parenting

CHALLENGE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARENTING
10 Outdoor Activities to Build Confidence in Kids
- November 17, 2023
Instilling confidence in our children has become more crucial than ever. As parents, we strive to nurture our kids’ emotional resilience and self-assurance that will empower them to face life’s challenges head-on. One powerful way to cultivate confidence is through outdoor activities. Nature has an unparalleled ability to nurture not only our physical well-being but also our mental resilience, communication prowess, and problem-solving skills. By developing in each of these areas, kids gain confidence in what they can do and what they’re capable of. Today, Meghan Garriott, Illinois mom of three, is here sharing how outdoor adventures can be the key to building confidence, and fostering a sense of self-assurance and empowerment. She’ll explore the importance of raising confident kids and delve into 10 outdoor activities designed to boost kids’ self-esteem, enhance their physical abilities, and refine their communication and problem-solving skills.

Building confidence

It’s hard to know how to raise confident children, when a lot of us, as adults, are still struggling to be confident ourselves. It’s called building confidence because it happens a little at a time as we are exposed to different situations. Every child is different and will have different boundaries and communication styles. Learning those and leaning into them will help us, as parents, find easy ways to build their confidence daily.

Being confident in different situations can lead to high self-esteem. Children with high self-esteem, look for opportunities, have a positive outlook on life, make healthy decisions, and tend to feel more fulfilled in life. Isn’t that exactly what we want for our kids? But how do we get there? How do we put it into practice?

That’s what we’re talking about here today. Let’s discover the transformative impact that outdoor adventures can have on your child’s self-esteem and confidence. Let’s create a foundation for their future success by fostering a sense of belief in themselves and their abilities today. Below, you’ll find 10 outdoor activities that are great for increasing kids’ confidence in their physical ability, as well as confidence in their communication and problem-solving skills.

Mental health in kids

Recently, you may have heard that children around the world are experiencing a mental health crisis. The number of children experiencing anxiety or depression has been greatly increasing over the last 20 years, with a huge uptick over just the last five years. The decline in children’s mental health can be attributed to a multitude of complex factors. Rapid technological advancements, that, while offering connectivity, have also ushered in unprecedented social pressures and heightened feelings of inadequacy and social comparison. Additionally, the ongoing societal changes, such as the pandemic and its disruptions to routines, social interactions, and learning environments, have significantly impacted children’s emotional well-being.

Confidence and self-esteem have a direct relationship to anxiety and depression. When a child’s confidence is low, they can have difficulty trusting others, feel self-doubt, and feel unloved or unlovable. These feelings cause children to be less outgoing, take fewer opportunities, and have difficulty setting personal boundaries.

Confidence affects mental health

Building a child’s confidence and self-esteem early has a direct effect on their current and future mental health. A child who has a positive self-image and confidence is better equipped to navigate life’s challenges, build meaningful relationships, and cope with stressors.

Early experiences of success and positive reinforcement contribute to a resilient mindset, fostering the ability to face setbacks with resilience. And there’s no better place to have powerful and meaningful experiences than outside!

Moreover, children with high self-esteem are more likely to engage in healthy social interactions, seek support when needed, and approach new opportunities with a sense of capability. This early investment in their emotional well-being not only sets the stage for a more content and secure childhood, but also serves as a protective factor against mental health challenges that may arise later in life.

Confidence and self-esteem

By definition, confidence and self-esteem are two different things, but are very much intertwined with each other. Confidence is a person’s attitude about their own capabilities and skills in different situations. Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves as a whole.

While confidence is situation-specific, self-esteem encompasses a more global sense of self. These two attributes work hand in hand to create a holistically healthy child. A child with high self-esteem is more likely to approach various aspects of life with a positive self-regard, laying the groundwork for confidence in specific endeavors. Having confidence in different situations and multiple areas of our lives, can lead to improved self-esteem.

Together, confidence and self-esteem form a powerful synergy, nurturing a child’s resilience, adaptability, and emotional well-being across diverse facets of their lives.

10 outdoor activities for building confidence

Getting kids outside gives them a unique and dynamic environment that serves as a natural catalyst for building confidence. Unlike indoor settings, outdoor spaces provide an expansive and unstructured area for exploration, physical challenges, and social interaction.

Outdoor activities often involve a degree of unpredictability, encouraging children to adapt, problem-solve, and take risks in a more natural context. The open-ended nature of outdoor play promotes creativity and decision-making, instilling a belief in one’s capabilities that transcends specific activities and contributes to a more robust and generalized sense of confidence.

Here are ten outdoor activities that will help kids build confidence and self-esteem.

1. Walk (and talk)

Yep, it can be as simple as taking a walk and talking. Getting outside and away from distractions can make it easier to talk to your kids. I know most of my most meaningful conversations with my kids happen on the hiking trail. Outside, we are not distracted by screens, or chores, or other daily tasks. And walking next to each other and talking is a little less intimidating than face-to-face conversations with full eye contact. Your walks don’t have to be big, long hikes. They can be a walk to the mailbox, a walk around the block, or taking the dog for a walk.

