older. Now that they’re better swimmers and have a great sense of balance on our paddleboards, we’re ready to add surfing to our list of favorite water activities for kids! I grew up in the mountains so I’ve never tried surfing before, but since we live on the ocean it’s time to give it shot. If you live in a beach area or plan to vacation to one, you’ll likely have access to a few places that offer surfing camps for kids and private lessons. Since our youngest isn’t quite old enough for the surfing camps yet, we decided to do private lessons as a family! I have a feeling that surf boards will be on our kids’ wish lists in the near future!

10. Climbing

If you’re in the mountains rather than on the coast, I highly recommend taking some time to adventure near waterfalls! My kids are fascinated by waterfalls because we don’t live in an area where you can find them. Whenever we head to the mountains they insist on going out to find some! Usually, you can also find some great spots nearby to climb rocks! We stick to small falls with fairly easy-to-navigate rock areas, since we’re not well-trained in rock climbing yet. When we get hot and sweaty from our climbing, we just find a little pool without fast-moving water to plunk down in and cool off! Please be warned – there is no shortage of beautiful rocks to take home in places like this, so you’re pockets and backpacks will get heavy!

11. Canoeing or row boating

When it comes to being out on the water, you can really just assume that everyone will have a blast using any kind of boat. Kids love learning to paddle and are filled with pride when they’ve gained the skills to do it independently.

12. Go to a splash pad

For those of you who aren’t near nature-made splash areas, you can still have fun getting active in places like splash playgrounds or splash pads! More and more cities are building wonderful splash pads to run around in! These are especially great for families with babies and toddlers because you don’t have to worry about the water being too deep!

13. Go to a pool

Along those same lines, find a pool nearby! Both indoor and outdoor pools are a great way to spend some quality time with your family. My favorite thing about going to a pool is that I have to leave my phone behind! Once I jump in the water with the kids, they get some absolute undivided attention. It’s so refreshing and necessary!

14. Playing a sport

When you pack up your beach bag, add a soccer ball, football, or frisbee! Depending on where you’ll be and how many people will be there, you could also play volleyball or whiffle ball, too. Tossing a ball back and forth in the water is actually one of my very favorite things to do with my kids. We can keep cool by being waist-deep, connect with each other, and practice hand-eye coordination. You can purchase some fantastic frisbees and balls made specifically for water. We LOVE these. They soak up water and then splash it all over when you toss them. It’s tons of fun!

15. JUST PLAY!

My final suggestion is to just jump in and play anywhere there’s water! You can swim around, play on floats, use kickboards or boogie boards, or dive to the bottom to find treasures. Anything you do in the water together will be fun and your children will appreciate the quality time with you! You honestly don’t need to rent or purchase any of the fancy stuff I mentioned above to enjoy water activities with kids. Splash around with your family and make some summer memories that will last a lifetime!

What are some of your favorite ways to get active on the water?

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 possible! 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.

Personal Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Gardening with Kids: 5 Easy Vegetables to Grow
- July 5, 2019
Gardening is a fun and easy nature adventure to do with kids of any age. Kids love getting messy, muddy and digging around in the earth. They also love being outside, being active, learning about new things and taking care of their very own project. All these things make gardening a perfect activity for kids. Today, we have the absolutely amazing Jemma of thimbleandtwig.com (English teacher and mom to 4 in London) here sharing tips on starting a vegetable garden and 5 easy vegetables to grow with kids.

Benefits of gardening with kids

There are so many great reasons to get kids involved in gardening. As outdoor activities go, gardening is a wonderful and well-rounded way to teach a valuable skill and connect kids to the earth. Half the fun of gardening is eating what you sow and kids that grow gardens tend to eat healthier and are more likely to try new fruits and vegetables. I’m always amazed at what my kiddos will eat when they’ve spent some time growing it with their own fair hands! Gardening is also a physical activity that gets kids outdoors and gets their hands in the dirt. This physical contact with nature is an immeasurable benefit to kids. Gardening can also build confidence by making children feel more skilled and capable.

No land, no problem!

You don’t have to own a big plot of land to garden. Fruit and vegetables can easily be grown in containers or hanging pots on a balcony, fence or windowsill or even inside if you’re a city dweller! Strawberries do very well in hanging baskets, for example. And tomatoes absolutely thrive in containers, so long as they have ample sunlight. Radishes do great in deep pots and beans grow well in pots with a trellis.

Experimental gardening

Last year, we built a couple of vegetable boxes in our garden for our children to grow vegetables. We had an experimental year where we planted lots of different types of fruit and vegetables and waited to see which ones would do well and which ones didn’t make it to the table! Some of the fruit and vegetables didn’t grow properly or were eaten by birds (I thoroughly recommend a net over any fruit you might grow!).

Even if all your crops fail – simply the experience of planting, tending and nurturing vegetables can help instill a sense of responsibility in children and help them care for their environment. Their excitement at the first glimpse of a little shoot after they’ve planted the seed – is priceless! They are always so excited at the first glimpse of green!

Five easy vegetables to grow with kids

If you’re looking to start a vegetable garden or grow a few container plants, here are 5 easy vegetables to grow with kids (plus a bonus fruit). These vegetables are easy and foolproof to grow with kids. We had a great experience growing these plants last year and we’re not particularly green-fingered in the garden! This goes to show that if we can grow something – anyone can!

1. Green Beans

Green beans are perfect for growing in a vegetable garden with kids. They are easy to plant, grow and withstand a variety of weather. There are lots of different types of beans – runner, climbing French beans and dwarf beans. Beans are perfect for a sunny, well-drained spot and can also be grown in pots. You will need something for them to grow up (some type of trellis or climbing netting), but this is easy to construct from canes and twine. We found that beans grow quickly and that the runner beans and broad beans were the best hit with our kids. They loved picking them and popping them open to discover the beans inside.

2. Carrots

Carrots are another easy vegetable to grow because they survive in most climates. If you have a vegetable bed, you may need to grow a shorter version like Chantenay Carrots that don’t need as much space. These are also the best variety to grow in colder temperatures too. Since you cannot see how big your carrots are growing underground, picking the first carrot is always so much fun! It’s a total surprise and you never know what you’re going to get. The kids love choosing their carrot stem and seeing what comes up when they pull!

3. Potatoes

Potatoes are an amazing vegetable to grow with children because you can grow them in container bags and you don’t need a veggie patch! Plus, nearly all kids like eating potatoes since they are versatile to cook with. As you start with a seed potato, it’s a little bit like a science experiment for kids, which is lots of fun. My kids liked waiting for the ‘eyes’ to grow and once the seed potatoes have ‘eyes’, you can plant them in a deep bucket or potato bag (some even have a see portion so you can watch them grow). Every time the plants reach the surface, kids should cover with more soil. Potatoes are an easy vegetable for kids to learn how to take care of themselves. A good tip is to wait until all the flowers on the potato plant have nearly died back before harvesting your potatoes.

4. Cherry tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are another great vegetable to grow with kids. (Ok, yes, tomatoes are technically a fruit.) Cherry tomato plants are usually high yielding and produce a ton of little red tomatoes. These are perfect for snacking on (pop them directly into your mouth!), throw them in a salad or skewer them for kabobs. They’re also a bit sweet, so kids like them much more than larger varieties.

5. Peas

Peas are also easy to grow and grow quickly and they can be grown in pots. They are the most fun to harvest as the kids love shelling them from their pea pods! Peas can be frozen or kept in the refrigerator for about 5 days which makes them perfect for getting the most out of your crop. My kids (and I) love the sugar snap pea variety because they’re so crunchy and sweet. For more tips on growing peas with kids – see this article from The Educator’s Spin on It!

Bonus: strawberries and raspberries

Not a vegetable, but I’m adding this in as a bonus because kids LOVE strawberries! Strawberries and raspberries are perfect for growing with children because they are truly delicious! Homegrown berries are so much sweeter and juicier than you buy at the store. Kids love peeking under the leaves of the plants to find the red ripe strawberries or raspberries. In our garden, the strawberries didn’t ever make it back from the garden though! Strawberries can be grown in any part of your garden and can take up either a small or large space, depending on what you have available.

Be sure to check out my website for more tips on Growing a Vegetable Garden with Kids, including how to make a handy wooden spoon planter to label your vegetables! Have great fun growing in your garden with kids! We’d love to hear what successes you’ve had in your vegetable garden!

Are you growing a garden with your kids this summer?
(it’s not too late to start one)
What are you growing?

Meet 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.

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @thimbleandtwig
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
100+ Outdoor Summer Activities for Kids
- July 1, 2019
Welcome to summer! My kids have been out of school for a few weeks now and the novelty of long hot lazy days is starting to wear off. We’ve made our bucket lists for the big things we want to accomplish, but in the meantime, there’s still a lot of downtime around the house. We’re always looking for fun new things to do to keep us active, outdoors and having fun! Collectively, with our contributors and community, we’ve put together this HUGE comprehensive ultimate list of 100+ outdoor summer activities for kids!

Summer outdoor activities printable PDF checklist!

While this post will give you all the details and variations for all 100+ outdoor summer activities for kids, if you want a printable checklist version, CLICK HERE and get a free printable PDF of the list!

Special thanks to our Instagram community

These fun activities are guaranteed to keep your kids (and you) entertained, learning, and active while outside this summer! These activities have been tried, tested and kid-approved by our followers, editors, writers, and contributors! Plus, all of the photos in the post of kids outside having fun are from our absolutely amazing Instagram community! A very special thanks to all the mamas that let us feature their beautiful images.

{Post contains affiliate links}

@jenmarie_anderson

1. Water balloon fight

Everyone loves a good water balloon fight! For extra fun, get the whole neighborhood involved. Or make it a game – when you get hit you’re out, until there’s one champion! Or throw them high and practice catching pop flies! Split up into teams and each team is a certain color balloon. We like these balloons that are super easy to fill! Just remember to clean up all your plastic trash afterward!

2. Outdoor drumline (or band)

This outdoor summer activity was inspired by watching the drummers at an outdoor music festival last summer. My kids were absolutely mesmerized by the guys playing the drums on buckets, just using sticks and their hands. Find all the buckets (pails, boxes, bowls, pots, etc.) you can, give them a stick and have them create their own beats! (outside, of course, because it’s LOUD!)

3. Frozen ice dino dig

Freeze some plastic dinosaurs or other small toys or treasures in a giant block of ice. Give the kids tools to help them chip away at the ice to get to the treasure. This is a great way to stay cool on a hot day!

4. Have a car wash (or dog wash)

Get out the hose, buckets and soap and ready for some fun! Use towels or sponges to clean all your family vehicles outside and get your cars nice and shiny! Or wash the kids bikes, wagons or Cozy Coupes! You could even have a dog wash if you run out of vehicles!

5. Outdoor game night

Create a family tradition of playing a game outdoors! Whether it’s a traditional board game (like Monopoly or Life), a fun family card game (like Uno or Go Fish) or something a bit more interactive (charades or Pictionary), games are great outdoor summer activities and the perfect way to enjoy an evening outside. This is my personal favorite family game. And if you want extra competition, invite another family over and battle each other!

@adventures_with_gigi

6. Fruit picking

Summer is the peak time to visit a local orchard. Lots of places let kids pick-your-own fruits, veggies and flowers. Our summertime favorite picks are strawberries, blackberries, peaches, tomatoes, herbs, blueberries, zucchini, watermelons and sunflowers.

7. Find some animals

Visit a local zoo to learn more about the animals and how they handle the summer heat. Do they have adaptions that help them stay cool? When are they the most active? Or get more interactive and visit a petting zoo, farm, nature center or animal safari center. Here are some great reasons why summer on the farm with animals is so much fun!

8. Attend a carnival or fair

Summer is ripe with fun local carnivals and state/county fairs. Attend one and try out some of the traditional foods (funnel cake and lemon shake-ups) or the crazy food (fried Snickers bars?!). Play some games, ride the rides and have a great day of fun!

9. Make a fairy house

Don’t leave your local neighborhood fairies to fend for themselves in this heat. Create magical tiny homes for your fairies out of stones, sticks and other found and recycled materials. Here’s a great tutorial for making fairy houses out of natural materials in your own backyard that will keep your kids entertained for hours. For a little extra magic, add some sparkly gemstones, glitter or twinkle lights. These little paint-your-own fairy doors are adorable!

