Tine Voeten

  • FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Best Hikes for Kids in Central Europe

    With the weather getting warmer and thoughts of vacation on everyone’s mind, we’re in the mood to explore! If Europe is on your bucket list for exploring, then it’s your lucky day! While most people may think that Europe is mainly just big historic cities and stuffy museums, that’s not the case. Europe is filled with spectacular nature, as diverse in each individual country as the culture and language, which makes it the perfect place for hiking! Today, Belgian mom of two and outdoor adventurer, Tine of Kids del Mundo, is here sharing the best hikes for kids in Central Europe (Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). We hope this post will inspire you to add some of these hikes to your next Central European vacation! 

    Best hikes with kids in Europe

    Exploring Central Europe with kids

    What do you think of when you envision Central Europe? Many people automatically think of historical cities, large cathedrals, museums, and galleries. However, Europe is so much more than just city trips in crowded places.

    Europe is filled with countries that all have very diverse backgrounds. It is so easy to go country-hopping across a few countries on a trip to Central Europe. You can go by train, by plane, by car, or even by bike! Each country is rich in nature, food, culture, language, and history. And because it is all so easily accessible, it makes Europe the ideal destination for your next vacation with kids.

    Let’s introduce you to four countries you can combine during a two-week stay without taking the plane from one country to another: Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Each of these countries has its own distinct personality. 

    Best hikes with kids

    Best hiking trails in Central Europe for kids

    Central Europe is also home to some spectacular natural areas filled with great hiking opportunities, many of which are perfect for children. With rolling pastures, dense forests, snow-capped mountains, and alpine lakes, this is a region that begs to be explored.

    Central Europe’s vast network of trails offers something for every family, no matter what your hiking level or childrens’ ages. If you are seeking a unique outdoor experience, then follow along on a trip through the less touristic place in Central Western Europe. Here are a few of our favorite hikes and trails in Central Europe: 

    Our family of four, known as Kids del Mundo, lives in Belgium, very central in Europe. We love exploring our country. We’ve always loved finding new places within our country and have spent years (particularly during the pandemic) exploring all that Belgium has to offer kids.

    We’ll start our tour of the best hikes for kids in Central Europe here in Belgium. Next, we’ll cross borders to discover other mind-blowing trails on the west side of Central Europe. After reading this post, you will know why these Western-European countries are perfect to visit with kids.

    Hiking with kids

    1. Best hikes for kids in Belgium

    Belgium is the fifth smallest country in the European Union. You may be most familiar with the large metropolitan cities of Brussels or Bruges, but did you know there are so many wonderful and kid-friendly nature hiking trails in Belgium?

    The country of Belgium is an expert in combining outdoor adventure with art and culture. Interesting to know, Belgium has three different languages and regions:

    • Flanders – Dutch
    • Wallonia – French
    • East Cantons – German

    Not bad for such a tiny country. You can imagine the rich history Belgium has. Are you ready to be amazed by these fun places? Your kids will thank you later!

    best hikes with kids in europe

    Kid-friendly art hikes in Bosland

    Bosland is a multi-municipal project in the province of Limburg, Flanders, where children have the lead. With more than 5000 hectares of forests, this place is filled with wonderful hikes and kid-friendly adventures. Bosland is located in the province of Limburg, a perfect starting point for visiting other regions in Belgium. If you want to experience Limburg in a unique way, you can book a stay in the Tears Alley (Tranendreef). Sleeping in a tent hanging in the trees is a fantastic way of experiencing this magnificent area.

    Butterflies in Cat Forest (Kattenbos)

    The most impressive woodland of all we found is in the Kattenbos (Cat Forest). Within Cat Forest, not only will you find yourself surrounded by the most beautiful nature, but as you explore the woods, the evolution of a butterfly is shown in statues and art.

    Created by environmental artist Will Beckers, kids can hike and get a step-by-step art explanation of how an egg transforms into caterpillar, then into a chrysalis, and then into a butterfly. The sculptures are not there only to admire, but to play on! All of the pieces in this interactive art installation are made for kids to climb, jump, and swing on! 

    This hike is about 2.2km long, which is perfect for even the tiniest ones. Of course, the butterfly process is not the only reason why to go to Cat Forest. Further along, you will come across the windmill of Leyssen and learn more about the history of this region.

    You can do several other hiking trails through the heathlands and the pine trees. Every trail is well indicated with different colors and easy to find through the amazing landscape. And if you happen to go at the end of August and the first half of September, the forest turns the color purple for the heath blooming! It’s spectacular!  

    Kattenbos

    The Sahara in Belgium

    In Bosland, you will also find the Lommelse Sahara, an area in Lommel, not too far from the Cat Forest. Again, environmental artist Will Beckers created sculptures for this fun kid-friendly area. This time he didn’t build sustainable metal animals, but he made constructions out of natural material, usually found in the same woods.

    The highlight in the woodlands of the Sahara, is the 30-meter-high watchtower in the center of the domain. It takes 144 steps to reach the top, but it is well worth the effort! The view from top is magnificent. On a clear day, the panorama will stretch out to 25 km. This location is not a coincidence. From this point on top, the view reaches the entire area of Bosland. A unique location.

    With little ones, we recommend hiking the blue trail, which is 3,1 km. On this hiking trail, kids can play on two interactive art installations close to the watchtower. Not too far from the parking lot (and hidden in the woods), the masterpieces of Will Becker are waiting to be discovered. If you have older kids, there are longer trails, such as the red trail (2 km), which received the award of Best Hiking Trail in Belgium.

    Giants in De Schorre (Belgium) 

    Our absolute favorite hike in Flanders is the “giants hike” of Thomas Dambo. We just love how the trolls are hidden in the forest of De Schorre in Boom (Tree), where each and every year, the famous dance festival Tomorrowland takes place. You’ve probably heard of the giants designed by Thomas Dambo. You might even have seen them in other cities and countries spread all over the world (e.g. Copenhagen, Chicago, Miami, Mandurah, and Puerto Rico). 

    What is so fun about finding giants with kids? In De Schorre, seven giants are well-hidden deep within the forest, and there is no indication of where they might be. This means you will have to go in between the trees to seek them out, making it such a fun adventure for kids. Kids can look for the giants following a path, but also check in between the trees and leave the paved path.

    To access one of the giants, you even have to make quite a climb! Kids (and adults) can climb on and around the giants and enjoy the most beautiful views in the forest.The first time we went, we spent quite a bit of time outside and didn’t even find all the trolls! But honestly, we didn’t need a reason to return one more time. Each and every season, this forest looks different, making it a place you can return to again and again and never get tired of exploring! 

    There is also a fun barefoot trail in between the giants. And if the little ones have a bit of energy left at the end, they can also have fun on the outdoor playground while exiting the forest. De Schorre is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Central Europe and one not to miss! This adventure can be easily combined with a stop in Antwerp, making it the perfect combination of nature and history!

    best hikes with kids

    Waterfalls on the trail of de la Hoegne

    If you are looking for the most gorgeous pristine nature, you will find it in the Belgian Ardennes. This area is filled with picturesque tiny European villages, and gorgeous rivers meandering through the lush and dense forests. This area will amaze you day after day. The hike of La Hoegne, which is the name of the river, is unique because the trail will lead you over the river via bridges and passages. 