Talking to kids, asking open-ended questions, and having an open line of communication with them gives them the confidence to speak up. During these “walks and talks,” you and your child can talk through problems, work through feelings, or just talk about the next day’s plans. As your child shares their thoughts and experiences, they not only strengthen their connection with parents but also develop essential communication skills. Knowing that their thoughts, ideas, and opinions are heard and valued (and knowing that they have a supportive space to express themselves) fosters a sense of self-worth and confidence in their own voice.

No matter what you talk about, just giving them a time and a place to talk openly, will help them build their confidence and communication skills.

2. Climbing (big or small)

Climbing is a great all-around confidence booster for kids. Small rocks and ledges are good enough for smaller kids. Increase size and difficulty as appropriate as children get older.

This activity doesn’t have to be anything big or dangerous. It can be as simple as scrambling over the rocks at your local park, or as big as a rock wall or Alpine Tower. Climbing takes focus and problem-solving, to figure out how to get up these often uneven surfaces.

There is a lot of pride that comes with finishing a mentally and physically difficult task like climbing. This pride is a building block for confidence in their own problem-solving and physical strength abilities.

To learn more about the benefits of climbing, and different ways to start, check out these articles on Benefits of Climbing Structures for Kids and How to Get Started Rock Climbing with Kids

3. Volunteering (yardwork)

Kids always feel better about themselves when they’re able to help. Knowing that you can do something valuable to help others gives you a deep, rooted confidence. Engaging in volunteer activities can provide them with opportunities to contribute to their neighborhoods or communities and make a positive impact. As kids actively participate in helping others, they develop a sense of purpose and accomplishment. The act of giving back reinforces the idea that their efforts matter, instilling a sense of value and importance.

Volunteering to do yardwork for a neighbor or family friend is an easy way to get started volunteering and get OUTSIDE. This is a great entry-level way for kids to begin to feel comfortable helping others. Children of any age can help by picking up sticks, raking leaves, sweeping sidewalks, or shoveling snow. As kids get older, they can help with more difficult tasks like mowing yards and trimming hedges. Not only will they feel better about themselves for helping others, but they will also be learning how to do valuable skills that they will need to use later on in life.

For more information, check out our full post on how to get started volunteering with kids.

4. Join or organize an outdoor playgroup

Joining or organizing an outdoor playgroup is a great way to make new friends of different ages and abilities. Having friends to play with outside, can boost confidence by teaching children new and creative ways to play. Group play teaches kids how to communicate and work together with others, which can build confidence in teamwork. Having other kids around to applaud, even the smallest achievements, like going down the slide or running really fast, can really help kids feel special and build their confidence and their physical abilities.

Don’t know where to find an outdoor playgroup (or interested in creating your own)? Check out our full post on how to organize an outdoor playgroup.

5. Lawn games

Lawn games can come in many forms, like cornhole (or bags, depending on where you are from), horseshoes, yard darts, or maybe even ladder golf. These games are often done in pairs, but they can also be practiced alone. Lawn games are relatively inexpensive and can be done by many different ages and abilities.

Involving kids in outdoor lawn games alongside adults can give them a sense of belonging and help them learn healthy competition. Winning a game like this when paired with an adult helps children feel bonded with that adult and pride in their skills, which helps to build confidence.

There is also confidence in learning how to lose a game, and not being scared to begin a game just because you might lose. Lawn games also teach children how to work together with another person, which will help build their confidence in their own role as a teammate.

For more ideas, check out our full post on Outdoor Games to Get Kids Off Screens.

6. Model positive self-talk during a difficult activity

This may seem like an easy activity (or not even an activity at all), but I have found that practicing positive self-talk when outside on any of your adventures can be one of the more difficult ones. It may not be a specific activity, but it’s something you can do and practice any time you’re outside doing an activity.

As parents, we may give our children a lot of encouragement and praise, but we often forget to talk kindly to ourselves. Our kids see and hear that. Our voices become our children’s inner voices. If we talk kindly and encouragingly to ourselves and about ourselves while we’re out exploring or trying new things, they will do the same.

Your outer voice becomes their inner voice

Next time you are tasked with a difficult chore or are embarking on a new or difficult task, try to talk yourself through it out loud. Be positive and honest with yourself. Try to say things like, “this might be really hard, but I think I can do it,” or “I’ve never played this game before, but learning will be fun”. Yes, it will feel awkward at first, but you should talk to yourself like you want your child’s inner self to talk to themselves. You might be surprised to hear your words echoed back just a few minutes later.

It’s important to show our children that even grown-ups can get nervous to try new things. Show them that you have self-doubt, but that you also have the tools to hype yourself up. This will give them the confidence to talk themselves into a positive headspace when trying something new or difficult. Children will likely have a voice in their head, as we all do, giving them doubt in new or difficult situations. A parent’s voice of encouragement and positivity will always drown out that doubt as long as you say those things out loud often enough.

7. Practice and praise

Most kids probably have a sport or recreational activity that they enjoy doing or may want to get into. Showing interest in their chosen activity and encouraging their efforts is a huge confidence booster.