10. Play Frisbee or disc golf

Playing Frisbee is a great alternative to traditional pitch and catch. The flat disc is usually much easier for kids to toss and catch. Throw one around at your local park and see who can throw it the farthest or with the most accuracy. Once you’ve gotten the hang on it, try your luck at disc golf! So much fun for the whole family!

@gabriella.rojas.ray

11. Play in the rain

Summer rain showers are perfect for playing in! Light summer drizzles are usually warm and perfect for making fun puddles to splash in! Grab an umbrella or go out in your bathing suit! Here’s a great post filled with fun and creative ways to play OUTSIDE in the rain!

12. Identify local birds

Summer is a great time to get to know the local wildlife and continue your nature study. Help your kids identify the neighborhood birds in your area, by color, size, and song. You can also research what they like to eat, where they live, where they migrate and what kind of nest they build. If you want to get extra crafty, set up a nature window for bird watching.

13. Make a bug hotel

Get a headstart on winter by building a protective shelter for your garden bugs. Bug hotels are not only part garden art, but they also provide much-needed protection for bugs and beneficial insects throughout the winter. Set up different protected areas in your hotel with a variety of sticks, pine cones, seed heads, bamboo shoots, and wood shavings.

14. Play flashlight tag

Played at night, flashlight tag is a fun game that mixes hide and seek with tag. The person who is “it” waits at home base counting to a high number while everyone else hides. Then, armed with a flashlight, this person searches for the others who may be switching hiding spots. The flashlight must remain on at all times and may not be covered. When “it ” spots someone, s/he must use the flashlight to get a close enough look at the person to identify him or her and call out that person’s name (who then becomes “it”)!

15. Attend an outdoor concert

Check your local listing for outdoor concerts, movies or shows. Many local venues such as county parks, museums, pools, and libraries host free events for families in the evenings during summer. Pack a blanket and some snacks and enjoy an evening outdoors enjoying the show!

@wolvenkinderen

16. Set up a lemonade stand

Nothing says childhood like having a lemonade stand. It’s practically a rite of passage! Help your kids make some homemade lemonade, a couple of signs and set up a table for their booth. Not into lemonade? Try homemade popsicles, iced tea, kool-aid or bake cookies/cupcakes and have a bake sale! Your kids will be so excited to see their hard work turn into a few dollars! Who knows, you may even spark a future entrepreneur!

17. Go for a family bike ride

Biking with kids is a fun summertime adventure and a great way to get outdoors, explore new areas/trails, create family memories and get in shape. Riding a bike not only improves physical fitness, but it also benefits your child’s learning development and mental health. Plus, biking reduces carbon emissions, eases traffic congestion and eliminates parking problems. If you’re just getting started, we’ve got a great post with lots of tips for biking with kids.

18. Jump rope

Childhood jump rope games seem to have become a lost art. I remember playing all kinds of variations of jump ropes games such as helicopter, double-dutch, French skipping, and cat and mouse when I was a kid (a million years ago!). Most jumping games were also set to fun rhymes and songs. Break out the rope jumps this summer, and let’s bring these fun games back! Jumping rope is not only fantastic exercise, but it’s for great hand-eye coordination.

19. Go on a clean-up hike

Next time you’re out exploring your favorite local trail (or even going for a walk around your neighborhood), take along a garbage bag and make an effort to clean up any trash or rubbish you find along the way. Chances are, you’ll be (unpleasantly) surprised at just how much trash has been discarded. Set a good example for your kids by cleaning up and explaining to them the importance of taking care of our surroundings and the environment.

@pilgrimspassingthru

20. Plant some veggies

Whether you’ve got the room in your backyard for an entire garden or just a spot for a pot, plant a few vegetables this summer with the kids. Depending on your zone, you can start with seeds or transplant sprouts. Have the kids help choose a few vegetable plants from a local garden center that they’ll actually enjoy eating. Some of our favorites are sugar snap peas, beets, cherry tomatoes, mint, lettuce, carrots, zucchini, and pumpkins! Here’s a great post with 5 easy vegetables to grow with kids!

21. Press flowers

Flowers are everywhere you look during the summer! Take advantage of the abundance and preserve some for a cold rainy day. Collect flowers on a sunny day when they’re not wet or damp. Place the flowers between sheets of parchment or wax paper and lay a heavy book on top. Let the flowers dry for 7-10 days. Use the flowers for art decorations, cards, journals, luminaries or anything your heart desires! We’ve tried this flower press kit and made beautiful art! And here’s a great post on how to make a pressed wildflower bookmark.

22. Watch a sunset or sunrise

If you’re looking for a peaceful way to spend some time outside with your kids, try watching a sunrise or sunset together. This is a great way to have a quiet conversation, tell stories or just enjoy some silence while taking in the beauty of the scene.

@susan.grimes

23. Fly a kite

Flying a kite is one of those quintessential childhood activities that everyone should try at least once! Grab a kite from a store or try your hand at making your own! Choose a location with a wide open space, like a football field, park or the beach. See how high you can get the kite and who can make it do acrobatic tricks! If you need more inspiration or instruction, here’s a post all about kite flying with kids!

24. Make pizza on the grill

If you’ve never tried to make your own pizza on the BBQ grill, what are you waiting for?! Buy some premade pizza dough (or make your own – it’s easy!) and your favorite pizza toppings. Have everything ready to go, then slide the crust on the grill for a few minutes. Flip the whole thing over and then add your pizza toppings while it cooks. Your grill can get much hotter than your oven, so it’ll make your crust extra crispy and delicious! Let the kids help, but definitely with adult supervision. Or try your hand at using an outdoor pizza oven – here’s some info on how to use an outdoor pizza oven, our favorite recipes and tips for cooking pizza outside!

25. Make sun prints

Making nature art using sun print paper is a great way to teach kids about the sun and shadows. It also encourages them to be observant of shapes, patterns and sizes of leaves, plants and natural objects. Plus, you get some really gorgeous art prints out of it that would look so pretty framed or turned into wrapping paper or greeting cards. See our full post on sun prints for more details.

26. Catch fireflies

Catching fireflies (or lightning bugs, as we call them) is one of my (and my kids’) favorite things to do in the summer. Once the temperature gets warm enough, twilight is the perfect time to chase after these slow flying bugs. They’re easy enough to catch with your hands, just be careful not to injure them and let them go gently. Check out this post for more information on fireflies, fun facts, firefly jokes, and info on how to save them.

@erincomfortphotography

27. Play golf (or putt putt or driving range)

Golf is such a fun outdoor activity for the entire family. My kids are really into golf these days and they can’t seem to get enough. We love going out and playing nine holes as a family at a public course or spending an hour hitting balls at the driving range. If you haven’t tried Top Golf, it’s also been a huge hit! Or mix it up and try your hand at putt putt golf – winner gets to pick dinner! Here’s a great post on everything you need to know to get started playing golf with kids.

28. Go on a rainbow walk

Turn your evening stroll or afternoon hike into a rainbow walk, where kids are tasked with finding one item of every color of the rainbow. Either have them write down the item and corresponding color or take a photo of it with your phone/camera.

29. Put on a play

Most kids love performing, so have them put on a show! Help them come up with a story (maybe reenact their favorite movie/book or make something up entirely!), cast the characters, find costumes, rehearse their lines and even create background scenery! Have them set up a theater, advertise the show and sell tickets and popcorn. If you’re lucky, this could take ALL DAY (or longer)! Have them perform their show for the family (or the neighborhood) and be sure to give them a standing ovation!

30. Build a sandcastle

Whether you’re on the beach or just playing in a sandbox, building a sand castle is so much fun! You don’t need any fancy equipment to make an amazing sand creation. Just some sand, add water and a few cups and buckets of various sizes. Feel free to add shells, sticks, grass or leaves for decorations. Put those future architectural skills to work! Take your sandcastle building to the next level with these sandcastle building tips for kids from a professional!

@thebackwoodsmama

31. Climb a tree

Climbing trees is a great way for kids to experience “risky” play, with great rewards. One of my favorite writers, Linda McGurk wrote: “Tree climbing has real benefits for kids – physically, mentally, cognitively and socially. Just think about it. As your child scales the tree he’s building muscle strength, practicing gross motor skills such as balance and improving spatial awareness and proprioception. When he decides which branches are safe to stand on and how high to go, he’s learning how to judge risk and developing critical thinking skills. As he plans his path up through the limbs, he’s gaining decision-making and problem-solving skills, and if things don’t go according to plan, he gains emotional strength and resilience by trying again. When he successfully negotiates the branches, he feels a sense of accomplishment, which in turn boosts his self-confidence.”

32. Pack a picnic

Sometimes the smallest things (like a change of scenery) can make all the difference. Try packing a picnic and eating a meal in a whole new location. Choose a park with a fun playground, a picnic table by a lake or the edge of a babbling brook. Spread out a blanket with all the food and let the kids eat as they play with no rushing or nagging at them to sit down and eat. The kids will graze during the time you’re there as they play and explore. And chances are, they’ll eat ALL the food in the car on the way home!

33. Host a garage sale

Summer’s a great time to clean out some of the clutter in your home and get rid of some things that you and the kids no longer need or enjoy. Make it a family project to clean out their bedrooms and playroom with them and choose items to contribute to the family yard sale. Give them a percentage of the earnings or let them have the proceeds from particular items they sell. Be sure to have them help with labeling, advertising, and marketing! And let them help with selling, answering customer questions and making change.

@mommatolittlemen

34. Hammock naps

Not sure I have to say anything else about this one. If the thought of napping in a hammock on a warm summer day doesn’t thrill you to the bone, I’m not sure this is the website for you. 😉

35. Hula hoop

Like jumping rope, hula hooping seems to be another lost art of childhood. Make sure your kids get the chance to experience the thrills and fun of a hula hoop. Watching kids learn how to hula hoop is absolutely adorable and worth the nominal price of a hoop. Play games, like who can keep it going the longest, who can make it go up and down their body or who can jump through it as it rolls down the sidewalk!

36. Visit a farmer’s market

In the summer, local farmer’s markets are teeming with the most amazing produce around. Take your kids and introduce them to the vendors. Let them ask questions about where and how the food was grown. Let them taste free samples of fruits, veggies, and baked goods. And then pick out a few items to take home for dinner! They’ll be more likely to eat the food if they had a say in choosing it. Here are some fun things to do at a farmer’s market and ways for kids to learn and explore while there!

@alwaysfourlove

37. Pick a wildflower bouquet

Summertime is the best time for finding and picking wildflowers. Bring a pair of scissors on your walk and snip a few flowers for a bouquet. Wildflowers make beautiful and colorful arrangements. But only take a few and make sure to leave plenty for the bees!

38. Host your own summer Olympics

It doesn’t have to be an Olympic year for your kids to enjoy the games. Create your own version of the Olympics by having them compete for the gold in their favorite events. Set up the ping pong table outside, host a diving competition at the pool, try some rhymic gymnastics with ribbons and hoops. Whatever their sport, find a way to recreate it!

39. Make a concrete stepping stone

Decorate your garden or walkway with beautiful concrete stepping stones. All you need is a mold, some concrete mix and any decorations you want to use. Try colored stones, shells, glass or beads. They also make stepping stone mosaic kits with all this stuff included, just to make it easier on you.

40. Set up a bird feeder

Attract some local birds into your backyard by setting up a bird feeder and/or a bird bath. We’ve got a great post on how to make a few easy bird feeders for kids with items and ingredients you already have at home.

@affairwithworld

41. Have a stargazing party

When the heat in the summer is too intense during the day, swap your outdoor time for some evening stargazing. Grab a blanket, an air mattress or fill a kiddie pool with pillows and escape into the darkness to watch as the stars appear. Pull out a telescope and try to identify the stars and constellations you see. Plus, if you can get away from the city lights and noise, that’s even better!

42. Make an outdoor tic-tac-toe board

Tic tac toe is one of those games that’s easy enough for preschoolers, yet is still competitive enough to entertain older kids and adults. It teaches kids a lot of valuable skills, like logic, reasoning, creativity, strategy, coordination, visual skills, motor skills, concentration and how to be a good loser. We’ve got a great tutorial on how to make your own DIY tic tac toe rocks and board with kids. Or draw a board with chalk (or in the sand or use sticks) and use rocks or shells as X’s and O’s.

