If you’ve ever tried to get your kids out the door for an outdoor activity, you know the struggle is real. From “It’s too hot!” to “I don’t want to go there,” the resistance can be strong (even from kids who normally love nature). In this post, outdoor mom Sandy Harper shares her real-life strategies for turning that pre-adventure chaos into calm and reluctance into excitement. You’ll find practical tips, tried-and-true tricks, and a healthy dose of humor to help you leave the house faster, happier, and ready to make the most of your time outside together.

Leaving is the Hardest Part

I can confidently say my kids love the outdoors and all things nature. However, there are still plenty of times it’s a struggle getting out the door with them. Whether they’re initially not interested, the weather is not to their liking, or they think it will be boring, they will give me pushback. I will remind them of all the times they had fun outside when they thought they wouldn’t enjoy it. Alas, they never seem to recall those times. 

As a “seasoned” outdoor mom of 12 years, I have learned (sometimes the hard way) how to overcome these poor moods and reluctance when you have an outdoor activity planned. Getting out the door doesn’t have to be a negative start to your outdoor adventure and fun!

Tip #1: Tell Kids the Outdoor Plan Ahead of Time

Just like adults, kids like to know ahead of time what is coming up. So, if you have an outdoor activity in mind that you want to do, let them in on it early. Give them as many details as they can handle. Obviously, this is based on the age of your kiddos. Hype it up, make it sound as great as you envision it in your mind. Answer their questions, acknowledge their concerns, and ask for their input. If possible, show them pictures or videos of where you are going. If it is a certain activity, show them videos of other kids doing the same activity. This can help ease their minds about the unknown or something new to them. 

This may seem like a lot of talk ahead of time. Then again, it also takes a lot of time to convince a kid who doesn’t want to get out the door when they don’t understand what they are about to do. They will be hesitant, much like we would be in their shoes.

Tip #2: Prep Early for Outdoor Success

Being prepared for your outdoor adventure is key. The more time kids are sitting around waiting to get out the door, the more time for whining and push back. Plus, it gets everyone off on the wrong foot with negativity.

Personally, I try to have everything ready to go before the kids realize it’s time to leave. This way, I can easily tell everyone to get out the door because we are ready to go. There will always be that last-minute need to grab an item or take a bathroom visit. However, if everything else is ready, you will be in a good place.

Being prepared means that you have thought of everything you and the kids will need for this specific outdoor adventure. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Proper clothing needed
  • Food
  • Each kid’s personal items
  • Your personal items needed
  • Equipment that is needed for your activity
  • First-aid kit
  • Gas in your vehicle (I’m horrible for this one!)
  • Water (plus extra)
  • Anything else you can think of!

I promise you, you will never regret being prepared. It takes away the struggle, stress, and feeling of being rushed.

Pro tip: If you’re hiking, make sure to bring the 10 Essentials of Family Hiking

Tip #3: Pack Outdoor Adventure Snacks (for Them and You)

For the love of Pete, don’t forget the snacks! I promise, you will only be five minutes down the road or into your activity, and someone is going to say, “I’m hungry!”. This is one thing I learned swiftly as a new outdoors mom.  

So, depending on what we were doing, I packed snacks accordingly. Sometimes, I will pack snacks in one bag if the outdoor adventure is not far away. Though if the drive to our destination was a bit farther, I would pack them individual snacks to keep near them in the vehicle.

Attention! This is important! Do not forget “going home after the outdoor activity” snacks! I warn you; your kids will have already burnt through their initial packed snacks and will be absolutely starving.

The best way I’ve found to stay prepared is by leaving a bag of ZolliPops in my vehicle. They’re lollipops but healthy. The kids are getting a treat ,and I’m not feeling bad about it. Sometimes, I bring apples, crackers, and Annie’s Bunny Gummies too. 

If you remember anything from this blog, let it be the snacks! Don’t forget to bring a snack for you. It will save you sanity!

Pro tip: Check out our post with recipes for our favorite Trail-Tested Kid-Approved Hiking Snacks

Tip #4: Dress for Outdoor Success

Nothing can bring an outdoor adventure to a screeching halt like kids being too hot, too cold, or too wet. I always dress the kids and myself for the current weather outside. If it is going to get warmer while we’re outside, I make sure we have on layers that are easily removed. If it gets cooler, then I pack extra layers. 