Practice doesn’t always have to be about improving their technical skill each time – it can be just about having fun together. Take your child outside to the backyard, the local basketball court, or the baseball field. Ask them what they like to work on. During these practices, you and your child can become better at giving encouragement and receiving encouragement.

Refrain from giving feedback

Notice how I didn’t say “feedback” or “constructive criticism” there. Sometimes, it’s best to leave the correction of technical things to the coaches or let them figure things out for themselves. As parents, sometimes it can be hard to correct instead of just being their biggest cheerleader. If you’re in the backyard, playing catch, or shooting hoops, try not correcting ANY mistakes and ONLY praising their achievements.

Sports aren’t just a physical game. There’s a big mental component to playing many of these words. Confidence when shooting the ball or up to bat is a huge part of the game. I guarantee the more they practice and the more you praise them, the better they will get (as opposed to practice alone).

8. Try something new together

Trying something new is always a little scary. Doing new things together with your child can build a foundation for overcoming fears and enjoying new experiences. This can be as easy as going to a new park and trying a new piece of playground equipment, or starting a new activity like bike riding. Trying something new can also set them apart from their peers and give them confidence in knowing they are different or have a different skill set.

My son started sailing this summer. No one in our family knows how to sail, and none of his friends do either. He got a big confidence boost, talking about his experience sailing and teaching others what sailing is and how to do it.

Once you try something new and realize, “Oh, this can be kind of cool,” you’re more likely to try new things more often. Taking that first big step with your kid teaches them how to try new things within the comfort zone that you give them. I love this article about having a “try new things” mindset

9. Animal training

Animal training can be a great way to build confidence in a leadership role for your child. This could be anything from riding a horse, training a dog, or learning to show livestock. All of these activities involve assertiveness, giving direction, and taking responsibility for another being. While being in charge of an animal can give confidence in leadership, it also gives the child a friend and a source of comfort all in one.

A few years ago, my son and I spent a day learning how to train retrieving dogs with some friends of ours. It was amazing to see my shy and quiet son blossom and become loud and commanding as he learned how to take charge of the dogs. If you decide this approach might be great for you and your child, check out our full post on dog training with kids and this great informational post on the benefits of raising kids around animals.

10. Play on the playground

Kids love to play on the playground. How surprised do you think they would be to see you join in?

Now let them lead. Let them show you around the place and how to use all the equipment.

At home, parents are in charge, but here on the playground, kids are the kings of the castle. Shifting the power dynamic gives them the confidence to make decisions and have fun doing it. Having you out there with them may also give them the confidence to try new pieces of equipment that they couldn’t quite manage on their own. Have fun and be silly with them, or this gives them the confidence to be themselves, and to be fun and silly too.

Confidence-boosting outdoor activities

These 10 confidence-building outdoor activities are pretty simple, but they’re powerful. You are probably doing a lot of them already. But now that you know just how important they are, try leaning into the part of the activity that increases their confidence.

Because the common threat to all of these activities is that YOU are doing them WTIH your child. Knowing they are wanted, loved, and worthy of the time you spend with them is the biggest foundational block of confidence. It is so important to remember that everything we say TO our children and everything we do WITH them is building those foundational blocks of confidence in their adult selves.

Confidence for all

You might find that playing silly games, trying new things, and practicing your own positive self-talk, might increase your own confidence too! Wouldn’t that be something? We’re learning how to be parents right along with our kids and I don’t know a single mom that wouldn’t benefit from a bit more confidence in her parenting skills.

So, get out there and have some fun WITH your kids. You can do hard things, even if the hard thing is telling yourself, you can do hard things.

About the author

Meghan is a midwestern mom of 3 kids and one dog. She is a physical therapist assistant and family photographer. At home, Meghan and her family enjoy gardening (both indoors and outside), riding ATVs, and exploring the river behind their house. When not at home, they can usually be found at the lake or exploring Illinois state parks. Meghan’s family has always loved the outdoors, but they really found a passion for being outside and photography when her oldest son had to undergo a bone marrow transplant as a baby. During her son’s recovery, being outside became a safe place for the whole family to learn, grow, and thrive.

You can find more from Meghan online in the following locations:
Instagram: @meghangarriott
Meghan’s RWMC posts: Meghan Garriott
MCFAMILY, PARENTING, SUMMER
5 Things That Are Working for Me This Summer
- July 12, 2023
As any parent knows, summer can be both the BEST and the worst. All the things that make summer great – long hot days, lots of activities, relaxed schedules, a break from routines – can also make it tricky. As I former full-time working (out of the house) mom now turned work-from-home mom, this summer has been a big adjustment for me. This is the first summer I haven’t had any hired help with the kids, so we’re still trying to figure it all out. We’re not really doing camps or much traveling, so it’s all on me to supply entertainment and activities. I’m loving it, but (in all honesty) there’s not much actual work from home being done. That’s been tough on me (Enneagram 3).

While not everything runs smoothly, there are some things that are working well for our family this summer. Here are my top 5 summer parenting hacks that are working really well for us right now. I hope some of them will help you figure out ways that your summer might run a little more smoothly too!