43. Set up a backyard obstacle course

Kids love competitive games and obstacle courses are a fun way to get them outdoors and active. Have them help set up an obstacle course in the backyard or at local park. You don’t need much to create a course, just a clever way to get from point A to point Z. Basic skills will be balancing, climbing, jumping, running, crawling and catching. They’ll love the challenge and come up with their own ways to play and challenge each other.

@miri.andthekids

44. Build an outdoor fort

Kids love building forts. Pillow and blanket forts are great for winter, but get out and try your hand at building a fort outdoors or in the woods. Sticks and branches make great walls and can be found relatively easily. Or find a horizontal tree and make a lean-to! There are so many different ways to build a fort – you’re only limited by your imagination.

45. Read a book outside

I’m of the opinion that almost everything is better when you’re outside and immersed in nature. That’s definitely true for one of my favorite past times…reading! If your kids are old enough to read on their own, create a comfy and shady spot for them to read outside. If your kids are little, try having storytime outside together and reading to them as they lounge on a blanket or in a hammock.

46. Look for 4-leaf clovers

Have you ever found a 4-leaf clover? Lucky you! Give your kids the chance to change their luck by doing a 4-leaf clover hunt. Your chances are actually pretty good for finding one. According to research, there is usually one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 three-leaf shamrocks and 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 1 four-leaf clover! Here’s a great post with all kinds of tips and advice on how to find more 4-leaf clovers with kids!

@threegirlztwirlz

47. Explore a creek

Exploring a creek is by far my children’s all-time favorite outdoor activity. If you’re lucky enough to live anywhere close to a creek (and I bet you are!), take your kids to check it out. Creeks provide so many amazing opportunities for exploration, curiosity and imaginative play! We’ve got a great post all about the incredible benefits of exploring creeks with kids.

48. Visit a new (to you) park/playground

Checking out a new park allows parents and kids to be adventurous, without needing to leave their own city or spend a lot of time researching or packing for an exotic outing. Most of the parks near us have wooded areas, lakes or ponds, hiking trails and a playground, which is always the most attractive feature for my kids and definitely the first thing they want to check out upon arrival. Pick a park that you’ve never explored and make an adventure out of checking it out! Need some playground games for kids, we’ve got you covered!

49. Make homemade ice cream or popsicles

This may be the most delicious activity we recommend and fun for everyone involved. Making your own ice cream or popsicles is easier than you may think. You don’t need fancy machines or ingredients to make the most delish homemade ice cream. Just a few items and some shaking/mixing energy! Making popsicles is even easier, with nothing more involved than throwing a blended concoction in a freezer. We have these popsicle molds and they’re amazing. Check out this fun post for some easy and healthy fruit popsicle recipes for kids.

@callred25

50. Decorate the driveway with sidewalk chalk

Sidewalk chalk is such an easy way to entertain the kids for a few hours. Draw a bunch of boxes and have them draw scenes from their favorite movie or book. Use the chalk to get them to practice their spelling and math skills. See if they can create a mural of their favorite vacation or hike. Have them draw their family! The possibilities are endless.

51. Set up a butterfly feeding station

If you’ve got (or want) a lot of butterflies in your area, set up a butterfly feeding station in your yard. All you need is a shallow dish, some sugar water and a few sweet fruit slices. You’ll have to change it out every few days (due to ants and heat), but your butterflies will be eternally grateful! Or grow a butterfly-attracting garden with your kids – we’ll show you how.

52. Skip stones

Skipping stones is a childhood favorite activity that my kids love. Head to your closest creek, river or lake and look for the flattest rocks. Show your kids the proper technique and what make the best skipping stones. Then, see who can skip their stones the farthest or have the most skips before dropping below the surface. Turn your activity into a learning experience and talk about the science behind skipping stones and the best way to do it!

53. Outdoor movie night

Watch a family favorite outside on the big screen! Borrow an outdoor movie projector from a friend, rent one, buy one or hire a company and host a movie night in your backyard. Play a kid-friendly movie and invite the neighborhood to watch a movie played on a screen, sheet, or side of the house! Add some popcorn and peanuts, and it’ll be a night your kids will never forget! Here’s everything you need to know to make your outdoor movie night a huge success!

@carlylainephotography

54. Make giant bubbles

Making HUGE bubbles was one of my favorite things to do when I was a kid. All you need is some bubble juice (soapy water) and a long piece of string/yarn. Tie the ends together to form a circle and dip in the water. Pull apart and blow air through to create a giant bubble! Have a contest of who can blow the biggest or whose bubble lasts the longest before it pops. Check out this post filled with the best bubble recipes, bubble experiments, games, and more!

55. Go on a hike

Summer is such a wonderful time to go on a family hike, particularly if you have access to woods or a forest. Tall trees provide great coverage from the sun and can keep you from getting too hot while you hike. If it is hot in your area, try hiking first thing in the morning while it’s still cool or later in the evening after the intensity of the sun has died down. Don’t forget your bug spray! We’ve got a great post on how to get started hiking with kids.

56. Night swim with glow sticks

If you have access to a pool in the evening, try going for a night swim! Spice it up by adding or wearing glowsticks! You can even do this in one of those little inflatable baby pools in the backyard and it’s just as much fun!

@ausomelyos

57. Visit a splash pad or waterpark

Water play is an essential part of any summer experience! Go beyond your traditional sprinkler or hose by visiting a local park splashpad or a water park! There’s something truly magical about water for kids and this a great summertime tradition.

58. Canoe/kayak/paddleboard

Going for a boat ride is such a classic summer adventure. If you can, take your kids on a canoe trip, a kayak outing or out paddleboarding. You’ll be pleasantly surprised just how fun and entertaining being on the water can be for everyone. Here’s a super helpful post on how to get started stand-up paddleboarding with kids.

@tiffany_pearl_

59. Play HORSE

Basketball is a great way to get kids outside and active! Play a round of HORSE with your kids in your driveway or local basketball court. If your kids are little, give them a bit of an advantage with a lighter ball or lower hoop.

60. Make sun tea

My dad used to make the most amazing sun tea every summer. He was an ice tea connoisseur and there’s something pretty special about tea that was bathed in sunlight and infused with the perfect blend of herbs from our garden. Some creative add-ins for your sun tea are peaches, mint, lemons, raspberries, honey, hibiscus, orange peels, pineapple or strawberries!

61. Drive-in movie theater

Drive-in movie theaters are getting harder and harder to come by. If you know of one of these gems, make sure to take the kids now, before they’re history. The novelty of watching a movie from the back of your car on a big screen outside under the stars is something that every kid should experience once!

@florafairweather

62. Make a flower/leaf/clover crown

If you’re looking for another activity to do with all those gorgeous summer flowers and green leaves, try making a crown! Clover flowers are perfect for making a simple daisy-chain crown. Or get more elaborate by stringing leaves together. Best of all, add beautiful wildflowers or flowers from your garden to your crown for added color and texture!

63. Make a nature mandala

In its simplest form, a mandala is a circular structure with a design that radiates out symmetrically from the center. Making a mandala with kids in nature is a delightful, beautiful and easy activity that you can do almost anywhere and at any time. All you need is a small collection of materials and an imagination.

64. Go out for snow cones

I’ve already suggested making your own ice cream and popsicles, but there’s something about snow cones that’s best to leave to the experts. The perfect shaved ice is not something you can just recreate on a whim – it’s a skill – and definitely worth an outing for the perfect ice and the ultimate ice-to-juice ratio.

@lightandlife.photography

65. Catch a fish

Fishing is a great activity that the whole family can enjoy and do nearly anywhere there’s water! If you’ve never fished before, do a little bit of research about what the fish in your area eat and when/where to go. Ask at a fishy friend or at a local bait shop. A lot of state parks will even provide fishing gear for the day for free! Trust me, it doesn’t get much better than seeing your child’s entire face light up when she/he lands a fish! Here’s some advice on how to raise a kid that loves to fish!

66. Set up a neighborhood kickball game

This activity is at the very top of my son’s summer bucket list. Kickball is more than a sport to this kid, it’s a way of life! We’re hoping to set up a kickball game that involves all the kids on our street (plus a few neighboring streets) and even a few parents for the ultimate kickball challenge! It’s going to be epic!

67. Race paper boats

Having a paper boat race is another really fun outdoor activity to do with your kids. This is a great one for the kids that are into STEM activities. Have them each create their own paper boat (or use natural elements like leaves and sticks) and then race them down a stream or creek.

68. Decorate your wagon/bike

Need a simple activity to entertain the kids for a while? Let them decorate their bikes or wagon like a float in a parade! Give them some colored paper, streamers, ribbons, balloons, scarves or whatever else you can find and let their imaginations run wild! Even better, get all the kids on the block to decorate their bikes and wagons and then have a neighborhood parade!

@har_leenie

69. Run through the sprinkler

Who needs a park splash pad when you have a sprinkler at home?! Set up the sprinkler in the yard and let the kids do their thing! They’ll love running through it, standing in it and jumping over the spray. Even better, get your camera out and make sure to snap some awesome sprinkler photos of your little ones!

70. Start a nature journal

Have an artistic kid? Try starting a nature journal with your children this summer. There’s an abundance of things to draw in the summer; flowers, animals, insects and plants. Have them look up the name of each of the things they draw and write down any characteristics, stories or thoughts they have while sketching.

@amerryadventure

71. Backyard camping

Going on a camping trip is great (and you should definitely do that this summer!), but when you don’t have the time, just set up the tent in the backyard. The kids will love to “pretend” they’re camping. Let them read books, tell stories, play with flashlights/headlamps and have fun! Don’t have a tent? Set up a hammock or throw some sleeping bags on a trampoline! Here are some tips on backyard camping with kids.

72. Pay it forward

Give your kids one of the greatest gifts ever – the gift of giving back! Make sure to pay it forward this summer by doing small acts of kindness anytime you can. Whether that’s putting a quarter in a row of meters, buying a snow cone for the family behind you in line or visiting a local animal shelter and spending time with the animals. Work with your kids to come up with a list of things you could do together to pay if forward. Need inspiration? Here are 20+ outdoor acts of kindness and ways to be kind to nature.

73. Make a journey stick

Journey sticks are a great way to create visual reminders of your adventures. All you need is a perfect-size walking stick, some simple crafting materials (string, ribbon, etc.) and an imagination! We’ve got a great post all about how to make journey sticks with kids by incorporating elements of your hikes, adventures, and outings into beautiful physical storytelling devices.

@sara_mccarty

74. Have a shaving cream fight

Pick up a couple of cans of shaving cream and let your kids have fun with it! My two had never really seen or played with shaving cream before this and they were fascinated by it! It’s so soft and squishy and fun to smear all over! If you don’t want to do this outside, stick them in the bathtub!

75. Check out your local swimming pool

Cool off on a hot day at your local watering hole (swimming pool). Lots of community pools have awesome water features like slides, lazy rivers, splash areas, wave pools and wading areas for the littlest ones. Make a big splash by trying some of these super fun and creative swimming pools games for kids.

76. Set up a slackline

Slacklining is a perfect way for kids of all ages to hone balancing skills while building core strength and confidence. Slacklining is one of my kids’ favorite backyard activities and I’m blown away by how much time they spend on it daily, balancing, bouncing and playing games. This is a great beginner slackline kit and we’ve got an awesome post on slacklining with kids.

77. Make slime

What is it with kids and slime? They absolutely LOVE it! But it’s seriously messy, so summer is the perfect time to make a big batch of slime outside! There are million recipes out there for making any kind of slime your heart desires – fluffy slime, glitter slime, neon slime and even edible slime!

@barefootphotographycanada

78. Spot animals in the clouds

Cloud spotting is a favorite peaceful summertime activity. All you need for this activity is a place to lie down and an unobstructed patch of cloudy sky. See what shapes you can find and make up a story about them. Or play eye-spy and see if others can find what you’ve identified.

79. Do a neighborhood scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts are one of my favorite ways to keep kids entertained and having fun while outdoors. Giving them a list of items or objects to find, gives them a purpose and helps keeps their attention. We put together this super fun printable neighborhood scavenger hunt that’s 4-pages of things kids of any age can find year-round in your own neighborhood.