    The trail starts at the parking lot at the beginning of the promenade. Because there is no bridge to the parking lot, you have to pass through the river to park. Kids love it! Don’t worry; usually, the water isn’t too deep, and you can pass with the car.

    At the start of the trail, the river is at its widest. Follow along the signs (white with blue cross), which you can’t miss. The hike is beautiful and kid-friendly. And because hiking with kids always requires snacks and food, somewhere in the middle of the trail, you will reach an open space in the forest where you can sit for a picnic. At this location, you can choose a hike of 10km or 12km. This is well indicated.

    When you reach this point, it also means you’re close to the peak of the valley. It looks like you stepped into a fairytale. Our girls still talk about this hike and how beautiful it was. However, note that because of all the tiny bridges and roots popping out everywhere, it is definitely not suitable for buggies or strollers. 

    Best hikes with kids in Europe

    A few more kid-friendly hikes in Belgium

    If you are seeking more fun hikes with kids in Belgium, you should check:

    • Hoogstraten: Wortel Colony, De Mosten & Aschputten, The Strawberry tour
    • The Music Forest in Ronse
    • Terhills National Park in Maasmechelen
    • Hoge Venen in the so called Hoge Venen-Eifel Nature Park

    2. Best hikes for kids in the Netherlands (Holland)

    When you are in Belgium, you can easily hop over to the Netherlands. From different points of Belgium, you might even cross the border and back again while out exploring. The two countries are very linked and intertwined. The Netherlands are located between Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. The country’s city population density is very high which makes it the second most dense country in Europe (after Malta). However, outside of the cities, the Netherlands have beautiful wide open plains and plenty of nature to explore! The landscape of Holland (as we call the Netherlands), is just extraordinary.

    Let me guide you to two of the most amazing areas in Holland…

    Texel – West Frisian Islands

    The West Frisian Islands (Waddeneilanden in Dutch) is a group of small islands on the North Coast of the Netherlands at the Wadden Sea. This region has been placed on the Unesco World Heritage List. Typical for the West Frisian Islands are the wide open meadows filled with wide open beaches and red lighthouses. Not only is the landscape truly remarkable, but the nutrient-rich sea attracts fish, and marine mammals and is a popular stopover for migratory birds.  The largest island of the West Frisian Islands is Texel. 

    Texel is a perfect nature-filled place to spend holidays with kids. You can go island-hopping, seal-watching, bird-spotting, and hike through the diverse landscapes. The first thing that is already unique and unforgettable about this adventure is the way to Texel. With the car, you drive right onto the ferry and take it out to the island. The excitement the kids experience while making the line at the port of Den Helder is incredible.

    Once you’re on the island, there are a couple of must-see attractions. One of those are the Dunes of Texel National Park. This park has a variety of nature going from pine trees to sand dunes at the beach. With such an incredible and diverse landscape, your kids will never get bored! The hiking trails for kids in the enormous dunes are superb! 

    Also, be sure to be on the lookout for seals on the beaches of the island. You can spot seals on the island year-round. If you miss the seals on the beach, like us, you can also visit Ecomare, a shelter with only one mission: nurturing and caring for wounded seals. 

    Best hikes with kids in Europe

    Biking in the Netherlands and Texel sheep

    Did you know Dutch people are born on bikes? Well, not really, but it sure seems that way! Bikes are so integrated into their culture that you’ll inevitably feel the need to get on a bike when you’re in Holland. So, instead of hiking from one side of the island to the other, consider riding a bike so that you can really take in the nature around you and discover all the little villages along the way.

    Texel is also known for its sheep. Yes, you have read that right…sheep! They are everywhere and beloved by the people on the island. Plan on visiting a sheep farm with your little ones while you’re there. And don’t forget the beautiful lighthouse of De Cocksdorp! It’s a classic beautiful red one that you can still visit! A stay on Texel will be one to remember!

    Best hikes with kids

    Mast Forest (Mastbos)

    North Brabant covers four national parks of the Netherlands (Loonse and Drunense Dunes, The Biesbosch, the Big Peel, and Border Park De Zoom-Kalmthoutse Heide), with a wide range of nature and biodiversity. They are all worth visiting. This region has so much nature, history, and culture. 

    Close to Breda, you will find one of the most diverse woodlands in Holland. In the Mast Forest, kids can run freely, go gnome-seeking, build camps, climb trees, and so much more. When our girls were little, we introduced them to hiking via the wonderful paths in the Mast Forest, so this forest has a special place in our hearts.

    A magical gnome tour takes you through the forest. For one and a half hours, your little ones will run, climb and seek! With a bit of storytelling, this will be a day never to forget. But there’s more than gnomes. You have the wooden paths through the fields, follow the river the Mark, walk next the Galder Lake, a summer hotspot for families. But you can also stop at the nature playground Bouverijen. Building camps, climbing wooden logs and climbing over the water is such a fun activity for kids. 

    The Netherlands have so much more to offer, but these two spots are a great way to start exploring nature in Holland! 

    Best hikes with kids

    More Dutch hikes

    If you are seeking more fun hikes with kids in the Netherlands, check out the following locations: 

    • National Park the Veluwe
    • Biesbosch in South-Brabant
    • Utrechtse Heuvelrug
    • Oranjezon in Zeeland
    • Nature Monuments in Leikeven

    Hiking with kids

    3. Best hikes for kids in Germany

    The Netherlands and Belgium border with Germany, so why not take advantage and combine all of these countries into one amazing trip?! One region we would definitely recommend that you visit with kids is the South Eifel region. Not only do you have beautiful nature and the most amazing hiking trails, but this area is so close to other amazing locations that it makes exploring easy for families. 

    Best hikes with kids

    Destinature Dorf

    When we were exploring the area, the biggest (and most pleasant) hidden gem we found was the amazing hiking trails in Ernzen. When discovered this area a bit by accident when we were planning a visit to Müllerthal in Luxembourg. Seeking an authentic stay close to nature, we booked a stay in Germany, only minutes away from the Luxembourg border, in Destinature Dorf in Ernzen. Destinature Dorf is a nature village with the most powerful mission: sustainable tourism, using only natural and sustainable materials to build sophistically designed huts and tents connecting you with nature. This recently opened Nature Village has everything we needed as a nature-loving family.

    Here’s a little secret. When you stay in Destinature Dorf in Ernzen, you can access another wonder of nature, Felsenweiher. There’s a set of stairs that leads you straight to the natural rock pond. We didn’t know this on our first visit, so one more reason to go back!

    Devils Canyon in Südeifel

    During our stay, we discovered some of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. This area guarantees an unforgettable holiday with your kids. If you want to score points, you can start off with the Teufelsschlucht Dinosaur Park in Ernzen. Just five minutes away from Destinature Dorf, you get to this incredible park, surrounded by nature. Next to the Dinosaur Park is the entrance of one of the most beautiful hikes for kids in Germany.

