getting kids outside

INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Tips for Getting Kids Outdoors More
- December 29, 2020
Over the last few years, I’ve heard so many parents and friends say that they want to get their kids outside more. To which I say, “YES, yes and yes!” A new year is here and it’s the perfect time to set a goal of getting your kids outside more often. That’s exactly what this website is all about! Let’s make this a year of outdoor adventure, together. I’m here to share some tips for getting kids outdoors more this year, and every year to come.

Adopt an outdoor mindset

Getting outside regularly and doing things together as a family has made a huge positive impact on our lives. For us, getting outside is now more of a pleasure than a chore. However, I know it isn’t that way for everyone. And that’s not to say it’s always easy for us – sometimes it takes hours just to get out the door! But it’s always worth it in the end.

Adopting new ideas and trying new things takes time, research, trial, and error. Believe me, we’ve been erring for years! The more we pushed boundaries and tried new things with our kids, the more confident we became and easier it got to get outside. Not all of our adventures are successful. Trust me, we’ve had our share of ruined outings, meltdowns, and horrible experiences. But, we learned something from our mistakes and they’re funny to think back on now. Even unsuccessful outings are worth it. We learned something new with each fail and know what to do differently next time.

You’ll never regret it

While getting outdoors with your kids isn’t easy, it’s always worth it. I can guarantee that you will never regret making a commitment to getting outdoors more. Your children will benefit in ways you never imagined or expected. We want to make getting outside easier for you and make your time spent outdoors more pleasant. We want to share some ideas with you on how to turn your goal of getting outside a reality. Some of these ideas are tried and true by our family. Some of these nuggets of wisdom are from other outdoorsy nature-loving moms. We hope this inspires you to get outside and let your kids run wild this year!

Set a goal, but start small

If you’d like to get outdoors with the kids more, set a goal that’s reasonable and achievable. If you jump in with the goal of getting outside 4 hours a day, every day of the week, chances are you will fail and it will be miserable. Kids (and adults) need time to get used to new things, so start small.

Maybe the first goal is to get outside (for any length of time) three times a week. You can start right in your own backyard and venture further out from there. If you’re a planner, come up with some fun games or activities that the kids can do outside. Pinterest is great for this! If you have a “go with the flow” personality, let the kids dictate your adventures and activities. Either way, allow the kids to explore on their own a bit with you close by. This fosters independence, boosts curiosity, and builds confidence.

Work your way up

Once you’ve mastered your first goal of just getting outside, increase the time you spend outdoors. The more you and the kids are outside, the less intimidated you’ll be by bad weather, new locations, or even the ever-dreaded “boredom” routine. Your kids might surprise you by not needing to be constantly entertained. Your children’s imaginations and creativity will surprise you when they’re outside with “nothing” to do and have to come up with something clever to play.

If you’re feeling ambitious, set a goal to get outside for 1000 hours this year! Our Creative Team member Ginny Yurich runs the 1000 Hours Outside challenge, with the goal of matching average yearly screentime with outdoor time. Ginny has some really awesome printable trackers you can download and stick on your fridge to have a physical reminder of all the fun time you’re spending outside and making memories with your kids.

Make yourself accountable

If you’re intimidated by the outdoors or need some additional motivation to get outside, enlist help! There’s nothing like having a friend to get you through some of the initial hurdles and make it less scary. Set up playdates with mom friends outdoors and let the kids explore together. Take turns checking out new parks, new trails or new activities. Or you could even start your own forest playgroup with some local like-minded friends!

If you want some online accountability, consider joining the Nature Play Club, hosted by Penny from Mother Natured. For real life experiences (and to meet new friends in your area), join a local Hike it Baby chapter and tag along on a group hike with other moms and kids. Sign the kids up for a nature class at your local conservation area, botanical garden or science center. Look into Tinkergarten or a similar outdoor class for kids. Buy that Groupon for a round of golf, scuba diving certification, ziplining, or kayak rental. Sometimes just making plans and having accountability can encourage you to get out of your comfort zone easier.