80. Attend a baseball game

Particularly if you’re in the US, nothing says summer quite like baseball season! If you can, attend a baseball game with your kids. Whether it’s a professional MLB game, a minor league team or just your local town’s baseball fields, watching a baseball game is a great way to spend a summer evening. Root root for the home team and enjoy those peanuts and cracker jacks!

@in_thislight

81. Blow dandelions & make wishes

As dandelions turn to puffballs, children everywhere rush to pick them so that they can close their eyes, make a wish, and blow the seeds into the air. No one knows for sure how or why people started making wishes on dandelions. In addition to granting wishes, many people believe that dandelion seeds will carry your thoughts and dreams to loved ones when you blow them into the air. Others believe that dandelions may be able to tell you if you’re loved. Legend has it that, if you can blow all the seeds off a dandelion with a single breath, then the person you love will love you back. If seeds remain, then the object of your affection may have reservations about their feelings toward you.

82. Cook a foil packet dinner

Cooking dinner on the grill outside is so much for kids. Especially if you get them involved and let them help! Choose a dinner that can be cooked inside a foil packet – usually a piece of meat (fish, chicken or steak) and a few sliced vegetables. Have the kids help shop, chop, assemble, season, and cook the packets – either right on a bonfire or on the grill. Pop the cooked packets on a plate, open to let out the steam, and let them dive in! Bon appetit!

83. Tie-dye shirts

You don’t need to go away to summer camp to partake in this fun summertime activity. Tie-dying a t-shirt (or towel, socks or underwear!) is easier than you think. All you need is a few colors of dye, a white article of clothing, and a few rubber bands. No two shirts will be alike and the kids will love wearing their very own creations!

@chelseasmithphotography

84. Watermelon seed spitting contest

Watermelon is one of those foods that screams summertime! Make the most out of your watermelon eating experience by having a seed spitting contest while you eat your slice! See who’s the most accurate by spitting into a bucket. Or who’s the most powerful by spitting seeds for distance! It’s deliciously messy and gross, so you know the kids will love it!

85. Paint and hide kindness rocks

Kindness rocks are catching on like wildfire these days. My kids love finding them when we’re out and about. Join the craze and make some kindness rocks of your own for the kids to leave in some of their favorite outdoor locations. Paint them with bright colors, pretty designs and words of peace, love and hope. Here’s everything you need to get started rock painting kindness rocks with kids.

86. Go geocaching

Geocaching is one of our family’s favorite things to do when out hiking or exploring. You’ll be amazed at just how many geocaches there are out there, hiding in all your favorite places! It’s a blast for kids and totally free! Check out our beginner’s guide to geocaching with kids for everything you need to know to get started!

87. Sparklers

Sparklers are such a fun and fascinating experience for kids. There’s something magical about holding sparkling fire in your hand. Wave them around to make shapes or spin them to create a blurred effect. However, safety is always a huge issue with sparklers, so be sure to supervise your kids, help them with lightening them, holding them and disposing of them properly.

@3_littlewonders

88. Have a bonfire & roast s’mores

Summertime bonfires are so much fun. Take your bonfire to the next level by roasting s’mores with fancy ingredients, telling ghost stories around the fire and changing the color of the flames! Make sure to check out our post all about how to create a magical bonfire for your kids.

89. Set up an outdoor bowling lane

Bowling outside is a super fun summertime activity for kids. All you need is a few plastic pins (or water bottles!), a heavy-ish ball and a flat alley to set everything up (driveway or sidewalk works great). Bonus: teach your kids how to keep score and it’s a game plus a math lesson!

90. Make wind chimes

I just adore the sound of windchimes in the summer. And they’re surprisingly easy to make! You can make windchimes out of sticks, shells, old silverware, stones, glass or anything else you can think of! My kids and I made some beautiful windchimes from all the treasures we found on the beach last year (shells, driftwood, chunks of sand dollars, etc.). It’s a visible (and audible) way to remember our trip.

@sara_mccarty

91. Watch a parade

Summer is a fantastic time to watch a parade! In the US, there are 4th of July parades across the country, which are so much fun to watch. Bring your lawn chairs, a big bottle of water and enjoy the bands, floats and candy!

92. Treasure hunt with a metal detector

If your kids are into treasure hunting, try exploring with a metal detector! You may be surprised how many cool things you can find hidden, just beneath your feet. And if you find trash (which happens), this is also a great way to clean up your area! It’s a win for the kids and for the environment!

93. Raise butterflies from caterpillars

Watching a tiny caterpillar grow and then turn into a butterfly is truly one of the most spectacular miracles of nature. Give your children a chance to experience this incredible metamorphosis themselves by finding (or purchasing) caterpillars and watching them change. Releasing the butterflies into the wild is a memorable moment they won’t soon forget. See our post on raising butterflies from caterpillars for more info.

94. Make a sundial

Making a sundial is a surprisingly easy activity to do with kids. All you need are 12 small items (stones or shells work great) to serve as hour markers and a large stick. Paint the rocks/shells and number them 1-12. Put the stick in the ground upright and use the items to mark where the shadow is at any given hour. Explain to your kids how shadows work with the position of the sun. It may take a little tweaking over a few days to get it just right, but this is a great summertime science lesson!

@kmphotographytn

95. Take underwater photos

Underwater photography is all the rage these days! And it’s easy to see why with so many fun and incredible underwater shots! You don’t need a super fancy camera to get these shots either! Use a Go Pro if you have one, an iPhone with a waterproof case or try a disposable underwater camera! Take photos of your kids swimming, playing, and making silly faces underwater. Then let them have a turn taking the photos!

96. Create a treasure hunt

Have your kids come up with their very own treasure hunt in your backyard, neighborhood or local park. They’ll need to choose their treasure, figure out how/where to hide it, come up with a map and any clues they want to give. This is a great way for them to work on orienteering, map skills and thinking analytically for clues.

97. Learn how to play bocce ball

Bocce ball is a really fun game that the entire family can play, nearly anywhere you’ve got some open grass (there are bocce courts, but that’s not really necessary). The concept of the game is to get your bocce balls the closest to the white ball (which is the target). The four balls closest to the target are scored. Or, you can do like us and just make up your own rules as you go along! Either way, it’s fun!

98. Set up a course & have a remote control car race

Test your kids’ creativity and speed by having them create a race track for remote control cars! My kids love the off-roading cars that can go through puddles, off the curbs and through the grass. Their race tracks involve going all around our neighborhood, down the street, around the houses and through a few yards!

@laurakimbrown

99. Minibeast (bug) hunt

The insects are definitely out in full force during the summer months. Take advantage of the situation by going on a bug hunt! See how many bugs you can find! Kids love finding worms, caterpillars, ladybugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, centipedes, butterflies, and fireflies! Take a photo of each or sketch them in your nature journal. If your kids are scared of creepy-crawlies (or you are), here’s some great info on how to get over your fear of nature.

100. Explore an area using a map & compass

Knowing how to read a map is an important skill for all kids to learn. Choose an area that’s unfamiliar to your child, print out (Google maps) or draw a map of the area and teach them how to use the map to get to a certain destination. X marks the spot! Teach them directions and how to use landmarks. If you want to get extra technical, try using a compass to determine your direction. Here are some tips for teaching kids how to read maps.

101. Outdoor finger painting

Summer is a great time to let your kids get messy! (because you can always just hose them off before they come inside!) Try letting your kids do some fun fingerpainting this summer. Use poster board or a giant sheet for a canvas. Or let them paint the sidewalks. Washable paints are non-toxic and come off easily with some water.

102. Jump on a trampoline

Trampolines are so much fun for kids, no matter what the season! Take advantage of the summer sun and heat to add some fun to your traditional trampoline jumping. Turn a sprinkler on over the trampoline or add water balloons (or water beads)! Set up twinkle lights in the yard and jump into the evening. Here are 30+ trampoline games and activities for kids to keep them entertained for hours!

@corihenderson

What’s on your summer outdoor activity list?
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SUMMER
Must-Have Photos to Capture this Summer
- June 27, 2019
Summer is officially here! It’s time to get outside, enjoy some fun in the sun and make new memories. One of my favorite parts of making summer memories with my children (besides the quality time spent with them, of course!) is being able to photograph the details that I don’t want to forget. What better way to remember childhood than to have photos to show it? Today, Brandi Markham, photographer, teacher and mom of three is sharing the list she created of must-have photos to capture this summer, as well as some helpful tips to make your images stand out. Enjoy!

Must-have photos to capture this summer

Summer is ripe with wonderful outdoor activities for kids. With so much sunshine and beautiful light, it’s also the perfect time to get out your camera and document your days. Whether you’re a newbie photographer with an iPhone, a professional photographer with a DSLR, or somewhere in between, you’ll never regret taking more photos of your kids. I love going into a new season with an idea of a few shots I’d like to get. After that, anything is a bonus. Here’s the list of my must-have photos to capture this summer. These are the shots I want to capture year-after-year of my kids. Feel free to add to the list and make it your own!

1. Ice cream

Number one on my family’s list for summer is ice cream! My kids cannot wait until those warm summer months arrive and we get to enjoy our ice cream outside. When capturing your children enjoying their summer ice cream, focus on those details. Nothing says childhood like ice cream melting down a tiny little hand or smeared across a sweet little face. Get close and snap a few shots of the dirt under their fingernails or the sprinkles stuck to their nose. Pull back and capture the whole scene! Just don’t forget to embrace the mess!

2. Popsicles

Holding close to the yummy treat theme, popsicles are another favorite in our family. Often our summer nights are spent enjoying a yummy popsicle on our front porch watching the neighbors go by. Whether it’s store-bought popsicles or ones you made yourself with fruit you picked, you cannot go wrong with popsicles! This popsicle photo is special to me, because I capture one just like it, in this exact same spot, each summer. It’s a great way to document my children’s growth. If you don’t already have a photo that you capture each year, go ahead and start now! It’s never too late to start a new tradition.

3. Sidewalk chalk

Another summer favorite around here is sidewalk chalk. It won’t be long before our children are too grown up to enjoy this creative activity, so get out there and document it! Find some fun angles to capture the details and the messiness involved with sidewalk chalk. Have kids cover the entire sidewalk with scenes from a favorite movie or book. Have them practice their writing and counting skills. Draw hopscotch board or tic tac toe and turn it into a game. Add some water and create a paint effect. There are so many fun ways to get creative with sidewalk chalk.

4. Swimming pool

When it comes to the hot summer days, one of the best ways to cool down is the swimming pool. There are so many great photo opportunities at the pool. One of my favorite captures at the pool is one of my daughter relaxing on the beach entry section of our neighborhood pool. Shooting from above is probably my favorite perspective in photography. So when I caught my daughter relaxing like this, I knew I had to capture it. My 35 mm is my go-to lens for shots from above.

Of course, when you’re spending your day at the pool, you must capture those action shots of your children splashing and jumping. These are classic childhood moments. But, I also love to capture the slow moments. Another favorite pool image of mine was when I saw my son sitting at the deep end in his floaties watching his big sister jump off the diving board.

5. Bike riding

What is summer without some bike and scooter riding? Make sure to get out there and capture your kids riding those little bikes and scooters before they get too big! Get a full shot of them on their bike and get closer for some detail shots of their little hands gripping the handlebars and the way their ears stick out of their helmet. When capturing the photo below, I wanted to make sure I included the little stuffed dog that my son insisted on taking on his bike ride with him. Those are the details to remember!

6. Playground adventures

We spend a lot of our summer at the playground, so it’s important to me that I capture my children there. For a while, I was unsure how to photograph my kids at the playground without every photo being the same. So, a few things I’ve learned to get creative with photos at the playground are to change your perspective! Take a step back to get the whole scene. Or climb the slide and shoot down. Lay under the swing and shoot up! Different angles tell a different story. You can also get creative with the fun light by looking for shadows and sun bursts! Below are some of my favorite summer playground photos where I’ve done just that!

7. Sand

If you spend your time at the beach during the summer, don’t forget to capture those memories too. Sand can be messy, but it is a childhood must! Kids covered in sand are definitely one of the must-have photos to capture this summer. Get some shots of your kids making a sandcastle or completely covered in sand. Get a shot of them surrounded by their toys, shovels and buckets. However, make sure you are taking good care of your phone or camera here to protect it from the elements. Sand and salt water are not good for your camera.