    When you’re in the area, make your first stop at the Visitors Centre. That is where you will get more info on the different kinds of trails. We choose the shortest one, as our kids were very little at the time. In total, the hike was 1.8 km, but it takes over 2 hours to finish. It was magical! We found ourselves in a real-life fairy tale. The beautiful colors of the falling leaves, contrasting against the bright green of the moss, were mesmerizing! The trail took us to a canyon deep down the rocks. The view at the end of the gorge is breathtaking. The girls forgot about their tiredness and ran around enjoying the beauty of the site. Definitely, the Devil’s Canyon is a must when you are in Südeifel!

    Best hikes in Europe

    More kid-friendly hikes in Germany

    If you are seeking more fun hikes with kids in Germany, you check out the following locations:

    • Schwarzwald in Germany
    • German Alpes
    • Fairytales Tour via Edersee
    • Vineyards in the Eifel Region
    • Berchtesgaden in Beieren 

    Best hikes with kids in Europe

    4. Best hikes for kids in Luxembourg

    Believe it or not, only a couple of minutes away from Devil’s Canyon (above), you will venture into another country and find the famous Müllerthal Trail in Luxembourg. This trail highlights nature in its purest form! 

    Schiessentümpel Waterfall on the Müllerthal Trail 

    The Schiessentümpel Waterfall on the famous Müllerthal Trail in Luxembourg had been on our hiking bucket list for years! This romantic waterfall is the hotspot of Müllerthal. At 500 m from the waterfall, you can find small parking lot. There are two ways to get to the waterfall by foot. You can follow the sidewalk, which is less adventurous. Or, you can follow the trail close to the rocks. We recommend planning your visit to the waterfall very early in the morning, or late in the afternoon. This touristy hotspot can get quite busy.

    From the waterfall, you will see signs for different trails that you can take to explore the area. All of them are well indicated. The most popular trail for families with kids is trail B2. To start this trail, we recommend parking in Berdorf, close to the Tourist Centre. From there, you easily get to the first canyon. When you go along the trail, you eventually will arrive at the highest point of the trail where you have an amazing view.

    Via Kalktüfquell to Schwartze Ernz

    If you go the other way, it will lead you to one of the most beautiful places. From the Schiessentumpel waterfall, we followed trail W7, a hike of 10km. We didn’t finish it completely and went straight to the Kalktüfquell, a source with clear water.

    From the source, you get to the beautiful decking paths of the Schwartse Ernz. Get ready for a beautiful walk between the rock formations. But don’t stop there! Next, head to the castles of Beaufort, about 15 mins from the hiking sites. There are so many treasures to visit in this area. 

    If you prefer to stay in less touristic place than Müllerthall, then look into staying at the Nature Hotel Destinature in Germany. It’s only a 20-minute drive, and you will be quiet, and relaxed while connected with nature!

    More Luxemburg hikes for kids

    If you are seeking more fun hikes with kids in Luxemburg, you should check out the following hikes:

    • Hallerbach Trail with the castle of Beaufort 
    • Obersauer starting in Esch-sur-Sûre
    • Hiking along the River of Clerve 
    • Vianden at the river the Our

    Hiking four European countries in one trip

    We hope this post has inspired you to consider adding a few hiking trails to your next Central European vacation. Of course, you can always explore Europe in the classic way by hopping from city to city, but we highly recommend getting off the beaten path (or onto another kind of beaten path) and adding some nature to your trip! Each of these places are a bit less known and will give you an unforgettable holiday outdoors, connecting with your family and nature. 

    Best hikes in BelgiumHave you ever been hiking in Europe?

    About the author

    Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago, they moved to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her 2 girls are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. She loves seeing life through the eyes of her little ones, which lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring, and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them. 

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
    RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
    Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com

  • CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING

    Adventuring as a Solo Mom

    Here at Run Wild My Child, we’re big fans of moms! We genuinely believe moms can do just about anything they put their minds to. We want to help moms make the most of their time with their kids and make it easier to get outside and make memories together in nature. One of the best ways to do that is through solo adventures with kids. We know that having another parent/adult around might make adventuring easier, but we can do hard things, and moms shouldn’t have to wait for their partner before adventuring with kids. Today, Tine Voeten, Belgian mom of two, is here sharing her most recent solo mom adventure with her daughters. She’s sharing the tips she learned for traveling with kids solo while exploring Belgium in search of spring blossoms. She just might convince you to try a solo mom adventure with your kids. 

    Adventure mom

    Solo mom adventures

    Whether you are married/co-parenting or not, at times, we moms find ourselves parenting solo. Whether you’re solo parenting full-time or part-time, because of divorce, your partner’s demanding work schedule, deployment, choice, or other circumstances, you can still have amazing adventures with your kids. Adventuring on your own solo with your kids might sound overwhelming and scary, but I’m here to assure you that you can do it! It may not go perfectly (it won’t), but your solo mom adventure will be a fantastic bonding experience with your children and make you feel more confident and comfortable in your parenting skills. 

    Seeking adventure may not be on your priority list when you’re solo parenting. But it should be! Let me take you along on my most recent solo-mom adventure, which started with chasing pretty spring flowers and ended with us going on our first campervan trip ever, heading for the blossoms in Dutch Zeeland! It was terrific and something we’ll remember forever, but I will assure you, it didn’t go exactly as planned! 

    My solo mom spring experience

    This past March, my husband went to the U.S. to visit his family for nine weeks. It was the first time that I was alone with the girls for such a long time. So here you have it, a solo-mom seeking adventure! As a family, we are very active and love to explore. We didn’t want my husband’s absence to slow us down or keep us from doing fun outdoor activities. I made a plan for the whole nine weeks, with tons of fun adventures and some time to slow down at home, too.

    Springtime in our area is magical, with all the spring blossoms and tulips. I knew I would make the girls happy to go see them, so I planned some time to visit our nearby blossom fields. However, I forgot that looking for blossoms or flowers in spring can be tricky since it often depends on the weather. The weather in Belgium and Holland can be very unpredictable and unstable, especially during springtime! One day it is 70°C and sunny; the next day, it snows! 

    Apple blossom
    Apple Blossom in Minderhout, Belgium

    Spring blossoms in Belgium

    The first solo mom adventure I planned was to see spring blossoms in the beautiful region of Limburg in Belgium. If you ever get to visit Belgium, you should definitely explore this area! This region has so many child-friendly, nature-based tours of art and culture. Plus, it boasts some of the most beautiful fields and forests. It is a special region where you get the sense of time slowing down and life just flows at you. It might sound crazy, but you should experience it for yourself! 

    Unfortunately, a visit to the blossom fields didn’t work out for us due to weather. So, what does a mom do best? Postpone and change plans! Weather conditions didn’t keep us from going on an adventure! We visited some amazing museums, had fun at an indoor playground, went to the forest, and took off for a shopping afternoon. Not exactly what we had in mind (and we were disappointed), but we made the most out of our experience and still managed to have fun.  This probably sounds familiar to a lot of moms! Solo mom adventures require a lot of flexibility!