1. Alphabet Days

The kids and I are doing alphabet-themed adventures this summer, which is helping us explore our surroundings and check out places we might not have otherwise tried. About once I week we brainstorm all the things we could do that start with that letter. This includes activities, as well as visiting places that start with that letter, or eating food that starts with that letter.

For example, for “B” day we went bowling (fun!) and tried boba tea (yuck!). We also considered going to the botanical gardens or the butterfly house. Or, we could have chosen to go boating or have ice cream at Baskin Robbins. You get the point.

What’s great about this is the kids get to help brainstorm and pick the activity, so they’re vested. I’ve heard way less complaining about what we’re doing. Sometimes I make an executive decision about our daily activity and they have been great about going along with it.

It’s also been a great way to compile a huge list of all the fun things to do in our area, which I’ll keep and refer back to when we need ideas. Anytime we’re out and think of something fun or discover a new place, I add it to our list.

Here’s what we’ve done so far (and you can see photos from all our alphabet adventures on my personal Instagram feed – @sara_mccarty):
- A = Aquarium + Andy’s
- B = Bowling + boba tea
- C = City Museum & Circus Flora
- D = Dinner at the duck club
- E = Echo Bluff in Eminence
- F = Foraging at Forest Gully Farms
- G = Grafton
- H = Horseback riding + Hi Pointe hamburgers
- I = Ice cream farm tour
2. Sunscreen battles

First of all, I’ll start by saying I despise sunscreen. Like, hate hate hate it. The kids and I are fair and freckly, so we need it, but I hate putting it on myself, I hate putting it on the kids, I hate how it feels, I hate that it always breaks me out, I hate reapplying, I hate wrestling and fighting with the kids about it, I hate that it’s so expensive, I hate all the chemicals. HATE.

It’s no fun to hate something that much that you have to do every day. It was making me cranky and constantly putting me in a bad mood, so something had to change. For the last couple of years, I’ve been slowly collecting tips and tricks to make this whole sunscreen process a little easier. What used to send me into a fit of rage now is only mildly annoying, so I’m going to call that a win.

Here are a few things that have changed my attitude on the sunscreen situation:

Find a sunscreen you don’t hate

After hearing everyone rave about it, I finally made the switch from the crappy sunscreen I bought at Target to the good stuff. I now use BeautyCounter sunscreen on myself and the kids. And I love it.

Yes, it’s spendy, but it takes away a few of the things I listed above that hate about sunscreen (no nasty chemicals (reef safe), feels light, doesn’t break me out), so that makes it worth it to me. This is slightly embarrassing to admit, but I love it so much that I signed myself up to sell it (mainly so I could get it myself at a discount, if I’m being honest). I love it that much. Get yourself some right now. (Oh, and the BC deodorant is also life-changing. I’ll stop now.)

Use a sponge to apply to faces

This is another game changer. I bought these cheap makeup sponges and use them to apply sunscreen to the kids faces. It SO much easier than using your fingers. It applies evenly and doesn’t leave the kids faces white (which they hate).

Wear a rashguard

Less skin exposed means less skin to apply sunscreen to. I’m a huge fan of rashguards and try to put my kids (and myself) in them as much as possible. It’s not always their favorite, so if they want to wear something else, I bring them along, and they can put them on later. This a win for them because they’d usually much rather put a rashguard on than get out of the water, dry off, get sunscreen reapplied to them, wait for it to dry, then get back in the water.

3. Meal planning and snacks

Ugh, does just the thought of making another meal make you want to cry, too? It’s a never-ending battle to keep up with meals and snacks over the summer with the kids home all.the.time. and always hungry. If we’re home, someone is asking me for food. It drives me bananas. Again, I knew this going into summer, so I tried doing things a bit differently. Not everything has worked (I’m still schlepping snacks out left and right), but here are a few things that have helped.

Snack station

I’m not a big fan of giving my kids unmonitored access to snacks because they will go hog wild, but I also don’t want to have to dole out every single snack they have all summer long, so I needed a compromise. I went to Trader Joe’s and stocked up on “healthy-ish” snacks that I didn’t mind them eating on their own (applesauce, dried fruit, fresh fruit, granola bars, pretzels, popcorn, yogurt, cut veggies, trailmix, cheese, crackers, etc.) and then set everything up in a spot in the basement fridge that’s easily accessible to them.

I also added glass flip-top reusable water bottles that I run through the dishwasher and refill a few times a week (like these). I’m always looking for more goodies to add to this list, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

Hello Fresh meals

I signed up again for Hello Fresh meal kits. Each week, I pick four meals (dinner) and get the ingredients delivered, which has been a huge time saver for me when it comes to meal planning, grocery shopping, and meal prep. I order the meals for 4 people (even though there are 5 of us) and usually add extra meat to the meal (because my husband eats enough for 3), which gives us plenty for dinner and a little leftover for lunches.

I switch up the orders each week (although we do have favorites – lettuce wraps, moo shu pork, street-cart chicken bowls), and it’s seemed to work really well. I wouldn’t say they’re the fastest meals to make each evening (probably around 30-45 minutes from start to finish), but I like the cooking part (just not the planning part), so this saves me from having to figure out what to each multiple nights each week, and thus, saves my sanity.