8. Bubbles

Bubbles are another summertime favorite around here. Bubbles can be so much fun to try to photograph! Make sure to capture the joy your children have when playing with them. In the photo below, I wanted to try something different than my typical bubble photos, so I purposely focused on the bubble and caught the movement and joy of my daughter in the background.

9. The ocean

If you’re lucky enough to live near the ocean, make sure to take advantage of capturing your children there. We don’t get there often, but some of my favorite summer photos are of my children at the ocean shore just enjoying nature. This is another place where you’ll want to change your perspective to avoid taking the same shot over and over. Get up close and capture the details, get creative with your focus and depth of field, look for interesting light and shadows, get back and set the scene.

10. Summer details

This has probably been evident in many of the photos above, but I simply adore capturing the simple summer details. These are the little things that I’m likely to forget as I grow older. I love shooting sweet details like my daughter’s summer ponytail and sandy feet at the beach. Get photos of the band-aids on their knees and the paint stuck to their skin. Get a shot of the freckles on their nose and their sweaty helmet head after biking. These little details will mean so much to you as the years go by, so be sure to snap some detail shots of this summer!

11. Bare feet

Nothing says summer like bare feet! I love to capture my children’s feet during the summer. I love the painted toenails, the chalky feet and the dirt-covered feet bottoms. I love to see feet popping out of the hammock, encased in sandals and covered in grass. Get creative and capture those little piggies in as many creative ways as you can!

12. Summer treasures

All children love to collect treasures, so don’t forget to document their finds this summer. My favorite way to document my children’s treasures is to shoot from above. I love seeing their little hands holding their treasures, whether it be crabs, bugs, seashells, rocks or any other exciting things they find! And while some of these treasures may not seem like much to us as adults, they mean the world to a kid. Showing your interest and taking the shot lets them know they’re important.

13. Dirt

With all the time spent outdoors during the summer, there will be dirt! And lots of it! This is the time to embrace the mess and capture the dirt. You definitely don’t want to miss out on documenting this childhood detail.

14. Rainy days

Of course with summer, you also get rainy days. Take advantage of the rainy days and get creative when shooting indoors. One of my favorite indoor summer photos is of my daughter in her bathing suit watching the rain out the window. We were about to head to the pool when the rain began and she was super bummed. Get shots of your kids reading on rainy days or playing board games. You can also take the camera with you on indoor field trips, like to the library or museums. If you don’t want to lug around your real camera, grab that cell phone and capture the memory that way.

15. Water play

If you can’t get to the pool, you can still enjoy water play at home. Pull out that water table, water balloons or even water guns and let your kids have at it! I captured the water table photo from above because I wanted to show the fun colored water that the kids were playing in.

16. Shades

A super important summer staple are sunglasses. Make sure to capture your kids rocking their adorable little shades (or yours!).

17. Goggles

Of course you must also snap a photo of your child in their goggles. If not at the pool, throw them on in a bubble bath! Why not?

18. Summer milestones

A lot of kids join the swim team during the summer. Make sure to capture these moments to remember. Capture the race and the practices, but also the big moments. The photos below are of my son showing off his pre-team swim trophy and the joy my daughter felt when she officially made the swim team. These are moments I don’t want to forget!

19. Summer sports

Do your children participate in summer sports? Make sure to capture those memories too…even if they are just standing distracted at the soccer goal. This is real life folks!

20. Summer reading

Do you have a little book lover? If so, this is another must-have photo. I love that my daughter enjoys reading so much. I want to be able to remember these quiet moments as well. Capture your kids reading their favorite books, both indoors and out! Encourage them to read in a hammock, under a shady tree or bathed in the light of a window in the comfort of the air-conditioned house.

21. Special events

Last summer our family was lucky enough to experience the solar eclipse while visiting family in Kentucky. If there are any special events happening near you, don’t forget to document them, especially if they are once in a lifetime.

22. Road trips

Summer road trip photos are a must! We all know how stressful these trips can be, but I promise you won’t regret looking back at the photos you capture of the craziness that comes with travel. Get the shot of the packed car with the kids sticking out! Get a shot of the mess in their car seats at the end of the journey. Capture the moments along the way of them reading or singing songs.

23. Bath time

The last of my must-have photos to capture your summer is bath time! With all the dirtiness that comes with summer, baths are a huge part of it. Might as well document that too! Get a shot of ALL the bubbles! Give them mohawks! Let them splash!

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!

What summer adventures are you looking forward to documenting?
Share your must-have photos to capture this summer in the comments below!

Brandi
Maryland
@brandimarkham

Hello, I’m Brandi! My husband & I live just outside of Washington, DC with our three littles. They are my favorite people in the world & my biggest inspiration. I am a full-time elementary teacher & a part-time photographer, but mostly I enjoy photography as a hobby. I love chocolate, animals, & nature! Summer is my favorite because we get to spend all of our time outdoors!
BEACH, FAVORITE GEAR, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, SUMMER
The Best Reef Safe Sunscreens for Kids
- June 24, 2019
Summer is here and so is the sun! That means it’s more important than ever to make sure your kids are protected from the elements. Sunscreen is one way that you can keep your kids’ skin protected from the sun. However, we want to make sure that the products we’re using are not only safe for your kids, but safe for the planet. Climate change, pollution, and other environmental factors are slowly eroding the health of coral reefs around the world, which in turn can affect the health of the oceans. Today, Desirée Macke is here with ways you can keep your kids’ skin safe from the sun without putting the environment at risk. She’s also sharing 6 of the best reef safe sunscreens for kids and other ways that you can help keep our oceans safe from damaging chemicals.

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Not all sunscreens are the same

The hot sunny days of summer are finally here! That means your kids will (hopefully) be outside doing fun outdoor activities and spending endless hours in rivers, lakes, pools, or oceans. It’s super important this time of year to keep your kids sun-safe. Sunscreen becomes necessary and unavoidable – you need good stuff and lots of it. If you’re anything like me, you hit up your local market and grab the sunscreen that’s on sale. In the past, I’ve often reached for any big name brand – the cheaper, the better. I lather the kids up and send them on their merry way.

However, sunscreen has come a long way over the last few years and those changes have made me reconsider the way I choose sunscreens for my family. Not all sunscreens are created equal and there are some very important reasons why you should be considering more than just size and price when choosing a sunscreen for your kids.

Why choose a reef safe sunscreen?

It is estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen are deposited into our oceans each year. Much of that sunscreen contains oxybenzone and octinoxate. Studies have found those chemicals hurts coral, and contribute to coral bleaching. When coral bleaches, it is not dead, but under significant stress and subject to increased mortality levels. This, in turn, affects sea life and the overall health of our oceans. In addition, sunscreens containing petrolatum (commonly known as mineral oil) and Titanium Dioxide both takes many years to biodegrade and are known to be harmful or fatal to aquatic life and waterfowl.

Sounds scary for our oceans, right? It is. And it’s important. Hawaii is the first state in the US to ban the sale of sunscreen containing the coral-harming chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Most popular sunscreen brands are known to contain these dangerous chemicals. However, there’s good news! We are starting to see a trend of new, less toxic sunscreen lines which are made without oxybenzone, octinoxate and parabens, which are much better for the environment.

6 reef safe sunscreens for kids

Choosing the right sunscreen is important not only to protect skin from burns and cancer, but also to preserve our oceans and marine life. Selecting a sunscreen that is both effective and reef safe can be overwhelming, but fear not! We’ve compiled a list of the best reef safe sunscreens for kids that will protect your family from the harmful sun rays, and help to keep our oceans safe from damaging chemicals. In this breakdown, we’ll provide price points for each product. We will also show what the Environmental Working Group has rated each product, on a scale of 1 to 10. A rating of 1 is the safest for consumption/application as well as the environment.

Babo Botanical Clear Zinc Sunscreen
- $12.50 for 3 oz ($4.13/ounce)
- SPF 30
- Be sure to reach for the Clear Zinc, rather than the Sheer Zinc
- EWG rating: 1
Beautycounter Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
- $39 for 6.7 oz ($5.82/ounce)
- SPF 30
- EWG rating: 1
Coola Mineral Body Sunscreen
- $36 for 5 oz ($7.20/ounce)
- SPF 30
- Also available in SPF 50 Sensitive for Babies – $36 for 3 oz ($12/ounce)
- EWG rating: 1
Raw Elements Certified Natural Sunscreen
- $18 for 3 oz ($6.00/ounce)
- SPF 30
- EWG rating: 1
Reef Repair Suncream
- $15 for 4 oz ($3.75/ounce)
- SPF 30
- EWG rating: not available at the time of this publication
Thinksport Kids Sport Sunscreen
- $22 for 6 oz ($3.66/ounce)
- SPF 50+
- EWG rating: 1
Other ways to keep kids safe in the sun

Even mineral-based sunscreens can negatively impact fish and coral reefs at high concentrations. When thousands of people get into the water at a single beach, the oils from even the safest sunscreen products can induce toxicity. The best thing we can do is limit products when recreating in high use areas and find other safe ways to keep our kids safe from the sun.

If you plan to go into the water at the beach, the best way to protect both your kids and the environment is to cover up with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing. Not only are the kids covered up and safe from the sun, but it’s also so much easier than asking 163 times for the kids to stand still while sunscreen is being applied. There are lots of options for UVF clothing, but two of our favorite companies are Veyo Kids (which has sun hoodies and Noggins sun hats to keep the sun rays at bay) and SwimZip (which offers swimsuits, rash guards, and cover-ups for the whole family). Even regular non-UPF clothing offers excellent protection. You’ll still have to apply sunscreen to any exposed skin, but you’ll need far less—up to half the amount—than you might if you were in a bathing suit.

Other options for sun protection include giant sun umbrellas and pop-up canopies.

What are you doing to protect your family and the oceans this summer?

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, here in Southern California. 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 more of Desirée’s adventures in the following locations:

Instagram: @desireemacke

Blog: Macke Monologues
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Five S’s of a Successful Bonfire that your Kids will Love
- June 10, 2019
Some of my all-time favorite memories involve sitting around a campfire with friends and family, telling stories and singing songs. There’s something truly magical about a summer bonfire. Today, we’ve got the fantastic Laurie Endsley here, Texas mom of 3 and photographer, with tips on how to create an incredible bonfire experience for your kids that they’ll never forget. From how to safely build a bonfire to how to make turn it magical colors, she’s sharing the five S’s of a successful bonfire that your kids will love.

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Five S’s of a successful bonfire

Every spring our family builds and relishes a massive and gorgeous bonfire. Living on acreage outside of the city allows us to build huge fires that really make our eyes light up and our skin glow. We take advantage of it every chance we can. Over the years, we’ve packed away fun (and tasty) tips that help us have spectacular bonfires each and every time. Here are the 5 S’s of a fun and successful bonfire with kids.

1st S – Safety

Safety always comes first with kids around. Before you even light a match, you need to be sure the location you are planning to use allows bonfires and does not currently have a burn ban. A quick Google search of “Does my area have a burn ban?” should come up with your location’s burn status so you can ensure it is safe environmentally. With the all-clear, you need to make sure you have the following things:
1. A first aid kit
2. Fire extinguisher, hose or bucket of water
3. A responsible adult
When these three things in place, it’s a good time to remind the kiddos of fire safety rules. Remind your littles that fire embers are always hot and not to directly poke the fire because it can be dangerous. By assuming it is hot at all times and not poking at the logs you can ensure that the changes of being burned have been lowered to a minimum. Finally, make sure to fully extinguish the fire when you are done, as Smokey the Bear says, only you can prevent forest fires!

You can find more fire safety tips from Smokey the Bear here.

2nd S – Set up

For most of us, building a fire is not something we do on a daily basis. Before you begin, you may need a quick refresher on exactly what to do. Step-by-step detailed instructions are always helpful, which I’ve included below. For those who are visual learners here is a video link for a GREAT video on properly building a bonfire.

Bonfire building directions:

1. Make sure the area is open with plenty of open space around where the fire will be to prevent jumping embers from sparking nearby greenery.