Prep ahead of time

Sometimes half the battle of spending time outdoors is just getting dressed, packed, and out of the house. Anything we can do to make this process easier buys us more time outside, having fun. Here are a few suggestions for getting as much prepped, packed, and ready ahead of time for your outdoor adventures:
- Have a dedicated “outdoor” backpack filled with all the things you need for your outdoor adventures (sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, water, sunglasses, hats, diapers/wipes, dry socks, extra gloves, binoculars, magnifying glass, trash bag, first aid kit, etc.). Keep it stocked and by the door ready to go when you are.
- Keep a full change of clothes for each kid in the car. That way if they want to play in the creek or splash in the waves at the beach while you’re out and about, they don’t have to drive home in wet clothes (or naked).
- Pack a picnic lunch the night before so you can stay outside longer instead of rushing home to eat. Just eating meals outside will increase the time you spend outdoors. However, even though fresh air and exercise can increase your appetite, don’t expect kids to be able to sit for very long outside to eat. Outdoor meals are usually short and sweet so the kids can get right back at it as quick as they can.
- Make a list of all your favorite places to play outside and a list of some new places you’d like to explore. That way you always have some options that the kids can choose from, making it easier to decide what to do.
Invest in good gear

You don’t have to spend a fortune on name brand items, unless you’re spending an abundance of time outside in extreme temperatures. However, quality gear like a rain jacket, snowsuit, hats, gloves, and boots can make a huge difference in attitude and excitement about being outdoors in the weather. You are much more likely to get outdoors and stay out if your kids (and you!) are properly outfitted in gear that keeps them cool, dry, warm, comfortable, etc.

While being stuck inside for a day or two during bad weather is fine, sometimes that’s when everyone needs to get out of the house the most. There’s really no such thing as bad weather, right? There are different adventures to be had in all kinds of weather! Having the right gear will help you enjoy all the seasons your area has to offer and gives you fewer excuses to use the weather as a deterrent to outdoor play.

Mom tip: A great place to find quality outdoor gear is resale/second-hand shops. Obviously, it depends on inventory, but good quality gear usually lasts longer than kids stay that size. That means you can find some really great gently used items for less than half the retail price.

Create a backyard outdoor space

If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space that you can spruce up for outdoor fun, make the most of it. Kids don’t need acres of woods or miles of beaches to immerse themselves in nature. Kids can connect with nature in their own backyard. Whether it’s because I’m busy cooking dinner, the little one’s napping inside or we just don’t have enough time to get away, sometimes our daily outdoor time is spent entirely in our (very small) backyard. And that’s ok!

Here are a few things you can do/set-up in your backyard to ensure hours of fun:
- Set up a slackline for the kids to practice walking/balancing on
- Fill a waterproof bin with outdoor fun equipment: whiffle balls and bats, plastic golf clubs, tennis balls and rackets, Frisbees, hula hoops, bubbles, sidewalk chalk and other outdoor games and activities
- Set up a craft table or easel outside so your kids can draw, paint, craft, or do homework in the fresh air
- Assemble a tent in the backyard and let the kids play “camping”
- Plant a garden or put some potted plants outside for the kids to care for
- Create an outdoor kitchen, complete with dishes and utensils for creating the most delicious mud pies
- Set up a sandbox, filled with beach toys, shovels, scoops, and buckets
- Hang a hammock or swing for the kids to play on
- Check out these 25+ favorite backyard toys, activities, and games
Find your interest

If you’re just starting to get into outdoor activities, you may be overwhelmed by just how many things there are to do. Don’t feel like you have to do them all right away. There’s no master outdoor bucket list that you have to make your way through. There’s no requirement that your kids try everything activity under the sun.

Start with activities that interest you (or the kids) and branch out from there. For example, if you like going for walks, try hiking through the woods or geocaching. If you like animals, give horseback riding a try. Love the water? Try kayaking or canoeing. If you’re lucky enough to find an outdoor activity that you and your kids all absolutely love, free free to pursue that as much as possible. Starting with activities that you enjoy will build up your confidence being outdoors and you can always expand from there.