    Family Fun

    Moms can do hard things

    I will tell you a secret. I have an enormous urge to prove that I can do everything alone. Do you have this feeling too? I used to hate asking for help. I was upset with myself when I was overwhelmed but would never admit that I couldn’t do everything on my own. 

    I have learned throughout this past year that this is a foolish way of thinking, especially for a mom. My children benefit more from a mom who can regularly ask for help (and graciously receive it) and is more relaxed than a mom who is often exhausted, easily stressed out, and nervous all the time. I’m getting better at asking for help when I need it, which means my children get a better version of me. 

    Setting a solo mom mission

    However, there are times when moms need to do everything on their own. And solo mom adventures with your kids are the perfect time to prove to yourself that you can do hard things! It’s not about proving to myself how much work and pressure I can handle, it’s about me discovering how much fun I can have by myself with the girls. I also wanted to show that solo moms can seek adventure with kids in all kinds of fun ways completely on my own! 

    So, we came up with an adventure plan and this is what we did! The mission of the weekend: enjoying our first campervan trip ever, looking for the most beautiful blossom fields on the coastline of Holland. 

    Cherry Blossom Zoo of Antwerp
    Famous cherry blossom in the Zoo of Antwerp, Belgium

    Solo mom adventure in a campervan

    For our camping adventure, we rented the most beautiful and practical Hymer Campervan with a sleeping roof from Rent and Away. The sleeping roof takes your experience to the next level and it’s a true campervan escape. Traveling by campervan through Europe has been on my bucket list for years and I’m so proud of myself for taking on this adventure by myself with my girls. I think it proved to all of us just how capable we are of adventuring! 

    Seeing Europe in a campervan

    If you are ever traveling in Central Europe and you love exploring with a campervan, I advise you to start in Belgium! Get your well-equipped campervan from Rent and Away, which is run by a beautiful young family. Jo and An will make sure you will have everything you need for an unforgettable stay in Europe and take great care of you. We had the best experience with them.

    Start your adventure by exploring Belgium – its such a beautiful country and conveniently located in central Europe. Drive south, passing through Luxembourg and France. Next, you can head further southeast to Spain or Portugal, or southwest to Italy via Switzerland. Both are amazing options! If these itineraries don’t inspire (although, how could they not?), you can also head up north, via the Netherlands to Scandinavia, passing through Denmark to magical Scandinavia. And I didn’t even mention how beautiful Croatia, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia are! There are so many possibilities! 

    Hymer Campervan - solo mom adventures with kids in a campervan
    Hymer Campervan with sleeping roof

    Solo mom campervan adventure starts here

    Unfortunately, none of the above exotic multi-country trips were on our agenda, as we only had a weekend to travel. But that’s ok! Again, we made the most out of the time we had and had a wonderful time adventuring a bit closer to home.

    We started out in Herzele, a beautiful municipal in the province of East-Flanders. An and Jo and their two lovely daughters welcomed us into their beautiful domain of Rent And Away. The perfect start for any mom seeking adventure. They are such a lovely family that loves adventuring, and this shows in their vans. You notice instantly that they have thought about every little detail. These vans are the perfect family (and solo-mom) traveling vehicles.

    After a very complete and thorough tour in the van with all the necessary explanations, we were ready to go!  Since it was already nightfall when we got going, we opted to stay there and spend our first night in the van in Herzele. This way, we could leave early in the morning and go and search for flowers in the beautiful nature of Zeeland. The girls were so proud of their campervan. The only thing they weren’t very fond of at first was the indoor toilet. But I can guarantee you, it was an incredible luxury to have our mobile toilet with us! 

    Rent And Away domain

    Chasing blossoms in Dutch Zeeland

    Heading on to the Dutch coast, we made plenty of stops for picnicking and taking some beautiful pictures. I was surprised at how easy it was to park with the Hymer campervan. The size of this van is so compact that you will always find a spot to park. For a van with a kitchen, shower, toilet, table space, and sleeping space for four people, that’s pretty incredible! 

    The only thing we didn’t find were the blossom fields! I completely miscalculated my route and trusted on faith and luck to find one. We did not. However, instead of being stressed out about it, we just went with the flow, drove to a destination called Cadzand, and enjoyed the beach for a couple of hours. It was not what we planned, but it worked out for the best! The girls completely forgot about the flowers and enjoyed the trip. They were so proud of their campervan that I could have taken them to an industrial zone to run around and they wouldn’t care! 

    Mills in Cadzand - exploring Europe with kids in a campervan
    Mill in Cadzand, the Netherlands

    We stayed for the night at a camping area of an asparagus farm in Ede, where they also grow blueberries. No flowers, no blossom, but instead a beautiful area with a playground and an incredible quietness. No need to seek adventure. We had a crazy fun night on the campervan’s sleeping roof after an amazing sunset. 

    Sunset in Ede - solo mom adventure in a campervan
    Sunset in Ede, the Netherlands

    Embracing a change in plans

    So, what about the flowers? Well, we just had to let go of this idea for the weekend and make the most of the other moments. Once I was able to let go of my expectations and follow the speed of the children, everything got easier and felt less stressful. When adventuring as a solo mom, sometimes even the best laid plans just don’t work out and the best way to stay calm and have fun is to embrace the change.

    I planned our trip with only one destination in mind, the Dutch coastline, which left us a lot of room for flexibility. And this is key when you travel with kids. I don’t believe you can push children too much in what you want to do with them. You can dream of climbing a mountain during your trip. But even if you only get halfway, you also can still have an amazing experience.

    Cadzand-Bad
    Cadzand-Bad in the Netherlands

    Trust yourself and your kids

    One of the most important things you learn from doing solo mom adventures with your kids is to trust yourself and your parenting abilities. Pulling off a solo adventure (even if it goes wrong), is empowering! Every time you adventure with your kids, you strengthen that “mommy muscle” and want to see what else you can do.

    Plus, adventuring with your kids also makes you trust your children more. I believe that kids are able to do more than they (or most grownups) think. Kids are very capable if we let them be, and solo adventuring sometimes means that they have to step up and help out more. This is a great opportunity for them to grow and learn. Getting them out of their comfort zone a bit and experiencing new things together will strengthen your family bonds. Together you will find the most magical moments and incredible places, without tight planning and high expectations.

    Solo Mom Adventures with kids - how to adventure on your own
    Rent and Away Campervan

    Best places to view spring blossoms in Belgium and Holland

    Since I’ve lured you here with the promise of spring flower blossoms in Belgium and Holland, here’s a short list of some of the most beautiful places to visit when you go to Belgium or Holland, each described in more detail below:

    • Rivierenhof Park – Belgium
    • Arboretum Kalmthout – Belgium
    • Hoogstraten – Belgium
    • Royal Serres – Belgium
    • Hallerforest – Belgium
    • Keukenhof in Lisse – Holland

    Magnolia blossom at Rivierenhof Park – Deurne (Belgium)

    Rivierenhof Park in Antwerp is a beautiful extended park with a digital Magnolia route to explore the magnificent Magnolia trees in the park. Even though a lot of these trees are still young here (and thus relatively small), there are some larger trees spread around the park with big gorgeous blooms. I even found one with a low-hanging branch to sit on!