2. Gather the following bonfire materials:
- a small pile of kindling
- twelve or so medium width logs, roughly 5 inches across
- four large width logs, roughly 7 inches across
- two short thick logs
- a collection of longer medium logs, roughly 3 feet long (you will use the longer logs to build vertical frame of the blaze.)
- newspaper or fire starter
- fireplace matches or a long-stemmed BBQ lighter (a smaller lighter or matches will work but you will have to get up-close and friendly with the structure when setting the blaze
3. Now we build! First, place a small amount of kindling in a pile. On two sides of the kindling place two of the large logs. Then, top with the medium-width logs to make a crisscross pattern (this will be 3 logs tall). Pack the newspaper or firestarter into the small spaces between the medium sized logs. Add the rest of the medium logs continuing the lattice pattern until you are out of logs.

4. Place the two larger logs perpendicular to the two large logs at the bottom to hold your pile in place. The two short logs will be the top of the stack, becoming your fuel as the fire burns. Lastly, take the longer medium logs and place them standing up all around your stack like a teepee, this is what gives you your traditional bonfire look!

5. When it’s all ready, reach in and very carefully light the newspaper and kindling in the middle of your stack with the lighter and get the fire started!

3rd S – S’mores!

Making s’mores is my favorite bonfire “S.” Those amazing marshmallow treats are perfect for bonfires. You will need sticks sturdy enough to last when they are close to or in the fire. Search for s’mores roasting sticks in the nearby woods or you can always buy some durable reusable ones.

I’m pretty sure that everyone loves s’mores! The traditional s’mores are hard to beat, but there are so many variations to make your s’more perfect. Don’t like milk chocolate? Use dark chocolate! Want a little mint flavor? Add an Andes mint to your s’more. Nutella is a tasty alternative to the traditional Hershey bar if you want to take it up a notch. Feeling really crazy? Swap that graham cracker for a chocolate chip cookie or a donut! My favorite option for little kids is to use a waffle ice cream cone to house their s’more and keep it all contained!

4th S – Smiles

Building a bonfire is sure to get little ones out in the open air and excited about being unplugged, present and outside. So, it is immensely important that we bring on the smiles. Sometimes fun takes proper planning and other times its spontaneous. If you have trouble with coming up with spontaneous fun, don’t worry, there are plenty of planned activities for bonfire fun. Here are a few fun ways we make bonfires extra awesome!

Treats – If chocolate and gooey yumminess of s’mores isn’t your thing, try roasting hotdogs, making popcorn, grilling corn on the cob, baking potatoes or fire-roasting pineapple as a treat.

Stargazing – When bonfiring on a clear night, stargazing is a terrific way to throw a little learning into the mix! Stargazing is perfect for when you want to utilize your time away from city lights by fitting all the outdoor activities you can in at one time. I love the old school book method of learning the constellations and suggest the following books:
- The Usborne Book of Astronomy & Space
- Glow-In-The-Dark Constellations: A Field Guide for Young Stargazers by C.E. Thompson & Randy Chewning
Sparklers – Sparklers are so much fun for kids! They come in a ton of different colors and are cheap! They can be usually be found at your local party or wedding store year round. On a non-windy night, sparklers are always a crowd pleaser.

Songs and Stories – Telling stories and singing campfire songs are a wonderful way to pass down personal and cultural history in a memorable way. Tell stories about when you were a child or family traditions to create organic a bonding experience with your child. This allows you to chat about what is important to you, all while giving your kids a sense of belonging. Additionally, classic stories like Big Foot, The Hook, and Little Red Riding Hood are fun to retell around the glow of a bonfire. What bonfire is complete without singing Bingo, Home on the Range and Kumbaya?

5th S – Science

Once you’ve had your s’mores, sung your favorite campfire songs and told a ghost story or two around the bonfire, it’s time to bring out the finale! Nothing will dazzle your bonfire buddies like a good ol’ chemical reaction. There are lots of compounds you can either get at your local drug store or order online that will leave all your campers saying, “WOW!!!” and end your night with gusto!

Using chemicals to make your flames change color or spark gives you a perfect send-off before putting out your fire for the night. Here are a few options for wow’ing your crowd.
- Magnesium sulfate – white
- Borax- light green
- Copper sulfate- green
- Lithium chloride- pink
- Potassium chloride- purple
- Copper chloride- Blue
- Powdered coffee creamer- will cause sparks
- Flour- a flame flash
An adult should ALWAYS handle any chemicals and take all safety precautions such as gloves or eye protection. And remember to keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of water close at hand!

Final words

No matter how you decide to bonfire, a big traditional fire, a small colorful fire, or one just for making s’mores, bonfires are perfect for letting kids explore, learn, bond, and… run wild!

Hi, I’m Laurie! I live on acreage outside a very small town (we don’t even have a stoplight!) an hour and a half away from Dallas, Texas. I’ve been a photographer for almost 10 years, longer than any job I have ever had (except being a mom). I have three rambunctious and spirited kids who make my life anything but boring and a marvelous husband who helps me wrangle them when his job doesn’t call him in to “the big city.” If you want to follow along on our adventures and see my client work head on over to one of my social media outlets!

Facebook: laurie endsley photography
Instagram: @laurieends
Website: laurieendsley.com
BEACH, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SUMMER
10 Tips for Taking Amazing Photos of Your Kids at the Beach
- April 18, 2019
Summer will be here before we know it and I know lots of you are already planning your upcoming beach adventures. Today, we have the amazing Jeanni from JKutz Photography sharing all the tips, tricks and advice you need to know for capturing amazing photos of your kids on the beach. Make sure you read this awesome tutorial on beach photography before your trip and keep all these things in mind when capturing your cuties in the sand this summer.

The mountains or the sea? Where does your photographer’s heart call you to go? While I love the mountain views, there is something about those ocean waves that keep me coming back over and over again. The beach is truly a magical place and a great one for photographers. One of my most favorite things to do while sitting on the sandy shores is to capture images of my crew. I’ve learned a lot about what to do (and what not to do) when photographing kids on the beach. Here are my top 10 tips for capturing beautiful beachy images of your family.

10. Avoid high mid-day sun

I know, you have heard this a thousand times, but there is a reason photographers avoid the super-bright mid-day sun. That harsh bright sun creates harsh bright photos. And although we (as beach-goers) hate those overcast beach days, they’re much more photograph-friendly. If you are looking to create softer light airy beach photos, try photographing on a slightly overcast day. Beautiful beach photos happen when the bright sun is a bit muted by some cloud cover.

9. Be patient

Sit back, relax and wait for the right moment. Some of my favorite beach photos were taken when no one realized the camera was around. I like to sit a distance away from my children and watch them play. Forcing a cute playful moment often ends in frustration, tears and resentment of the camera. Try sitting back from the action and observing. You are guaranteed to see the magic moments unfold before your eyes and will be better prepared to grab the camera when the time is right.

8. Small can be mighty

Like every mom out there, I think my littles are the star of the show. I often fill the entire frame with their sweet beach babe bodies. Although these images are adorable, over time they can all look the same. I have to remind myself to mix up my shots by stepping back and capturing the entire scene. Try making your littles a small part of the shot by filling the frame with more of the beach. This is a great way to capture the entire experience of your beach trip.

7. Find the path less taken

Half the fun is getting there, am I right? The path leading to the beach might just have as much charm and beauty as the sandy shore itself. Take time to look around for that dreamy spot just before you reach the shores. You will end up with great views of the sea in your background.

6. Get cheesy

Getting that creative praise-worthy photo is every mom/photographer dreams. Candid images that tell a story are all the rage, which means cheesy posed images get a bad rep. However, sometimes a good old-fashioned stand there and smile photo is so worth it. Especially if you have young children that are always on the move because it can be really difficult to capture their sweet face. There is nothing wrong with a classic stand there and say “cheese” at the camera kind of photo.

5. Find the small details

As much as I love capturing the entire scene, I really love zooming in on the small details of the beach. Not only will the detailed pictures help you remember the way the sand felt in-between your toes, it will also give a good amount of variety of your gallery of beach images. Pay attention to those details and be sure to capture the tiny little details you never want to forget.

4. Sunrise can equal sunset

There’s a reason you see so many classic beach sunset photos – sunsets can be epic. We all love the pastel colors that paint the sky and we’ve all tried to capture that beauty as our kids frolic and play. But, depending on the direction the beach faces, the sunrise can actually create better images than the sunset. If the beach looks out towards the West, try photographing the “sunset” photo in the morning. When the sun is low, the landscape can block some of the harsh sun that is often found on open beaches.

3. Look for the quiet moments

The best beach moments don’t always happen on the beach with a sand shovel in hand or while the littles are jumping in the waves. Napping on the beach often results in a frame-worthy photo. As do beach picnics, snack breaks and all the little moments in between the action when the kids are resting and refueling.

2. Get directional

Do you have a perfect beach photo in your mind that you desperately want to create? Me too! Help your children create that image by positioning them where you want them and letting them know just what you would like them to do. Use gentle encouraging directions to get the shot you envision. Start by pointing out a perfect spot on the beach where the light is just right. Then suggest that your crew build a sand castle there or have them pick up that super cute floaty. Need them to turn and face the ocean? Ask if they see any dolphins jumping in the waves. Get creative and they’ll never know that this is all part of a plan.

1. Keep it simple

Cutting out the clutter of a beach trip will absolutely give your images a more editorial and stylized look. I am in no way suggesting not to pack all the coolers and bags. You need those! However, when it comes time to capture that perfect beach image, leave them out of the shot. Try having all the beach chairs, towels, and fun floats behind you or off to the side so they’re not in all your images. Move the kids away from the gear, for a few shots. If you have a lens with a longer focal lens, try zooming in or moving closer to cut out that clutter. One or two cute beach toys might be just perfect, but three or more is definitely a crowd.

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!

Jeanni, originally born and raised in St. Paul MN, has traveled the country and world searching for a place to call home. She is a mom to a crew of 4 littles; 1 boy and 3 girls. After a 7 year career as an early childhood teacher, Jeanni is now proud to be working as a full-time mom. The bittersweet emotions of watching her children grow motivated her to pick up a camera and become a photographer. Photography is her heart’s work and she loves to capture joyful, natural moments. As a lover of natural light, Jeanni strives for fresh and airy images. She also has a deep love for her husband, a strong cup of coffee, the color white, and all things vintage. It is truly her great joy to share her work with you at jkutzphotography.com.
BOOKS, FALL, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER, URBAN NATURE, WINTER
Creating a Nature Window for Bird Watching
- January 7, 2019
If you’ve ever taken the time to observe birds in your own backyard, I guarantee you’ll find them fascinating! Birds are incredibly social, intelligent, crafty, clever and funny. They are such a joy to watch. Over time, you can even get to know the local ones and their personalities. Today, I’m thrilled to have Nichole from Luckey Wanderers here sharing how she created a Nature Window in her home for watching and studying birds with her family. What started out as an easy way to observe local birds has turned into a passion project for the entire family. She’s here to share her experience and give you tips and advice for creating your own nature window.

How the nature window began

The most beautiful rhythm has developed in our home over the last year. It all began with a bird-focused nature study for my homeschooled children, which grew into an ongoing observation that we as a family enjoy daily. It all started through happenstance. I happened to enter a contest on a social media site. That happened to be through our state chapter of the Audubon Society. Then, I happened to win! We won the most wonderful beginner bird watching kit, with bird information, along with a suet feeder, handheld hummingbird feeders, and some native plant seeds. The rest is history!

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

I entered the contest because we were studying birds for our fall term nature study. I thought the prize would pair well with our study. Within a few days, we had our suet feeder up, full of fresh food. (Suet is a cake made from animal fats and bird seed, usually in a square form.) The suet feeder hung from a pole just off our deck, observable from our kitchen window. Then, we hung a hummingbird feeder from a nearby tree and waited.

We spent the next few days watching and waiting for birds to arrive. During each meal, our eyes were drawn to the feeders. The first hummingbirds soon showed up and we all screamed in excitement, which scared the darling little creatures away! Thankfully, they are persistent and came right back.