What do you find is the biggest obstacle to getting outside more?
FALL, HIKE, INFORMATION, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Get Kids Outside During the School Year
- October 2, 2019
It’s that time of year again – our children are trading in their beach towels for backpacks and holding pencils more than sidewalk chalk. Whether you homeschool or traditional school, back-to-school generally means less free time and fewer hours to play outside. Not only that, but the days are growing shorter and the weather’s turning cooler. Getting kids outside during the school year can be a challenge. However, spending time outside in nature is still necessary for our kids’ physical health, mental focus, and emotional development. Today, the amazing Leslie Alvis, Ohio homeschooling mom of four, is here sharing a few ideas for practical ways to build outdoor routines into your school days. Hopefully, these tips will help you incorporate more nature into your busy schedule without making outdoor time feel like one more thing on your to-do list.

Make nature time a priority

Whether back to school means a traditional school program for you or homeschooling with a flexible schedule, days become extra busy as you settle into a fall routine. Many of us have kids involved in extra-curricular activities and sports. It’s easy to feel like we don’t have enough time for nature exploration during the school year. However, a busy schedule doesn’t mean the outdoor adventures have to stop! In fact, I think it should help us make nature time even more of a priority. We’re here to show you how to get kids outside during the school year.

Our kids need us to help them balance the demands of school with the freedom of childhood and the wonder of exploring outdoors. Formal education is necessary, but children also require time outside for proper growth and development. Ginny Yurich, author, educator, and founder of the 1000 Hours Outside movement, says,

Nature play facilitates growth in every area, making time outside a crucial part of the landscape of childhood.”

Time outside matters

Time spent outdoors doesn’t always have to be done in giant hour+ long chunks. Even on busy days, there are many ways to get our kids outside for short amounts of time, which still have huge benefits for kids. A quick break to explore outside helps break up the mental stress of school. While a long hike or bike ride gives them a chance to catch their breath mentally while also strengthening their bodies, sometimes a short walk/ride around the neighborhood is just what they need. Weekend adventures provide fun and memories for the whole family, but short outings to a local park are great for when you don’t have tons of time. Our family tries to include a mix of these different activities throughout the school year to keep us all enjoying the great outdoors, no matter our schedules or the weather. Time outside gives us space to breathe and the freedom to explore.

Take walks to get kids outside

Walks are one of the easiest ways to get kids outside and moving! A family walk can happen anywhere, anytime. It doesn’t have to take long or have the perfect setting. Just look around at what you do each day and see if you can link a walk into that activity. Walk to the bus stop. Stroll to get the mail. Wander to the end of the street…around the block…down a country lane.

As homeschoolers, we work a daily walk into our school routine as our recess. Sometimes we do it when the lessons are dragging long, or sometimes as soon as the school day is finished. But at some point, we grab the bikes, scooters, and stroller (and the dog! Our neighbors call us a parade!) and head outside for some fresh air and exercise. The time out in nature is good for us all. I’m pretty sure it’s all that saves my sanity on some long winter days.

When you get your kids outside to take a walk, you’re not only getting active together, but you are also exploring and observing nature together. My kids never fail to find something wonderful to point out to me on our walks. The bunny that’s always lurking near the vacant lot on the next street over. A brilliantly colored leaf or flower. A puffy cloud.

There are a world of discoveries from every sidewalk, driveway, and walking trail. Sometimes we have more time to linger and wander than others, but wherever we are outside, we see amazing and beautiful parts of the natural world. Getting kids outdoors on a walk is a great way to tailor-fit a quick nature adventure to your family’s busy schedule.

Evening adventures get kids outside

Sometimes our days get really full and busy. I try to plan at least one evening (or late afternoon as the days grow shorter) each week to intentionally get outside! Look at your schedules and find an hour somewhere in the week to go have a little outdoor adventure. Play at the park. Walk in the woods. Blow bubbles. Get some friends together to play frisbee or hide-and-seek together in the lingering twilight. Again, this doesn’t have to be elaborate. It just requires you being intentional about making time for your family to breathe in the fresh air and explore nature together. You won’t be sorry you did!