If there is any chance of water being involved, pack extra clothes. This is one I learned the hard way. My youngest, anytime he got wet, he HAD to strip naked. He could not handle the wet clothes against his skin. Of course, he was also prone to getting wet. If there was any water around (puddle, pond, stream, or fountain) he was going to end up wet. No matter what season of the year. I quickly realized that I needed to bring not one but two extra changes of clothes for my boy. This is when knowing your kids well comes in extremely handy!

Just like the snack situation, don’t forget yourself! It is no fun for you either if you are uncomfortable in what you are wearing. A happy mom means happier kiddos!

Tip #5: Invite Friends for Outdoor Motivation

There are countless times when I informed my kids of my outdoor adventure plans, and they started to grumble. However, the moment I mention that their friends are coming, they quickly squeal with delight. The power of friends is huge!

I have taken my kiddos on numerous hiking adventures with friends, and they have done amazing! Yet, the moment we take the kids on a family hike, they fall apart only a half-mile into it. I tell my husband, “I promise they love hiking and they are not normally like this!” The difference, friends.

It makes sense…I love having my nature moms with me. You’re sharing an experience with people that you don’t see all the time, chatting, creating a memory that you will share later. We still have our own outdoor family time adventures. The key is to make it an adventure that they don’t associate with friends.

Tip #6: Sometimes, You Just Have to Go

In the end, if you find none of these suggestions helpful, it is time to “rip the band-aid off” and just GO! So many times, nothing I do helps to get my kids out the door. The only thing that helps me as their mom is knowing that every time I do this dance with them, they always end up having a great time.

I can’t count how many times my kiddos fought me getting out the door. And yet, 99% of the time, after our outdoor fun, they tell me they had the best day of their life. 

I think that is what makes it the hardest on me personally when I get pushback from the kiddos about getting outside, knowing that they will have an awesome time and will talk about their outdoor adventure for days. 

Overcoming Common Excuses from Kids

Even the most outdoorsy kids have their off days, and as parents, we hear it all. Here’s how I handle some of the most common “reasons” my kids try to stay in:

  • “It’s too hot.” – Find shade, pack extra water, and plan for water play if possible. Even a shallow creek can make a sweltering day bearable.
  • “It’s too cold.” – Layer up and bring along warm drinks in a thermos (what kid can say no to hot chocolate?). Keep moving so little bodies stay warm, and plan a fun indoor warm-up afterward.
  • “It’s too far.” – Choose a closer spot or break up travel with a quick stop for a special snack. Sometimes the destination isn’t the problem; it’s the car ride.
  • “It’ll be boring.” – Let them invite a friend, bring along a nature scavenger hunt, or give them a “mission” (like spotting 5 types of leaves or finding a certain color rock).
  • “I’m tired.” – Pick something low-key, like a park picnic, short trail, or backyard nature game. Not every outing has to be a big hike or a full-day adventure.

The trick is to validate their feelings, then calmly counter with a solution. Often, the moment they’re outside, they forget the excuse entirely.

It’s Always Worth It

Getting kids out the door isn’t always easy…in fact, it’s often the hardest part of any outdoor adventure. But as I’ve learned over 12 years of parenting in nature, the pre-trip protests almost always give way to smiles, laughter, and “best day ever” declarations by the end.

So, pack the snacks, dress for comfort, invite a friend, and go, even if it means a little pushback at first. The fresh air, shared memories, and happy exhaustion at the end of the day are worth every bit of the effort. Wishing you all the best of luck getting out the door with your kiddos! You will not regret it!

About the Author

Sandy is a free-spirited mom of three adventurous kiddos. She calls North Carolina home and has lived in multiple areas of the state. From the Piedmont, to the foothills and now the barrier islands off the coast, she finds the entire state’s natural beauty an adventure all on its own. After 13 years as an educational tutor, she decided to stay home when her first child was born. Since then, she has started a writing career, blogging, website management, multiple outdoor clubs and classes for kids and their parents, and homeschooling. She is thankful for the love and support of her husband of 13 years. Her goal is to help moms, and families, enjoy what nature has to offer and experience the benefits of being in nature with their kids. She and her family love hiking, camping, all things water related, and finding new nature spots to explore.

Find Sandy on Instagram: @freespiritedmom