My husband brought home another feeder for different food, sunflower seeds this time. These quickly grabbed the attention of the squirrels. Squirrels are acrobatic little buggers, and we soon had to find a way to keep them from getting into the feeder. After a bit of research, put a metal slinky over the pole, which seemed to do the trick. It also gave us one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen! An unknowing little bird flew onto the slinky expecting a solid landing, but instead, he bobbed up and down helplessly on the Slinky for a minute or two. Sadly, I was not recording this, but my children and I laughed about that for at least a week!

All birds, large and small

We were all surprised how many birds began to show up at our feeders. In our yard or nearby, we had a family of downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, cardinals, and American bluebirds. They came with such regularity that we could almost tell the time based on when we would see them. We watched that window at breakfast, lunch, and at our family dinners. The children excitedly gave a daily report to my husband about what we had seen each night at dinner.

Mid-winter, I had the great delight of seeing a pair of Indigo buntings fly through; pausing only briefly in our trees. The sight of them lingers in my memory. It’s a sight that I would not have seen if we hadn’t spent the previous few months attuning our attention to our little slice of the natural world sitting just outside of our kitchen window. And as winter warmed away and signs of spring began to show, we began to see the baby woodpeckers and baby cardinals accompany their parents to the feeder. It was such a special sight!

Variety is the spice of life

It wasn’t long before we decided to expand our nature window to include other species. My husband and son took to the garage to build a wood home to hang on the tree. While this was originally intended for birds, a squirrel took up residence. Watching its little face peering out of the circular hole melts me every time. We allowed what was left of our raised bed gardens to grow wild! Soon, they overflowed with native grasses and plants. Of course, this attracted pollinators and insects of all kinds, which help the birds.

Due to our location, we are quite lucky to see a wide range of species fly through. Our city lies directly in a migration path, which gives us the opportunity to see a variety of birds. I didn’t realize that before, but now we want to be prepared for it. We have plans to expand our bird feeders to attract Baltimore orioles, my husband’s favorite bird. From what we have heard, oranges should do the trick. We are also doing our due diligence in researching native plants and plan to fill our yard and garden with helpful and purposeful plants. A bird bath is also on our to do list!

So much more than just a nature study

Over the course of the academic year, we were thrilled to see so many birds come and go. My children delighted at spying the brilliant red flashes of the ruby-throated hummingbird. My camera found a new home: on the window sill waiting for moments to snap photos of the birds that passed through our yard. We started checking off lists for the species of birds we spotted. My children colored in their bird coloring books when they saw a certain species. They delighted in imagining that Jenny Wren came visiting our home regularly, thanks to the wonderful book The Burgess Bird Book for Children.

Our nature window is a continually evolving and changing thing. It started with a simple bird feeder placed where we could see it from our kitchen table and has become a full-on observation station. We have a windowsill full of bird guides, checklists, nature finds, jars of found bird feathers, nature journals, binoculars, magnifying glasses, nature journals and colored pencils.

Choose your own nature window

If you homeschool or just have curious littles at home, I highly recommend creating your own nature window. It’s brought so much joy to our lives, I’d love to pass the love and experience on to you. To begin your own nature window, take a few days and observe your household patterns and the layout of your home. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Where do you eat your meals?
- Which room does your family gather most often?
- Where do you spend time relaxing?
- Where do the kids study?
Once you have considered those things, choose your window based on where you’ll have the most opportunities to observe the happenings outside. And while a window is not necessary for setting up bird feeders (you can do that anywhere), it will allow you to observe your feeder from inside the house regardless of the weather.

Start simple

We started with a simple, double-sided suet feeder. There are many recipes available for making your own suet feed, however, for simplicity’s sake, I prefer to buy them in bulk from our local retailers. The Audubon website has a recipe available for vegetarian suet if you’re interested. Next, add a feeder with traditional bird seed or sunflower seeds.

A hummingbird feeder is another wonderful way to observe wildlife from your window. There are a variety of window hung feeders, although ours is hung from a tree. While I buy other types of bird food, making hummingbird food is quite simple. It’s also far better for the birds than store-bought. A basic formula is made from 1 part sugar to 3 parts warm water. Mix until dissolved and allow to cool. Do not add any dyes to the water. Dyes are not necessary and can be harmful to hummingbirds.

Certify your space

One easy way to assure that your yard or nature space is set up well for wildlife is to certify it. You can certify your space through the National Wildlife Federation website. I certified our yard about two years ago, just prior to starting our nature window. It is a very easy (and very educational) process that will help you look at your yard from an animals’ perspective. The certification process will show you how to make simple changes that will positively impact the wildlife around you.

Your yard will first need local native plants. The best practice is to try to stick with native to your area plants. These plants will help support the wildlife around you. If you have questions, speak with a master gardener in your area or find a local chapter of your native plant society. Both of the organizations are great resources for learning about what to plant. You’ll also need a source of water and places to build shelter, in addition to a food source.

The National Wildlife Federation has provided a wonderful program in their wildlife habitat certification process. Our family learned so much through it and are continuing to reap the benefits daily, through our nature window observations. The cost to certify is minimal and includes a wonderful sign to acknowledge your work. Certifying your yard would be an excellent family project, as there is something for everyone to help with.

Let it evolve

Allow your window to morph into your own over time. Find what works for your family and what types of nature excite you and your children. Then, place things in or outside of your window that fuel your passions. In a world dominated by screens, this family past time of observing the natural world through your own window will have a profoundly positive effect on relationships, learning, and even your own peace of mind.

Recommended reading

Here are a few book recommendations to keep near your nature window.
- A Bird Guide – Audubon/Peterson/Kaufman – any of those guides will do well to help with identifying your backyard birds in you’re in North America. You can also get some free local guides from your local chapter of the Audubon Society. I would recommend having a broad spectrum guide as well as a more specific local guide.
- A Bird Journal – This can be as simple as a piece of paper where you log what you see, or a birders journal which has lists to check off what you see and when. We like this one from the Audubon Society.
- A local or regional guide to the natural year – there are some wonderful books out there that will guide you through a season in your area. A simple internet search using the keywords “the natural year” or “seasonal guide” should render some helpful books.
- The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady – this book is a beautiful nature journal containing poetry, nature observations, and drawings. Not regionally specific but a jewel of a book to have in your nature window.
- A book of poetry – a collection of great poems by famous poets on birds. This is handy to pick up and search for a certain topic and any poetry collection will do. Try this one.
Window to the world

Our little nature window (well it’s actually a large window) has become an enduring learning opportunity for all of us. Our attention has become fined tuned to the natural world that exists even beyond it within our little patch of the city. We are amazed by the flickering red of the ruby-throated hummingbird and now recognize the woodpecker we hear in our treetop. We know which birds like sunflower seeds and which bird species favor the suet feeders. This nature window has become a profoundly powerful tool for focusing our attention, feeding our souls, and teaching lessons to our entire family.

Nichole is a homeschooling mama to two incredible adventurers. She has been married to her best friend for nearly eleven 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 gypsy-hearted, fearless, road tripper, known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Favorite family activities are hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety). She swims competitively and enjoys showing her children what it means to live a healthy life. Coffee is her drink of choice (all day long, and black). You can find her in the woods, probably up a creek, jumping off waterfalls.

You can find her at the following locations:

Instagram: @coleyraeh
Blog: Luckey Wanderers
CRAFTS, SUMMER
Sun Print Paper Nature Art
- August 23, 2017
The great solar eclipse of 2017 has passed (it was really cool, wasn’t it?!), but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun experimenting with the sun and its powers. If your kids had a chance to view the eclipse, hopefully, it sparked a curiosity in them about our solar system, the sun, and science. Making nature art using sun print paper is a great way to teach kids about the sun and shadows. It also encourages them to be observant of shapes, patterns, and sizes of leaves, plants and nature objects. Plus, you get some really gorgeous art prints out of it that would look so pretty framed or turned into wrapping paper or greeting cards. It’s a win/win/win!

Sun print paper

Sun print paper is relatively new to me, but has been around for a long time. Sunprinting, also called cyanotype or “blueprinting,” is the oldest non-silver photographic printing process. The paper is coated with light-sensitive chemicals, which react to light waves and particles when exposed to sunlight. When you place objects on the paper, they block the light (paper remains white), while the areas on the paper around them turn a beautiful Prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide). Water stops the process and fixes your images on the paper.

You can get sun print paper at many local crafts stores, or order it online. The paper comes in a variety of sizes and can be purchased in a kit with an acrylic sheet included. I bought this kit (affiliate link) – Super Sunprint Kit – from Amazon for about $12, which contains 15 sheets of paper and a heavy acrylic sheet.

Nature items to use for sun print art

Part of the fun of making the sun prints with kids is collecting items from around our neighborhood to use. We chose all leaves this time, but there are so many items you can use, from everyday household things (paperclips, buttons) to all natural items. Here’s a fun list of nature-inspired objects that your kids could collect and use:
- flowers
- flower petals
- feathers
- algea
- moss
- clovers
- leaves
- shells
- starfish
- dead butterfly/moth
- seedpods
Step 1 – What you need
- sun print paper
- an acrylic sheet or frame of glass
- heavy cardboard base (or thick book)
- a sink/tub full of water
- fun and interesting nature objects to print
Step 2 – Arrange your objects

Because the blue molecules embedded in the sun print paper are sensitive to ultra-violet light, it’s best to arrange your objects on the paper in a dark room. Direct sunlight will expose the paper quickly, but even ambient light in the shade, or in a room with a big window will cause slow exposure of the paper. Turn out all the lights and draw the shades, before assembling.

Start with a hard cardboard base layer – we used a thick flat book. Then arrange your items in an interesting pattern on the sun print paper, blue-side up. Try to keep things from overlapping too much and carefully spread out individual leaves or flower petals. You can make shapes, make a landscape, combine patterns and objects or keep it simple. There’s no right or wrong way to set everything up, so let your kids play around with the items until they’re happy.

Step 3 – Place the acrylic sheet on top to flatten

When you’ve got everything arranged on the paper exactly how you want it, place a sheet of thick acrylic or glass on top to hold everything in place. My sun print paper kit came with a heavy sheet of acrylic, but you can also use a piece of glass from a picture frame. Using an acrylic pressing sheet will not only hold flat objects in place, but it also helps sharpen the edges between blue and white in your final print. The ambient sunlight outdoors will find its way underneath the edges of your objects if they are not pressed firmly to the paper, and you will get sun prints with blended contrasts.

Step 4 – Take your sun paper outside

Once you have everything set up (cardboard, sun print paper, nature items, acrylic sheet), then you’re ready for sunlight! Take everything outside and let the sun work it’s magic from 2-5 minutes, depending on the strength of the rays. The areas of the paper exposed to the sun will fade from blue to white. When you see most of the color disappear from the paper, your print has been fully exposed. If no direct sunlight is available, don’t worry–just expose your print a little longer and wait for the same fading effect. Under cloud cover, the process may take 5-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the clouds.

*What is happening in this step? Two crucial molecules in the paper are interacting, forming a new molecule. Their interaction is initiated by specific wavelengths of ultra-violet light. The new molecule is colorless so that as the blue molecules are converted, the white of the paper base begins to show through. Areas of the paper covered by your objects still contain the original blue molecule, so they remain blue.

Step 5 – Rinse your sun print in water

Once your exposed paper has turned almost white, remove the objects and rinse the paper in water to stop the chemical reaction. As the paper is submerged, watch the white turn into blue and the blue turn into white! To get the deepest blue that the paper can give, leave it in the water for 1-5 minutes.

*There are two exciting things happening to the paper while it is underwater. First, the original blue compound is water soluble, so that when you immerse it in the bath, the water carries it away, leaving only the white paper base in those areas. Second, the colorless compound whose formation was caused by the sun’s energy is not water soluble, so it cannot wash away in the water bath. It is sensitive to the water in another way. Just as the sun’s light stimulated a chemical change in the previous step, the water stimulates another chemical change in this one. The water causes an oxidation reaction that turns the colorless compound into the deep blue of a finished sun print.

Step 6 – Lay your sun print flat and allow it to dry

Once rinsed, lay your sun print paper out on something absorbent and allow it to dry. You can use a paper towel or a piece of cardboard. Putting it on something absorbent will help to avoid the formation of water spots by drawing the water away from the paper and keep the paper from curling on the edges. When you take your paper out of the water, the active chemical will not have finished oxidizing. The water remaining in the paper will do the job before it evaporates. By the time it is all gone you will have a beautiful, deep blue sun print!