Take kids’ school outside

Another way to get kids outside after school is simply to take the lessons or homework outside! Before you discard that idea as impractical and impossible, I challenge you to give it a try. When the weather is nice, set up a school/homework station on the porch, the backyard or in the tree fort. Let your older students take their reading up in their favorite tree. Pack up the backpacks and snacks and go sit in a picnic area at a park. There are so many ways to help kids take their schoolwork outside!

Yes, you may have to keep tabs on them and make sure they aren’t totally distracted from their work. But honestly, most of the time kids will buckle down and get their book work done when they realize all the many other things they would rather be doing outside! And wouldn’t you rather have your kids distracted by the mystery of the cicadas and the falling leaves than sitting inside glancing at a computer or television?

We are a second-generation homeschooling family. I grew up hauling my textbooks outside every chance I got. I loved it. (This probably contributes to the feeling of claustrophobia when I’m stuck indoors.) It motivates me to give my own children the same opportunities to get outside in all seasons, doing all kinds of things. Even schoolwork.

Outdoor learning

Whether you homeschool or not, there are a lot of ways to extend learning outside. When you step out into nature, everything around you is a science lesson, art lesson and history lesson. Studying the beauty of nature gives inspiration to every kind of art. Observing the mysteries of the natural world naturally leads to questions and learning about plants, animals and how things have changed over time. Time spent in nature is never time wasted. So, when your days are busy with school schedules and extra-curricular activities, don’t forget that time in nature is an essential part of your children’s education, too.

Look for ways to include outdoor time as part of school! Choose a nature-based science fair project. Conduct your own STEM activities outside using nature. Help your kids study the weather, the seasons, the natural world around them. Volunteer in your child’s classroom to take them outside to work in the school garden or go for a nature walk. Incorporating education into your outdoors time is one of the best ways to make sure you are getting your kids outside after school starts.

Picnics get kids outside

Is the sun shining? Is the sky so blue it takes your breath away? What about the breeze that’s the perfect combination of crisp air and gentle warmth? Take advantage of the lovely fall weather and have a picnic! Take PB&J sandwiches on a hike. Order pizza delivery to your favorite local park. Or build a campfire in your backyard and cook hot dogs and s’mores. Kids don’t need fancy food—they need time outdoors and memories with their families. Impromptu meals outside on a gorgeous day are some of my favorite times with my kids.

Weekend adventures get kids outside

Another way to get kids outside during the school year is to plan weekend adventures! We all know that sometimes if we don’t make plans to do something, it just won’t happen. So, grab your calendar and make some plans. Pick a Saturday afternoon and go explore that state park. Find a new bike trail and spend a few hours on it. Go hiking together, or just go have a picnic at a nearby park. Find a local corn maze or fall festival and enjoy some outdoor fun. Pull your family loose from the tug of school schedules and obligations and make some memories together.

Weather

Just a quick note on the impact weather can have on your fall activities. Cooler days, shorter evenings, and more rain can make planning an outing challenging. Getting caught in a summer shower can be fun. But getting caught in the rain in October can be miserable. Especially if you aren’t dressed for it. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, so be prepared! Check the weather often and look for days that will suit your family and the activity you are planning. Take advantage of those gorgeous sunny days and enjoy nature to its fullest!

Don’t let bad weather keep you from getting your kids outside this fall. Sometimes the wind is unexpectedly biting. Sometimes it pours rain every time you plan a nature outing. Several times we’ve planned for an all-day outdoor adventure and had to do it in chilly, incessant rain. Honestly, that makes memories, too! Sometimes they’re the best memories! Just remember that your attitude sets the tone for dealing with the unexpected or inconvenient. Oftentimes, kids don’t mind wet feet and pants as much as adults do. And a cup of hot chocolate can turn a chilly experience into a delightful adventure for a kid!

Need more fall ideas?