    If you want to practice some camera skills in order to capture your adventure and tell your story, this is the perfect spot! You will find other blossoms and flowers as well here, like cherry blossoms and daffodils. So this park is definitely a must-visit if you want to experience spring in Belgium.

    Bloom period: mid-March – mid-April

    Blossom in Rivierenhof, Antwerp
    Rivierenhof, Antwerp

    Arboretum Kalmthout (Belgium)

    The garden of Arboretum Kalmthout is one of the most impressive gardens in the North of Belgium. The arboretum, as the name refers to, is a sum of different trees and plants that were all planted with a scientific purpose. Research is always ongoing in the park, and it results in a beautiful scenery of vegetation. During blossom season, you can find colorful flowers everywhere.

    Bloom period: April-May

    Easter Blossom Arboretum Kalmthout
    Easter Egg Hunt in Arboretum Kalmthout

    Blossom route in Hoogstraten (Belgium)

    Hoogstraten is a city in Belgium famous for its strawberries and beautiful hikes between the prairies. Most people don’t know that during the blossom time, they have beautiful routes to follow between the apple trees, blueberries fields, and pear and cherry flowers. This hike of 9km takes you through magnificent areas where you don’t find anything else but nature and quietness. It’s amazing! 

    Bloom period: Beginning of April through the first week of May

    Apple Blossom
    Apple Blossom in Hoogstraten, Belgium

    Royal Serres in Brussels (Belgium)

    Once a year, when the flowers and trees are blooming, the king and queen open the doors of their Royal Garden for visitors. You can walk through the ancient park used by all Belgian Kings and Queens. At the end of this route, you enter the Royal Serres with many tropical flowers and trees.

    Opens to the public: three weeks in April

    Royal Serres Belgium
    Royal Serres Belgium

    Hallerforest in Halle

    Once a year, some of the Belgian forests turn completely purple thanks to the purple hyacinths that bloom from mid-April till the first weeks of May. This, of course, depends on the weather. When the weather is warmer, the hyacinths bloom more. But, the sun also makes the leaves of the trees grow faster. This robs the flowers from the light. Without sunlight, the small flowers disappear.

    Bloom period: mid-April through the first weeks of May

    Hallerbos Belgium - best places in Belgium to find spring blossoms
    Hallerforest Belgium

    Keukenhof in Lisse

    The most beautiful flower park in the Netherlands is het Keukenhof in Lisse, the North of Holland. Here you will find a colorful show of all kinds of flowers. Each and every year, you will find different creations and art pieces made of flowers. The park is located in between the tulip fields of Lisse. During this time of the year, you will find tulip fields all over.

    Opens to the public: mid-March through mid-May

    Keukenhof Lisse
    Keukenhof Lisse, the Netherlands

    Flower fields and more

    These are just a couple of places to visit in Belgium and the Netherland, but we have many more during spring. Too much to see in one season! But it is so worth visiting these two countries during this colorful season. Check out the website of Kids del Mundo for more adventures in Europe!

    Solo mom adventure? Yes, you can!

    So, to all of you strong women that want to go on more adventures with your kids, don’t stop going outdoors with your kids just because you don’t have someone to adventure with! You can do it! Solo mom adventures are empowering and powerful! Your kids will love seeing you being brave and courageous. It’ll plant seeds for them to grow up as independent girls and boys, too!

    Just remember: Start with a plan on what to do, but don’t be afraid to let go of the idea of how to get there! Embrace the change and be flexible. You might just find an even better adventure! You can do hard things, mama! Let your inner child come out and play, sing and dance with the kids! They will love it, and you will too!

    Have you ever taking your kids on a solo mom adventure?

    About the author

    Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband, soulmate, and the father of her two girls while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago they moved back to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her kids are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. Having kids added a big value to her life, because seeing life through the eyes of her little ones lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them. 

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
    RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
    Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com

  • CRAFTS, HOLIDAYS, WINTER

    Holiday Candle Making with Kids

    As December peaks, we’re getting closer and closer to the holidays. If you’re looking for a fun, easy to make, nature-inspired gift idea, we have a great one! Today, Creative Team member Tine Voeten, Belgian mom of two, shares one of her family’s favorite holiday traditions – candle making! She’ll walk us through the process of how to make your own holiday candle with kids to light up your home or give out as gifts. Making your own candles is a great way to recycle old candle remains, add some life to old containers, and make your home feel cozy for the holidays. We hope this post inspires you to give candle making with kids a try! 

    DIY candles with kids

    Candle making with kids

    The holidays with kids are pure magic! Being together, creating a cozy little place for our family, taking time off from work, and most of all, no stress! Ha! Not quite. When you realize you are late on buying Christmas gifts for your family, or forgot a few people on your list, there’s no need to worry. Today, I am going to show you the secret gift that will fit perfectly in the cozy ambiance of the holidays and makes everyone shine!

    Candles made by the little hands of your children are the perfect gift for everyone on your list. No doubt that grandma and granddad or your kids’ godparents will be charmed by this thoughtful and original present. Plus, holiday candle-making with kids is the perfect activity to keep your little ones busy on a cold and wet winter day!  

    The magic of candles

    The holidays without candles don’t really feel the same, don’t you think? The jumping flickering little yellow light brings joy and magic into your house. The moment I light candles around our home, my girls will be next to me asking to blow out the candles. Some invisible power just pulls them towards the light.

    I have to admit, fire really scares me. Fire can be dangerous, so please approach this activity (and anything having to do with fire) with the utmost caution. Give your kids constant reminders of fire rules and safety. When our girls were tiny, I would be the first to tell the girls to be careful and stay away from the candles. Now that they are bigger and aware of the danger we’re able to enjoy the beauty together, with a bit less stress. 

    Holiday Candle Making with kids

    The history of candles and candle making

    Candles have come a long way since their initial use. For more than 5,000 years candles were used as a source of light. Little is known about the origin, but Egyptians were already using candles in 3.000 B.C. Papyrus and beeswax were the base for these wicked candles. Worldwide different ways were found to mold candles. Ancient Chinese candles are said to be made of wax from insects combined with seeds, Japanese candles were made of wax extracted from tree nuts. In India, candle wax was made by boiling fruit of the cinnamon tree. We are very happy to see that this tradition has been kept, as cinnamon is our favorite candle scent!

    Holiday candle making safety

    Before you begin making your own candles with hot wax, we’ve got some safety groundrules to cover. Make sure you are able to make your candles in a safe location and with the proper equipment. When melting wax, I use a stable pot on our kitchen stove. Make sure you also warn your children about the heat and keep them at a distance. My girls can sit around our kitchen island nearby, so that they can see and follow the process from a safe distance. When pouring the wax, the girls kept a distance good distance to maintain safety. Take your time for this creative activity. It will take you a couple of hours for melting to decorating (and cleaning for the parents).