There are a lot of these types of meal kit services out there (pick your favorite!), but if you want to try Hello Fresh, this link will get you some free meals.

4. Summer reading

The kids and I are all doing a summer reading challenge through our local public library. I’ve been plowing my way through some great books lately, but I’m trying to be more intentional about sitting down and reading a physical book in front of the kids. I’ve heard over and over that kids will read more if they see parents reading. I read a ton, but I realized I wasn’t really doing it in front of my kids.

I’m always reading multiple books at once. I’ll be listening to an audiobook (although some may not consider this reading) in the car or doing chores around the house, and I also have books downloaded to my phone (which sometimes just looks like me playing on a screen to my kids). My physical books sit on my bedside table and I read every night before bed (which the kids don’t see because they’re asleep). I realized this needed to change, so I’ve been trying to be more intentional about reading during the day in front of them, whether that’s at home, at the pool, at the farm, or creekside. If I have a few minutes, I read.

I don’t know if it’s making any difference yet, but I’m enjoying it! If you’re interested, you can see what I’m reading here. I’d love to hear what you’re reading!

5. Sober summer

This one’s probably not going to be for everybody, but in early May, I decided to cut out all alcohol for the rest of the summer. Yes, I know, it sounds awful (and sometimes it is), but for the most part, I’m so glad I did this. I was really tired of feeling SO.TIRED. all the time and wondered if my evening cocktails were making feel worse in the long run, despite feeling better in the moment. What I was thinking was a stress reliever was actually causing me more stress because I was just feeling cruddy all the time. Here’s what I’ve noticed after 2+ months of not drinking:
- I feel better, but I’m still tired. I know I’m sleeping more (going to bed much earlier than I was) and sleeping better (according to my SleepNumber sleep score), but I’m still exhausted all the time. I think this is just normal for being mid-40s and trying to keep up with 3 little kids. I’m old, I’m working through it. Ha!
- My skin looks much better and I (finally) lost a couple pounds. These were unexpected side effects that have been pleasantly surprising. I’ve noticed I haven’t been breaking out as much (even wearing sunscreen every day!) and (after two months) I’m down a few (around 5) pounds. I mean, I’m not anywhere close to pre-baby weight, but at least moving in the right direction again.
- Social situations are a bit awkward, but not that bad. And it’s totally me being awkward, not others. For the most part, when I tell people I’m not drinking for the summer they’re super supportive. Although, I do get a lot of “good for you, but that’s not for me” responses, which is totally fine! I’m not trying to push this agenda on anyone and I certainly don’t care if people around me drink. I already know I’m socially awkward, so (again), I’m just working through it.
- I’ve swapped out my evening cocktail for spa water (I use that term very loosely). Whatever fruit I can find in the house or garden I throw in this infuser pitcher with some water (or sparkling water) and viola! I’m plowing through my rouge mint patch from the garden and trying to figure out how to grow a lemon tree! Strawberries, watermelon and lemons are great (bananas, grapes and apples…not so much).
About Sara

Sara McCarty is the Founder of Run Wild My Child (runwildmychild.com), a resource website, online community and podcast all about getting kids off screens and outside, one adventure at a time. She’s a mom of 3, wife, and a corporate securities lawyer. She grew up in the country, but now lives in St. Louis and is determined to raise her city kids to be as wild and feral as possible. You can usually find her family exploring a creek, fly fishing, hiking, duck hunting, camping, canoeing, biking, or geocaching. She’s passionate about reading, photography, plants, coffee, cooking, and key lime pie.
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?
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Missing Your Community During COVID
- August 25, 2020
One of the hardest aspects of parenting during a pandemic has been the loss of community. It takes a village to raise a child, so what happens when you’re no longer allowed within six feet of your fellow villagers? Today, we have the amazing Brenna Jeanneret here, writer, climber, and mom, talking about how the loss of her climbing community has affected her and how she’s finding new ways to connect in a COVID-concerned world. We hope this post will help inspire you to connect with your community, reach out to friends, and find new ways to stay in touch with those that mean the most.

The crux

I feel my leg start to shake uncontrollably. “Elvis Leg” is what climbers call it. I am hanging from two fairly large holds and standing on stable, positive footholds staring up at the crux of the route.

As I try to pull myself together, my eyes follow the length of our rope, one end figure-eighted securely to my harness and the other attached to my husband’s belay device. I am 6 bolts off the ground, roughly 35 feet in the air, and because I am leading the climb rather than top-roping it, there is enough slack in the rope for the wind to blow me from side to side. The last carabiner protecting my fall shimmers in the sunlight 3 feet below me and this realization makes my hands sweat.

I try to calm myself by looking out at the ocean view. Cape Hedo in Okinawa, Japan is one of our favorite climbing spots; the water is clear, blue, and expansive. The sound of the waves drowns out the voices below and everything but the climb fades to the background.