As we mentioned, sometimes planning an outdoor activity and making it a priority is half the battle. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas of things you can do outside this fall as a family, we’ve got a great list of 100+ outdoor fall activities for kids and families. This list should give you all kinds of inspiration for easy and quick nature crafts to outdoor adventures, STEM experiments and more.

How do you get your kids outside during the school year?

Hi, I’m Leslie Alvis! I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, wife to my high school sweetheart and best friend, and a mom to four rascally kids. They love the great outdoors as much as I do, and our yard often feels like the scene from “The Sound of Music” where you hear voices and laughter and can’t find any children until you look up into the trees. I love writing, photography, and all things outdoors. We live in Northeast Ohio on the edge of Amish Country, where it’s perfectly normal to park beside a horse and buggy at the grocery store. We also homeschool, which basically means that I’m trying to teach my kids to use their minds without losing my own. While we follow a traditional curriculum, I weave every outdoor adventure I can into our educational journey. I believe that the lessons children experience firsthand sink deepest into their hearts and minds, and there is so much we can learn outside in the beauty and wonder of nature.

Find Leslie on Instagram @c_l_allofus
HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, URBAN NATURE
Neighborhood Hiking with Kids
- June 19, 2019
Hiking with kids doesn’t have to be daunting or intimidating. It doesn’t require fancy gear or long miles. All you need to do to get started is step outside your front door with the purpose of having fun and a sense of adventure. Today, we have Maggie (Nimo), active mom of two from Sydney, Australia here sharing how her family got started hiking by going on local neighborhood excursions. She walks you through everything you need to know about neighborhood hiking with kids and how to start your own family tradition.

Benefits of hiking with kids

Hiking is not only fun, but it has many health benefits for kids and adults. Hiking is a great way to get kids outdoors and is a fun way to get them to love nature and foster their curiosity about the world around them.

When most people think of hiking, they think of an expedition that involves fancy gear from The Northface, hiking poles and a hydrating Camelbak with a straw into your mouth. While these kinds of hikes can lead you to some amazing places, they are not always possible to undertake with small children. However, hiking doesn’t have to be so intense. Kids can get outside and hike in their own neighborhoods!

The start of neighborhood hiking

When my son was only 20 months, I fell pregnant with my second child. I had such bad morning sickness that I spent most of my days laying on the floor, the TV on and my son entertaining himself around me. When my husband would come home from work, we would go for a walk to get some fresh air. This was the beginning of our neighborhood hiking adventures.

In the beginning, we needed to carry my son most of the time we were hiking, but in no time, he was covering the distance all by himself! That was 3 years ago. Today, he is an avid hiker and is always encouraging his little sister not to give up.

Neighborhood hiking with kids

Our hikes have since advanced from our neighborhood to National parks, but we still make time to walk around the neighborhood a few times a week. Most of our neighborhoods are rich with interesting things to make a group of children excited enough to get outside. If you want to get your little ones hiking around your neighborhood, here is where to start.

1. Start a weekly tradition

Pick a day (or multiple days) in a week and call it “family hiking day.” Pick a time that suits the whole family, when the kids are not too tired or hungry. Also, make sure you are not in a hurry so the kids can explore. Our hikes usually happen in the evening, after dinner. This is a time when my husband and I are not rushed, the kids are full and they have that pre-bedtime surge of energy.

2. Make it exciting

Make a big deal of your neighborhood hikes and show them you’re excited about going. Help them pack a little bag with items for the hike (my kid’s bags contain water, a magnifying glass, a neighborhood map printed off Google maps and a headlamp for winter walks). Our hikes are known as excursions by the kids and we have reached a point where they usually choose which direction to take.

3. Find interesting things in your neighborhood to mark your destination

When we first started hiking and our son was small, our excursion used to take us to a neighborhood cat. When he became comfortable with that distance, we discovered a friendly dog that was a little bit further and this became our destination. We have since discovered other interesting things around the neighborhood and we choose to hike to those destinations. This gives the kids a goal and helps set their expectations.