    Take it outside

    If you live some place where it’s warm outside (or want to try this activity in the warmer months), consider taking this project outside! You and melt your wax over a campfire or even on the grill. You can add all kinds of fun nature decoration that you find in your yard or local area. It’s a great outdoor family activity that your kids will love! 

    diy candles with kids

    How to get started making candles with kids

    Gather your materials

    DIY candle making is not only a fun and easy activity for families, it’s very gentle for your budget. You can probably find all the basic items needed for this activity in your house. When you have creative kids like mine, you probably already have a box (or 10) of craft supplies and little odds and ends. 

    All about wicks

    Some people prefer to buy wicks, but you don’t have to. We just used the cotton twine we had in the house, which worked perfectly. Purchased wicks come in different types and sizes. The types are flat braid, square braid, metal core, and paper core. The sizes are small, medium, and large diameter. The larger or longer-burning the candle, the larger diameter the wick.

    Candle molds

    There are a variety of cacle molds available for purchase, but you certainly don’t ned to buy anything for this project. You can make candle molds from things you find around your kitchen, such as wax-coated fruit juice cans, milk cartons, canning jars, paper cups, and various empty food containers. Even shells or empty fruit shells make great containers. This is a great way to give some of those soon to be discared/recycled items a bit more life! We just love recycling! Check out for more recycling ideas with kids.

    Candle scents

    There are a variety of additives to make stylish, trendy, deliciously scented candles. I am a major fan of natural ingredients like cinnamon and dried herbs, and fruits. You can use a few drops of your favorite essential oil or even purchase specific scented oils specially made for candles and other products (soap, shampoos, etc.). 

    Holiday Candle Making with kids

    Candle making supplies:

    • Leftovers of used candles or old candles
    • Glass jar (or other candle mold)
    • Toilet paper rolls/Pringles tubes/milk cartons/etc
    • Solid cotton string, twice or wick
    • Accessories: glitter, beads, dried flowers, herbs or fruits, cinnamon sticks, spices, oils
    • Wooden stick or pencil
    • Scissors
    • A double boiler (you can create one using two pots of a different size)

    Holiday Candle Making with kids

    Making candles in a glass jar

    1. Fill the biggest pot of a double boiler with just enough water that the small pot doesn’t float around. Add water to the pot if it evaporates. Don’t let it boil down. Melt the wax in the top double boiler pot. 
    2. Decorate your jar from the inside before putting the wax in. My girls put glitter inside. We used a paper napkin with glitter glue to transfer it to the glass (a paintbrush would also work great). You could also decorate the inside with dried flowers or coffee beans or whatever you think is pretty. This is where your kids’ imagination gets to shine!
    3. Cut a length of wick and dip it in the wax a few times to coat. Wrap the wick around the wooden stick or pencil and roll it until it’s the right length for the mold you choose.
    4. When the wax is melted, use a potholder to pour it into the mould, holding it at an angle and pouring the wax down the side. Set aside some of the melted wax for later.
    5. Put the wick in the exact middle of the mold. We used different colors, so the wick was already in there after the first layer.
    6. Let it cool for about an hour. (If you’re impatient like us, you can put the jars outside to cool.)
    7. Reheat the leftover wax. Fill in the holes in the candle around the wick wherever needed by pouring wax up to the original fill line. Repeat as necessary until filled.

    We worked in layers to get a different effect. This means repeating the steps above several times. Each time we added a layer, we had to wait until the previous one is hard enough. It takes a little bit more patience, but the result is fantastic.

    DIY Holiday candles with kids

    Making candles in a tube

    The steps for making a candle in a tube (paper towel roll or toilet paper roll) or other removable mold are slightly different. Melt the wax as described above, but instead of decorating a glass jar, you’ll need to prep your tube.

    Use a straight/flat surface (like the lid of a jar) and put the mould on top. We used an empty toilet paper roll and a pickle jar lid. Pour a bit of melted wax on the lid and inside the mould and let it cool so that it’s connected and won’t leak. Now, as you continue the candle making process (as described above), the wax will not leak out when you fill the mold. Once your candle is completely made to the fill line and hardened, you peel the paper tube off the wax to reveal your beautiful candle! 

    The fun thing about this kind of candle is that you can decorate the candle once the mold is removed. You can use special wax deco pens or just add fun decorations like sequins or stamps. Your children will love creating their own personal candle!

    DIY Holiday Candles for kidsHoliday Candle Making with kids

    Keep the candle making going

    There are so many different ways of making candles. So one piece of advice I can give you for the next couple of weeks: don’t throw away your candle leftovers! Ask your friends and family to keep their for you as well, so you can make your own candles from time to time. It’s a great way to connect with your children. That way, instead of buying new candles (and spending money), you can recycle your candle remains and make your house shine again! 

    Have you ever made your own candles? 

    About the author

    Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband, soulmate, and the father of her two girls while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago they moved back to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her kids are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. Having kids added a big value to her life, because seeing life through the eyes of her little ones lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them. 

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
    RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
    Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com

  • GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Garbage Collecting, Recycling, and Sustainability for Kids

    Teaching our kids about the importance of taking care of our planet is one of the most important things we can do as parents. It can be scary to think of the state of the planet that we’re leaving to them. But there are lots of ways to get them involved, to lead by example, and to help them understand the importance of their actions. Today, Tine Voeten, Belgian mom of two, is here sharing tips for garage collecting, recycling, and sustainability for kids. She’s included two fun hands-on science experiments to teach kids about weather and the effects of climate change, as well as ways to get kids involved in recycling, and crafty ways to reuse waste. 

    Garbage collection

    Talking to children about the environment

    What crazy summer weather we all had, don’t you agree? All over the world, we have seen the results of climate change in the form of wildfires, record heat waves, drought, mudslides, and more. Environmental activism and climate change are quite heavy topics for kids. Nevertheless, raising awareness about our planet and what’s happening to nature is important for children.

    And while these conversations are important and can sound intimidating, they don’t have to be dull and serious. There are plenty of ways to make learning about our planet (and all the ways we can help it) easy for kids to understand. Today, we’re going to discuss how you can make climate change, recycling, and garbage collection fun topics to talk about with your kids. 

    Talk to your kids about recycling 

    One of the easiest and most entertaining ways is to bring up conversations around climate change and how our behavior influences nature is by talking about recycling (and by the act of recycling). Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling is important because it prevents further pollution and reduces the need to harvest new raw materials. Recycling can make a huge difference to our environment, our quality of life, and our future. It also saves energy and money, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and allows products to be used to their fullest extent.

    Small actions make a big impact

    The first place to start is in your own home. Small changes in our everyday life can make a big impact. There are a wide range of materials that can be recycled through your curbside recycling program. These consist of obvious materials, including paper and glass, as well as less obvious materials, including most forms of metal, and even food. Knowing and understanding what can be recycled in your area, as well as properly sorting your recyclables is important in ensuring that the items in your recycling bin actually make it to your local recycling center, don’t slow down or burden the system, and in time, actually get turned into something new. 

    Just because you’re starting small doesn’t mean that your efforts are useless. Your actions will change more than you think. But, also try to think big with your kids. Look for ways to get them involved in the process and take ownership over their eco-friendly actions. One way to do this is to go on a garbage collection mission with the kids! Outdoor clean-up projects are the perfect way to talk to your kids about the importance of recycling, how imperative it is to live by “leave no trace” rules, and spend time outside together. 