Put your sun prints to use

Once your paper is dry, there are so many things you can do with it. Frame them and make a gallery of nature art. Fold the paper and turn them into greeting or thank you cards. Use the paper as wrapping paper for small gifts and items. Cover a box with the paper and use it to keep small treasures safe. The possibilities are endless!

Have you ever experimented with sun print paper?

*Information contained in this post found on http://www.sunprints.org/how-it-works
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SUMMER, WATER
Tips for Capturing Amazing Sprinkler Photos
- July 20, 2017
I am absolutely thrilled to bring you today’s guest post from Kristie of L Photographie on how to take amazing sprinkler photos of your kids this summer. Kristie is a great friend, a former sorority sister, and my family’s personal photographer. She’s also a wonderful teacher and has become one of my go-to resources for all things photography-related. Since it’s a million degrees outside, I thought this would be the perfect time to share this post with you. Kristie’s sharing some really great tips and advice on things you can do to capture some truly adorable and classic summer fun of your kids running, jumping, and dancing through the sprinkler. Give it a read, then set up that sprinkler in your yard, grab your camera and let the kids run wild!

Classic summer fun with the sprinkler

Warm sunshine, carefree laughter, and the unmistakable sounds of children’s glee—summer is a season that brims with cherished moments. The joy of playing in the sprinkler is an exhilarating burst of unrestrained laughter and unbridled excitement for kids. As water jets and arcs in sparkling patterns, their eyes light up with sheer delight, toes eagerly touching the refreshing splashes that cool the summer heat. With carefree abandon, they dart in and out of the water’s path, their giggles echoing through the air as they leap through shimmering curtains of droplets, creating a symphony of radiant smiles and unforgettable memories.

And what better way to freeze those timeless memories than by capturing your kids in the midst of their exuberant summer fun? From the sheer delight of running through the sprinklers to the unbridled joy of jumping and dancing, these heartwarming scenes are the essence of childhood. As a parent armed with a camera, you have the power to immortalize these fleeting moments, creating a treasure trove of photographs that will warm your heart for years to come.

Tips for taking adorable sprinkler photos of your kids

In this post, we delve into the art of photographing kids as they revel in the magic of summer and the splendor of sprinklers. We understand that these moments are both spontaneous and ephemeral, making them a delightful challenge to capture. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone who simply loves documenting family moments, I hope these tips will empower you to freeze those candid instances of pure happiness.

Today, we’ll explore various techniques to not only preserve the vivid colors and playful expressions but also to convey the sheer energy and unfiltered emotions that define these summer escapades. From understanding the best camera settings for action-packed scenes to mastering the art of timing and composition, we’ve got you covered. Moreover, we’ll delve into the world of post-processing, providing insights into how you can enhance the vibrancy and charm of your photos without sacrificing their authentic essence.

1) Sunset is best (consider your light)

If you have the chance to shoot closer to sunset, do! The sun sets late in summer, which can be difficult with many kids’ bedtimes, but even two hours before the sunset is going to give you much better results than the harsh midday sun. Plan a post-dinner run around the yard for the kids (consider it their bath!). You’ll want to take a few minutes to get everything set up before the kids are running laps around you screaming for the sprinkler to be on (at least that’s what happens at my house), so plan accordingly.

2) Backlight your subject

Set up the sprinkler where you can “backlight” your subject – this means you want the sun hitting your subject’s back. You and your camera should face the sun. If you’re in the shade, look for little streaks of light hitting the ground – that’s where you’ll want to place your sprinkler – right in the sunlight. You’ll get some amazing light hitting the water that will help bring your photo to life! If you and your camera can be in a spot where your camera is in shade, even better – you’ll avoid lens flair and get better contrast in your image.

3) Be aware of your background

Keep an eye on what is in the background of your photos. Although you want to generally point your camera West, towards the sun, you can cheat a bit and go at an angle to get the best background with the fewest distractions. With water being a big part of your image, you’ll want to find a darker background (dark trees, bushes, a fence, dark color house). If the sky is your background, the water flying around will blend right into it and go unnoticed.

4) Lens choice

Choose the longest lens and focal length you have and scoot waaaaay back! This will help for two reasons: (i) A longer focal length will compress your photo and help the background blur out, so that the water and your kiddos are the focus, and (ii) you won’t get wet! Well, no promises on that one! I like to shoot with my Canon 135mm lens for sprinkler action.

5) Shutter speed choice

This is a big one! Especially because of those fast kids you’re about to capture and the water flow! For running through water, I would suggest keeping your shutter speed around 1/1000 or higher to freeze the action. Once you start to dip down into those 100s, you won’t be able to stay as tact sharp and may end up with blurry photos. If you’re not yet shooting in Manual Mode, you can switch to “shutter speed priority” mode – which will read “TV” on your camera dial. Make sure to also choose a higher ISO (to let more light into your camera, as the high shutter speed will take light away).

1/1250 sec, f/3.2 135mm, ISO 800

1/5000 sec, f/2.2 135mm, ISO 1000

1/500 sec, f/3.5 135mm, ISO 1600

6) Get creative

If you would like to play with some creative blurry water, you can dip your shutter speed to a very low number. I’d suggest not hand-holding the camera – set it on a table or lawn chair (or a tripod, if you’re feeling fancy) – then capture your kiddos from behind. Since they will be moving, their faces will not be sharp, which is a distraction in your final image. If you capture them running away from you, it can be a fun creative blur with your water.

You can also get creative with different camera angles. Get down to the kids’ eye level or even lower to capture the scene from their perspective. This angle can make the water arcs and droplets appear larger and more immersive, showcasing the excitement from their point of view. Alternatively, try shooting from a higher vantage point, looking down on the kids as they move through the water. This angle can capture the overall layout of the scene, showing the patterns created by the water and the kids’ paths.

Focus on details by capturing close-up shots of wet hands, bare feet splashing in puddles, or the water droplets on their skin. These shots can evoke a strong sensory connection to the moment. Frame the kids through the streams of water or the spray of the sprinkler itself. This can add a playful and dynamic element to your photos.

1/8 sec, f/13 135mm, ISO 250

7) Shoot through for sharp photos

Of course, with kids running excited through water, they are going to be moving FAST. Even with a quick shutter speed to freeze the action, you might have trouble nailing the focus with lightening fast kids. If you’re having issues finding that exact focus sweet spot as they run around, try to “shoot through” the action. Here’s a quick explanation of how to do that to get the sharpest results.

Switch your lens to manual focus and set your focus on the center of the sprinkler stream. Wait for your kiddo to come close to running through and press and hold your shutter to take multiple shots. Make sure your camera is on it’s continuous shooting mode, so you can fire off more than one shot.

At some point during that run through the sprinkler, your kiddo will run right into your perfect focus! Yes, you’ll end up with a lot of out-of-focus photos to dump in that series, but it is worth a few rounds of trying this if your Auto Focus finger isn’t keeping up with your kid.

8) Enjoy the fun!

Give the kids some distance and just observe the fun! Kids are naturally going to be silly and active and smile when the water excitement starts. Nothing is worse than trying to play while your parents bark orders at you about how to do it. (Am I right?) Just pick the best spot for you and your lens and wait. Watch how their little personalities just shine!

Remember, the goal is to capture the genuine joy and playfulness of the moment. Both camera angles and any fun props should enhance the story rather than overshadow it. Be open to spontaneous moments and let the kids’ natural interactions guide your creative choices. Be patient and enjoy!

9) Super simple post-processing

If you want to take your images to the next level, here are a few simple post-processing tips to enhance your photos of kids playing in the sprinkler:
1. Adjust exposure and contrast: Start by adjusting the exposure and contrast levels. Increase the exposure slightly to bring out the vibrant colors and details, and then fine-tune the contrast to ensure a dynamic range between the highlights and shadows, giving your photos depth and dimension.
2. Boost vibrancy and saturation: You can try to increase the vibrancy and saturation of the colors to make the water droplets and summer hues pop. Be cautious not to overdo it, as you want the colors to look lively and natural, not super saturated or neon.
3. Crop and straighten: Use cropping to improve the composition and remove any distractions from the edges of the frame. Straighten the horizon if necessary to ensure the photo’s balance and alignment.
4. Enhance sharpness: Apply subtle sharpening to bring out the finer details, such as the water droplets on the kids’ skin or the textures of their clothing. Use a light touch to avoid introducing noise.
5. Selective editing: If your photo editing software allows for selective editing, consider darkening or blurring the background slightly to draw more attention to the kids and the action in the sprinkler.
6. Remove distractions: If there are any unwanted elements in the background that detract from the main subject, use the clone or healing tool to remove them discreetly.
7. Add a touch of warmth: If you need to, you can adjust the white balance to add a touch of warmth to your photos, capturing the sunlit essence of the summer day. This can help convey the inviting and cheerful ambiance of the scene.
8. Fine-tune skin tones: If capturing close-up shots of the kids, pay attention to their skin tones. Adjust the color balance to ensure natural and flattering skin tones, avoiding any unwanted color casts.
9. Consider black and white: Removing the color completely for a black-and-white image can sometimes really make the image pop. Play around with this option and pick a few to convert to b/w.
10) Share your images with us!

Now, please tell me you’ll set up the sprinkler in the yard this weekend and capture some fun shots of the kids! And if you do, please post them and tag us on Instagram (use our hashtag #runwildmychild) to be featured on our page. If you have any questions about camera settings, equipment or anything else, please leave a comment below, and we will be happy to answer your questions.

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!

About the author

Kristie Cromie is the owner and portrait side of L Photographie, a fine art boutique photography studio in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri consisting of four amazing photographers. Kristie has a background in journalism and graphic design, specializes in family and newborn sessions, helps run the business and teaches a Camera Love class for parents that want to take better photos of their children. When she’s not behind the camera or computer, she’s chasing her two-year-old daughter, keeping up with her seven-year-old son, plus renovating a house from the seventies that was covered in blue shag carpet.

You can find Kristie and the rest of the L Photographie crew around the web at the following spots:

Website
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FAVORITE GEAR, FRIDAY FAVORITES, SUMMER
Friday Favorites: Summer Shoes for Kids
- July 7, 2017
Summer is officially here and it’s time to get outside to explore. If your kids are anything like mine, they’re constantly on the go, in a creek, up a tree, hiking a trail, jumping out of a swing or digging for worms, so they need clothing and footwear that’s durable, waterproof and comfortable. Over the last few years we’ve gone through many a pair of summer sandals and water shoes. Some were destroyed and some were lost. Some were worn only once because they were “pinchy.” Some were worn well past their prime because they were so beloved. I’ve had a few recent requests and questions about summer shoes and gear, so I put together a list of our favorite summer kids sandals below, along with the top picks of a few of my fellow outdoor mamas.

1. Nike Sunray AdjustSandal ($28) // 2. KEEN Newport H2 Sandal ($50) // 3. Crocs Kids Unisex Coast Clog ($18)
4. KEEN Unisex-Kids Moxie Mary Jane Flat ($26) // 5. Plae Mimo ($35) // 6. Nike Sunray Sandal ($28)
7. Merrell Hydro Monarch Water Sandal ($39) // 8. Stride Rite Made 2 Play Phibian ($32) // 9. CIOR Water Shoes Quick-Dry Swimming Sneakers ($18)
10. Teva Toachi Sandal ($38) // 11. Crocs Classic K Flip Flop ($19) // 12. Plae Sam 2.0 ($50)
13. Crocs Kids’ Swiftwater Easy-On Shoe ($40) // 14. Native Slip-On Sneaker ($33) // 15.Chaco ZX1 Ecotread Sandal ($55)

These summer shoes, sandals and water shoes range anywhere from $18-$55. Most styles come in a wide variety of colors and sizes (from toddler to teen). I’ve found a few of these brands super cheap on sale sites like Zulily or at Nordstrom Rack. I’ve also had great luck finding some of the more durable brands (Keens, Tevas, Chacos) in excellent shape at local resale shops, so I didn’t pay full price. These brands are super sturdy and hold up for more than once season. They can be passed down to a younger sibling or resold, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

What shoes are your kids sporting this summer?