Some of our other destinations are a large tree with all sorts of interesting insects to watch. There’s a large rock where we practice our climbing technique and a local dog park where we have made friends. Sometimes we hike to a construction site so the kids can see the diggers and tractors. Most recently, a local community garden has become a favorite spot for my 2-year-old daughter because she gets to feed all my lettuce to the chickens. Kids find interest in so many things that adults tend to overlook. Use your neighborhood hike to discover things in a whole new way.

4. Find friends to hike with

There is strength in numbers. This could not be truer when it comes to toddlers and pre-schoolers. During our walks, I usually notice that my kids cover way more distance when we bring friends along. I like to ask other mothers in the neighborhood and their kids to join us on our hike. I find that the children get so busy with each other that they rarely ever ask to be carried or complain about the distance.

5. Don’t worry too much about the destination

Yes, I mentioned that having a destination helps keep kids motivated, but make sure you allow them to explore. Toddlers and pre-schoolers get distracted very easily. Sometimes, a rock or tree will catch their attention and they’ll want to stop to explore or play. You can try to gently encourage them to keep walking, but don’t force them or get impatient with them. This will only make you frustrated and discourage them from trying the walk again.

If it so happens that a child stops and refuses to move on, then stay there! Let the kids explore whatever they find interesting until they’re satisfied. If after a while they still don’t want to move on, turn around and go home, and try again another time.

6. Don’t combine the hike with a task

Neighborhood hikes should not be the time when you plan to stop at the grocery store and pick up a gallon of milk. Separate “tasks” from “hikes.” These neighborhood hikes are meant to get your kid outside and into nature and eventually increase the child’s stamina and endurance. If you tie it to a task, you shift the focus to your needs and it then becomes impossible to move at the child’s pace. Remember, these child-friendly hikes should be led by them, so don’t rush them.

7. Safety first

As always, when hiking, safety is high on the list. Put down some basic rules that are easy for the kids to follow. Our rules are:
- No running too far ahead of the parents
- When asked, you must stop
- All children must hold an accompanying adult’s hand when crossing a street
We also try to avoid main roads, as its more peaceful and less polluted. We always repeat our rules before leaving the house. If any child is struggling with following them after a few reminders, that child goes back home with one of the adults. I have had to do this to show the kids just how important it is to follow the rules. I’m happy to report that, my 4-year-old son knows them and follows them quite well. My 2-year-old has not gotten the grasp yet, but I am confident she will get there.

8. Leave the gadgets at home

When we do neighborhood hikes, we make sure to stay off our phones. However, one adult usually carries a phone with them for emergencies and safety reasons, but it stays hidden in a backpack or pocket and is not to be used. Our hikes are a time to connect as a family. You never know when a pre-schooler is going to hold your hand and tell you about their day. If you are distracted by your phone, they may move on to something else and you’ll miss out on an important piece of your child’s day. Our neighborhood hikes usually last around 45 minutes, and everything else can wait.

9. Don’t forget to have fun!

The main purpose of our neighborhood hikes is to explore, exercise, and, most importantly, have fun. Use your imagination on your hike and pretend to hunt for dinosaurs or escape from crocodiles. Let the kids’ imagination take them places like the jungle or desert, and go along with them. You will be in for quite an adventure.

Start your own tradition of neighborhood hiking

If you want to get outdoors more with your family but find life getting in the way, neighborhood hiking is a great place to start. Getting out the door and into your local neighborhood is the perfect way to start adventuring more with the kids. Before you know it, you will be online ordering that fancy gear from the Northface, ready for a hike off a beaten track! We hope to run into you out there. Happy hiking everyone!

About the author

I am Maggie (Nimo). I’m originally from Kenya but lived in the U.S. for over 10 years. While living in Pittsburgh, I met and married a Slovakian man. We decided to move to warmer weather, initially thinking California, but we kept moving and ended up in Sydney Australia. We now call Australia home and when we are not busy working, we like to get out and hike, camp and travel with our children ages 2 and 4.

You can find more of their family’s adventures in the following locations:
Instagram – @babystepslongstrides
Website – http://babystepslongstrides.com/