    Waste picking with kids

    10 facts on recycling and waste

    Before we get to the fun part of garbage collection with kids we should talk about what effect mankind already has on the climate. Here are 10 facts on recycling and waste that you can use to teach kids about the importance of reducing our footprint and making sustainable changes.

    • One-third of the produced food is thrown in the garbage
    • A variety of raw materials including paper, plastic, metal, glass, electronics, and textiles can be recycled
    • Aluminum can be recycled forever without any loss of quality
    • If you throw away your aluminum cans, they can stay in that can form for up to 500 years or more
    • Half a million trees have to be cut down just to produce the Sunday newspaper each week
    • Every minute forests the size of 20 football fields are cut down
    • The average family uses 6 trees worth of paper each year
    • Glass can be recycled over and over again
    • Our plastic waste created a gigantic ‘plastic soup’ in the Pacific Ocean that’s 1.6 million square kilometers (which is twice the size of Texas)
    • More than 1,200 species of fish and sea mammals are impacted by plastic, through ingestion or entanglement (both which can make them sick or kill them)

    Garbage collection with kids

    Inspiring change through hands-on learning

    Giving them facts and info about our planet and consumption is one thing, but how do we inspire our littles ones to take action that will help make a difference? How can we teach them about taking care of our planet in a tangible way that will produce real results for the right reason? 

    We can start by showing them exactly how the climate works and what our effects are on the environment. Kids learn best by doing, by playing, by being a part of the action. Science experiments are one way that we like to teach our daughters about the world around us. Below, I’ll walk you through two cool experiments you can do with your kids at home to produce a cloud and demonstrate the effects of global warming on the ice caps.  Both these experiments are interactive and creative ways to teach kids about weather and climate with hands-on science experiments. 

    Garbage collection with kids

    Experiment 1 – Creating clouds

    Our first hands-on science experiment is to create clouds! Most kids are disappointed when they realize that clouds aren’t made of cotton candy or pillow-fluff like they’re often depicted in cartoons. Unfortunately, you can’t sit on a cloud! Clouds are made of cold water vapor that is condensed into droplets of water around dust particles. This super fun and simple science experiment will help teach your kids about the physical changes and reactions that happen as clouds form within the atmosphere. 

    All you need is:

    • Glass pot or another open container (we used a vase) 
    • Warm water
    • A match
    • A cold plate or lid to close the pot

    Instructions:

    1. Pour a layer of warm water into the glass container and stir
    2. Light a match, blow it out and quickly drop it in the water
    3. Cover with a cold plate (We used a metal lid we put in the freezer. A plate with ice will also do the trick)
    4. Watch as a cloud of water vapor is produced in the container! You can remove the plate on top to see the result even better.

    But what happens here?

    Water vapor blends with soot/dust particles coming from the match. When these particles reach the cold surface on top, it cools down and condensates and forms a cloud. The same process happens outside in real life. The only difference is that the particles mixed in the vapor can consist of anything – dust, smog, pollution, etc. are all picked up.

    This is the perfect experiment to show our children how clouds are created and formed. Don’t forget to highlight the difference between weather and climate. Weather is what we see when we get out of the house, very locally. This can change every day, and if you are lucky (as in Central-Europe) it changes every hour of the day. Our climate though is based on averages, taken over years and years and measured over bigger surfaces. 

    Garbage collection with kids

    Experiment 2 – Melting ice caps

    We’ve seen how water can be transformed from a liquid to a gas (above), now, let’s consider what happens when it’s changed from a solid (ice) to a liquid. At the North and South pole of our planet are expansive sheets of ice. This ice can have a significant impact on our entire planet’s climate. If the temperature of the air and water gets warm enough, the ice melts. And as the ice melts, water absorbs warmth from the sun (which white ice would’ve reflected back into space). The water warms, contributing to the increasing temperature of our planet. In addition, this melted freshwater can also change ocean currents, affect conditions for wildlife, and potentially contribute to extreme weather conditions. This melting ice caps experiment is easy to do, and helps demonstrate what climate change and global warming can do to our polar ice caps.

    All you need is:

    • A transparent container
    • An object to use as a piece of land in the box
    • Water
    • Ice

    Instructions:

    1. Place the ‘land’ in the box and add with some water, so that the land is not covered. 
    2. Put some ice on top of the land.
    3. Check the level of the water in the box and note how much land is not covered.
    4. Wait until the ice melts.
    5. Investigate how the water level has changed. Observe whether the water level is higher or lower. Is more land covered with water now?

    What happens here?

    The melting ice represents the ice that is melting in the arctic region (parts of Russia, parts of Alaska, Northern parts of Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, and the Arctic Ocean). It shows the impact of the level of seawater and coast communities.

    When you explain this experiment and its effects to your children, you can refer to the first experiment where warm water forms a cloud. The warmer the earth is getting, the more ice will melt, which will impact the level of the seawater.

    Warning: Don’t expect great enthusiasm immediately with this experiment. It takes some time before the ice cubes melt, as you can see in the picture below. 

    Garbage collection with kids

    Recycling and sorting waste

    Now that we know some of the science related to our planet and climate, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use with some tangible action to make a difference! Let’s start with recycling!

    The first part of recycling is to sort your waste. Separating waste in a proper and correct way is the most basic thing you could do in order to preserve the environment.  Knowing what can be recycled and what can’t in your city is essential to improving the operations of your local recycling facility, as well as ensuring that items that cannot be recycled curbside are being taken to the right place to be recycled. It may seem like a trivial thing, but this simple task actually has a significant impact on our planet.

    Categories of waste and recyclables

    Knowing what can and cannot be recycled in your area is one of the smartest things you can do to ensure that you are diverting as much of your waste from landfills as possible, while avoiding recycling contamination through proper separation. Here are the different categories of waste. Some of these categories can be recycled and others cannot.

    • Organic waste: food waste, grass, leaves, eggshells, coffee grinds, tea bags
    • Glass: white and colored glass 
    • Plastic/metal: plastic bottles, plastic packages, jars, cans
    • Paper: cardboard, paper bags, paper cups, paper
    • Toxic waste: printer ink, lightbulb, batteries, electronic waste
    • Residue: whatever doesn’t fit the others, such as used diapers, animal waste.  

    Garbage collection with kids

    What can (and cannot) be recycled?

    Recyclable items:

    • Paper including newspapers, magazines, and mixed paper
    • Cardboard
    • Glass bottles and jars
    • Rigid plastic products
    • Metal containers, including tin, aluminum, and steel cans

    Non-recyclable items:

    • Greasy paper, such as oil-soaked paper plates and pizza boxes
    • Used paper towels, tissues, and diapers
    • Broken ceramics, light bulbs, and mirrors
    • Film plastics, such as plastic bags, shrink wrap, and bubble wrap
    • Styrofoam, otherwise known as expanded polystyrene
    • Electronic waste (e-waste)
    • Construction and demolition debris, such as concrete and drywall
    • Carrier stock; the paper packaging around packs of drink cans

    Garbage collection with kids

    Getting kids involved in recycling and sorting waste

    If you separate your waste in a proper way, you can help avoid 80% of your waste from going to landfill. And this is a great place where you can get the kids involved. Give them each some chores so they can help you separate waste properly to ensure that it gets recycled.