Now that the ocean calm has slowed my breathing, I turn my attention back to the climb. I am standing just below the crux, which I have not been able to complete before. I am both nervous and excited. Over the last several days, I’ve been working out all the moves leading up to this point but have not been able to put them all together without falling. Sending this route would validate all the training, the long drives to the crag, and all the mental preparation I’ve done.

The crux move requires that I reach my right hand up and left, crossing my body to a slopey, wrong-facing hold. Readjusting my balance to make the hold “right-facing” is key but made more difficult by the slight overhang in the wall. I will be twisted and off-balance with nothing to catch me but air, creating a real possibility that my arm or leg could catch the rope and flip me upside down.

I chalk up and shake out, one arm at a time as I look at the crux and mentally map out the moves. Something in my brain flips and I decide it’s now or never. I yell down to my husband over the roaring ocean waves that I am ready. Slowly, I reach up to make the move…

Building our community of climbers

As we sit around the fire later that evening, someone passes me a bag of chips going around and congratulates me on my send. It is the hardest climb I have lead to date. As food and beers are passed and shared we recant the day; we talk beta and technique, how my leg shaking leg could be seen from the ground, the way my feet cut from the wall as I hit that cross move and barn-doored out.

I am given hugs and high fives.

The feel of the evening, the fire, the shared experience of failure and success, the warm hazy buzz…it’s something I have thought about often during the pandemic. These things that bring the climbing community together, meeting new people at a crag, a congratulatory high-five, shared food and gear, they are out of reach right now.

Climbing is how my husband and I build community, even in Okinawa, a small Japanese island on the other side of the world. This is what has always worked for us. We are climbers. That is our identity and we have found that following our drive to climb has attracted other like-minded, passionate friends, no matter where we are.

When I got pregnant with our son, we did all we could to hold onto that piece of ourselves and the only community we knew how to build. But my pregnancy was rough and climbing in that way just wasn’t a possibility. I had to find new ways to build a community for myself as a new mom and for my son just coming into the world.

Lack of motivation during COVID

Over the last 2 years and before COVID hit, my son, and I had found families to adventure with, commiserate with, and to love. The climber in me was coming back to life. Getting outside, even on toddler-paced hikes seemed like a huge step in the right direction. Climbing trips were finally starting to become a reality. But, over the last few months, we’ve traded playdates and mini-adventures for the backyard sandbox and neighborhood bike rides in the name of being safe and keeping things close to home.

For weeks after the initial lockdown, I wished we had taken more advantage of the parks when they were open. That we had made more long treks for early morning boulder sessions. If we could just get out for a mini-adventure, I thought, that would change things, we’d get back on track.

I have noticed, however, that since state parks have reopened and visiting them during off-peak hours while practicing social distancing can be entirely safe, my motivation to break our new close-to-home routine is lacking. A “mini-adventure” to a state park just doesn’t hold the same appeal it used to. It now feels overwhelming and exhausting.

Though other feelings and reactions related to COVID have come up this one by far is the most surprising to me. After spending the last 20 years of my life carefully arranging my days and weeks to fit in the most climbing and outdoor time, why, now when we finally have a piece of the puzzle back am I lacking in motivation?

One. Simple. Word.

Community.

Dealing with the loss of community

Missing our community of friends feels both simple and complicated.

There are simple, obvious, straightforward ways that my son and I miss our community. I miss going to a new place that I don’t know how to navigate but my friend does. We simply miss other children. Toddlers love other toddlers. Their only criteria for instant friendship…you’re a toddler! Simple in that I find relief and gratitude knowing that another adult I trust is looking out for my child in the same way they would watch over theirs.

But a hug from another mom who has also started her day at 3 am to battle her admittedly opposed toddler? That’s now complicated. A hug is support, understanding, and comradery, without saying a word. That hug says, “I see you”, and “You’re doing great” and “This is hard” all at once. But, that hug is complicated in ways that I never imagined a hug could be complicated.

The mutual smile from a fellow mom who sees my kid run full speed down a hill with nothing but boots on somehow reinforces and validates everything I’ve done as a mom up to that moment. That smile holds no judgment. That smile is accepting and inclusive and makes the 2 hours I fought my kid to get here worth it. That smile is now hidden by a mask.

And what about that knowing in their eyes when my kid has a tantrum in the middle of the hike because I made the wrong pretend truck noise? It’s something only another parent of a toddler on that hike, at that moment can understand and it’s everything. It’s gone and I can’t believe how much I miss it.

Yes, I can (and do) go on hikes and mini-adventures with just my son. But, not having another parent there, if nothing else, to witness the insanity and total irrationality of raising a toddler leaves me feeling catastrophically alone.

Finding new ways to connect to your community

Dealing with the loss of climbing during pregnancy was hard in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I didn’t know how I was going to come back from that, especially with a new baby. But, over time, my son and I were able to find our own tiny and inclusive group of outdoor-loving families to lean on. They’ve supported us in more ways than I can describe.

During the pandemic, our in-person adventuring with our community has been put on hold for a bit. It’s been hard, so I’ve had to adapt. Now, I am finding new ways to be connected to our community and take care of ourselves during this uncertain time. Here are a few things we’ve been doing that help.

Adapt

My husband and I are primarily sport climbers, meaning we use ropes and quickdraws to secure ourselves to permanently placed draws while climbing. Bringing my son along requires at least one other adult to keep an eye on him while one of us climbs and the other belays. Since that’s not an option right now, we have switched gears to bouldering. To boulder, we only need a crash pad, shoes, and chalk.

We look for boulders that have flat landings so that our son can roam safely and so that whoever is climbing doesn’t necessarily need a spotter. This frees the other parent up to keep eyes on our son and helps to prepare all of us to re-enter, not just sport climbing communities, but bouldering communities as well, when this is all over.

Prepare for life after-COVID

As a climber and advocate for outdoor learning my ultimate goal is to get my son acclimated to the climbing life as much as possible in the hopes that he will fall in love with it too. To do that my husband and I have been taking our son climbing at least once a week. We show him how to pack a crash pad, how to spot boulders and of course how to relax like a climber, i.e. laid back, feet up, lots of snacks, and a little climbing. Our hope is that once life returns to normal, we’ll have our adventure buddy prepped and ready for the action.

Safe pods

As a family, we decided to extend our safety bubble to include one other family that we know and trust. They’ve been tested and are not in contact with anyone else. We still take certain precautions like not sharing snacks, only playing outside, and keeping our hands to ourselves. Though my son is an independent kid and comfortable on his own, I have found that seeing these friends every week or so has lifted his spirits.

Socially distant mom dates

A couple of my mom-friends and I meet every 3 or 4 weeks at an empty parking lot and sit in the back of cars, 6 feet apart. We get to see each other and talk about all things motherhood. It helps so much to just hear someone else’s experiences, how they are dealing with the virus, isolation, toddler meltdowns, and what they’re watching on Netflix!

Write and talk about it

Journaling is something I’ve always done to deal with stress. Whether it’s a physical notebook, an online document, a blog, or something in between, writing things down can help process thoughts and emotions. With so many virtual groups sharing and interacting with people, I’ve found that taking my journaling online has been the most helpful. Going one step further and talking about it with someone, on the phone, at a distance, text, or whatever is even better. Frustration and anger have very little power when said out loud.

We’re in this together

While this mom thing is unique and different for us all, we’re all in it together. And these times are uncertain and unprecedented for all of us. If you feel the same way I do about community and have any insight or advice to share, I’d love to hear it! Sharing our stories and experiences help us all process and know that we’re not alone. Our lives and communities may look different now, but if we can be there for each other, we’ll come out on the other side stronger.

How are you handling the loss of community?

About the author

Brenna Jeanneret is a writer who shares stories as an outdoor climbing mom. She writes about the messy and authentic intersection where adventure and parenthood collide. Check out her writing on her personal site at http://www.brennajeanneret.com. Or look for her new podcast The ReWild Mamas where she discusses adventure and motherhood.
HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Cultivating a Love of Adventure in Homebody Kids
- July 28, 2020
As parents, we all want to instill a sense of adventure in our kids and a love for the outdoors. But, what happens when your kids would rather stay home? What if you’re a homebody, too? What if you know you should be getting outside, but the struggle to get out the door is more than you want to deal with right now? You’re not alone. Today, we have the amazing Angie Warmington, Wisconsin mom of three boys, sharing her family’s struggle to get outside and how she’s cultivating a love of adventure in her homebody kids. I think a LOT of us can relate to this. Enjoy!

The struggle is real

Let me be perfectly honest. I am a homebody to the extreme. There is nowhere else on this earth I feel most at ease than in my own home. My three young boys are homebody kids and my husband is right there with us.

My love for home is so deep that it makes me very proud of how comfortable and secure my children feel within the four walls that we’ve provided for them. But I also want them to feel comfortable and secure outside them!

It is no understatement when people say that there’s a big world out there. And I so desperately want them to see it.

The problem is, sometimes they really don’t want to. And the struggle to get my homebody kids out there exploring can be stressful, to say the least.

From homebody to explorer

Let me start at the very beginning of when our love of adventures began. About two years ago when my youngest was old enough to really enjoy being outside we decided we were going to start going on adventures. Ok…I decided we were going to start going on adventures.

At that time, I had been a full-time stay at home mom for about three years. The four walls that created my safe sanctuary were driving me insane. I needed out. And so did my kids.

I knew the importance of children getting fresh air. I knew they needed wide open spaces to explore, to run and burn some crazy off. The benefits of getting outside to their personal growth and development were many. How many studies do we need to read to hammer that home?

And so we made some changes. We started adventuring! I got my homebody kids and self out of the house and we explored new places and tried new things. And for the first summer we did this they loved it! They were begging to go on adventures daily. We went all over our little part of the world and adventured to our heart’s desire.

Adventure strategy

Fast forward a couple of years…all of a sudden, my adventuring kids are back to being homebody kids. They were not so excited about our adventures anymore. In fact, most times they’d really rather not.

I don’t know what happened. Maybe, with this past year of spending so much time in our house the idea of leaving feels foreign to them now? Maybe they’re anxious? Or perhaps they just forgot how much fun we had? I’m not sure. But whatever’s going on, it’s made getting my homebody kids out of the house so hard.

However, I refuse to give up on our adventures. Over the last few months, I’ve developed some strategies to try to help keep their excitement for adventures alive. Here are a few tips for how we’re doing it and how it’s going.

Mix it up

I keep a running list of all the places that we’ve explored that I know my boys love, as well as a list of places we have yet to see. This helps remind me of all the fun places we could adventure that we already know we love, as well as all the places we want to explore.

There’s a wonderful app called All Trails that I use when I’m researching new areas. It has been so handy this past year. It lists all the hiking trails in our area depending on their length, difficulty level, how heavily trafficked they are, as well as if they would be considered kid-friendly.

I build my list right there in the app and I make it a personal goal to cross a new place off at least once a month. We aim for two new places a month, but I figure beggars can’t be choosers, so I happily settle for at least one!

When scouting for new places, I look for areas and features that I know my boys would enjoy. We are fortunate to live along Lake Michigan, so any place that brings us close to water is usually a hit. That doesn’t mean that we always go to the lake. But, when I search for local nature reserves or hiking trails, I try to make sure they run along a lake or river so they have that water play to look forward to.

Tried and true

If trying out a new place just isn’t appealing, I let them pick our adventure from a list of places we’ve tried and enjoyed. Do we want to go throw rocks in the lake? Do we want to go to run through the sand dunes or find all the bridges at Seven Bridges Park? Letting them choose where we’ll go explore a lot of times leads to a great trip.

Eventually, if the trip goes well, we add the new places to our list of favorite tried-and-true places. Those new places that we were so uncertain about in the beginning find their way to our list of awesome adventures and just get added to our rotation. This helps my kids realize that trying new things leads to finding new favorites.

Encourage make-believe

We live the nerd life. We are mad lovers of all things Star Wars, orcs, trolls and yetis. Pretty much all magical beasts top our list of awesome creatures. Sprinkle in some zombies and my boys are in heaven. They have found magic and adventure inside our home. But, I absolutely love it when they find it outside, too.

So, when they ask if we’ll find Big Foot’s house or they tell me that these woods look just like the ones where the Ewoks live, I encourage it like crazy. My boys’ imagination is one of my favorite things in the whole world. If I can get them excited about finding some strange mystical creature on one of our walks, I am all about it! It adds an extra element of fun to our adventures. We’re always hunting for yetis and keeping an eye out for crocodiles.

No shame in the bribery game

Sometimes, the fight to get out of the house and adventure can get very intense. In those cases, I’m not above bribery. In fact, I embrace it.

They’ll walk a short trail with minimal complaint in exchange for a chance to go play at our favorite playground? Done.

They’ll go to the lake if I let them bring home as many rocks as they can fit in their pockets? Deal.

Any wizard staffs (aka giant sticks) that we find on our adventure must come home with us? If it fits in the van, it’s yours.

Any reasonable promise (heavy emphasis on the reasonable) I can make that will get them to happily go on an adventure? I am all over it. If you need to get your homebody kids out of the house, don’t feel bad about using bribery. I’ll help you come up with the bribe, if you need it!

When in doubt, keep it short

If my guys are truly just not feeling it but we really need to get outdoors, we’ll keep it as short as possible. I would rather do multiple short trips a week then drag them out for hours someplace that they would rather not be.

We initially started going on adventures because we wanted to have fun! The last thing I want is for my homebody kids to dread our adventures any time I bring up the word. If twenty or thirty minutes is all we get, then so be it. I’ll make every effort to do that 20-30 minutes a couple of times a week and make it as fun as possible.

But if that doesn’t happen? It’s ok. It really is. I promise. There are days when I have to make the judgment call that maybe that day just isn’t a good day for an adventure. I’ll be honest. I get a little heartbroken when I hear grumbles of not wanting to go explore. But sometimes it’s not worth forcing them to go.

But for every negative response, I usually get an excited one! It really can be a balancing act, so I make every attempt to be as flexible as possible. There are days when my boys will ask me if we can go on an adventure before I have to chance to bring it up! Those are the best days. We’re getting fresh air; we’re having fun checking out a new amazing place nearby or visiting an old favorite. Not to mention, at the end of the day, they sleep so wonderfully!

A lifetime of adventures

My hope is that these small steps will help my boys grow up craving adventures. That someday they’ll come to me with ideas of places they want to explore. My hope is that we’ll eventually be able to go on an all-day trip where we hike across as much ground as our feet will cover. And that they’ll fall in love with getting out and seeing all the amazing things the world has to offer.

Are you or your child a homebody?
How do you encourage adventures?

About the author

Hi, I’m Angie Warmington. I am the mother of three young and active boys. Our home is in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin. I am a full time stay at home mom with a small family photography business on the side. Photography became a hobby of mine when my oldest was born and my love for it has grown right along with my children. It brings me a lot of joy to be able to photograph my boys while they explore our small little corner of the world. It feeds my need for creativity as well as capturing some amazing memories for them.

You can find more from Angie in the following locations:
Instagram: @angiewarmingtonphoto
Facebook: @angiewarmingtonphotos