    For example, one week, give one child the responsibility for paper waste and give another child the responsibility for organic waste. The child responsible for organic waste can use food scraps and such to add to the compost pile. We have our own compost pile and we use it to fertilize our plants in spring. The child in charge of paper waste can make sure that paper makes its way into the proper bin. That child can be in charge of disposing of (and eventually eliminating)  items such as mail, newspapers and magazines, drawings, cardboard boxes, etc. Rotate the following week. 

    Garbage collection and clean up projects with kids

    Another fantastic way to get the kids directly involved in helping out our planet is going hiking with one mission: garbage collection with kids. We bought ourselves a few waste sticks and some gloves and set out on our mission – to fill our garbage bag with waste.

    When collecting litter and trash with kids, it’s important to be safe. While the areas next to roads or highways are often some of the most polluted areas, they’re often not safe for cleaning up with little kids. Save this project for a time you can go out without the little ones in tow. 

    Instead, take the kids hiking in a forest or to a local park or nearby pond/creek. These places are much more kid-friendly and you can almost always find something to pick up (unfortunately). Collect as much trash as you can and at the end of the day, your kids will feel proud of their work and the difference they ade. The next time you go out they will be more aware of what they find along the way.

    A lot of schools organize events where they focus on garbage more and go picking in groups. These are fun, but cleaning up shouldn’t be limited to organized events. We want to make cleaning up after ourselves (and others) a habit in our children. 

    Garbage collection with kidsGarbage collection with kids

    Getting crafty with garbage

    Another way to extend the life out of items before throwing them away or recycling them is by using them in craft projects. You can create so many cool things with objects you usually throw away without even thinking twice.

    Items such as bottles, bottlecaps, rolls of toilet paper, acorns, leaves, ice cream sticks, and can tabs can all become useful in new ways. You can create a sensory game for little ones. Or let your kids create a masterpiece with these simple but beautiful tools.

    It’s amazing how happy those little ones are with their original artistic creations. From now on our kids never want us to waste another thing anymore. Even small paper wraps get reused and turned into something beautiful in this house! There is nothing the children cannot design, as long as you let them use their creativity. And the world is a better place because of this! 

    Garbage collection with kidscreative kids by recyclingGarbage collection with kidsGarbage collection with kidsArt by recycling with kids

    Making the world a better place

    It’s never too early to start talking about sustainability with your children. Adults don’t give kids enough credit – they understand more than we often realize. The more time we spend discussing these issues and leading by example, the more our children will learn. Then we’ll have a whole generation of environmental thinkers and activists coming up after us. 

    We also know there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to climate awareness, waste reduction, and recycling, amongst other environmental issues. Sustainability is a lifelong journey and one that we need to get our kids involved in. Sometimes the best way to start is, to begin with really small, manageable goals. One thing at a time. Take your time and continue your journey by making the next best choice. If you’d like some additional help with making small (but very important and impactful) eco-friendly changes in your house and life, check out our Earth Day Action Guide. 

    How do you get your kids involved in recycling and sustainability?

    About the author

    Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband, soulmate, and the father of her two girls while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago they moved back to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her kids are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. Having kids added a big value to her life, because seeing life through the eyes of her little ones lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them. 

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
    RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
    Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com

  • CRAFTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    Squirt Gun Painting with Kids

    Summer has arrived and this means even more outdoor fun activities with our little ones! But, what to do with our creative little ones? The ones who want to create, draw, paint the entire day? Arts and crafts are great for creative kids, but sometimes art activities can tend to keep your little ones indoors more often than you’d like. If you are looking for a fun way to combine art and some family fun outside, look no further. Today, Creative Team member Tine Voeten, a European traveler and mother of two, is taking her kids’ art projects outside and sharing all about squirt gun painting with kids.

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    Squirt Gun Painting with Kids

    Painting is just another way of keeping a diary” – Pablo Picasso

    The fun of squirt gun painting

    Squirt gun painting is the perfect combination of two of our favorite summer activities: art and playing outside! We geared up with this combo in mind and took our squirt gun painting in the wild! Today, I’m here to share everything you need to know to get start squirt gun painting with your kids. This is a fun summer outdoor activity for kids that’s sure to entertain them for hours and make beautiful memories. 

    Why painting is healthy?

    Everybody knows that the act of painting is relaxing. But, did you know that painting has many advantages to improve mental health and overall quality of life? Here’s a quick reminder of the benefits of painting:

    • Painting stimulates creative growth. Not only creative people should paint. By painting, less creative people can stimulate their creative growth. Practice and focus allow people, young or old, to learn creative skills.
    • It reduces stress and gives you the ability to cope with stress better.
    • Painting sharpens the mind and improves memory through conceptual visualization.
    • It cultivates emotional growth. Creating art helps kids and adults to express their emotions.
    • Creating beautiful art through painting encourages a more optimistic approach to life.
    • It builds problem-solving and helps develop fine motor skills in your child’s hands. 

    When you combine these advantages with going outdoors, this is a family activity that should be on every family’s monthly activity list! I am very sure it will become one of your top summer activities!

    Squirt Gun Painting supplies and setup

    Squirt gun painting supplies

    • Paint (tempera or liquid watercolors)
    • Water squirt guns
    • Water 
    • Funnel or a plastic bottle cut in half
    • A big piece of plastic, preferably something you can reuse afterward (optional)
    • Canvas or strong paper (poster board)
    • Painters tape (optional)

    All of your gear can be bought on a budget or repurposed from what you already have at home. We bought our squirt guns in a discount shop and they work perfectly. Same for the canvas we bought in the same shop. Everything else we already had at home. 

    Squirt Gun Painting - summer outdoor activities for kids

    What kind of paint to use for squirt gun painting?

    You can use either tempera paint or liquid watercolor paint for squirt gun painting with kids. Both work just fine. However, I wanted to make sure our materials were all safe to use outdoors and easy to clean up. We opted for tempera paint, the most common natural, and child-friendly paint. Another advantage parents will appreciate is that it is easily washable from clothes and skin. Our choice was made! 

    Best squirt guns for painting

    You don’t need fancy squirt guns for squirt gun painting. Actually, you probably want to go as cheap as possible on these because the paint may end up rendering them unusable for regular squirt gun play (although, we had no problem washing the paint out completely). We choose inexpensive squirt guns from a discount shop and they worked great for our purposes. Try to find ones with an easy trigger for your kids, especially if they’re really little. If you don’t want to have to wash out your squirt guns between each color, get a variety pack of squirt guns so that each squirt gun can contain its own color. 

    How to set up your Squirt Gun Painting area

    Squirt gun painting set up

    Here’s the step-by-step tutorial on squirt gun painting with kids that covers everything you need to know to make this the most fun summertime outdoor art activity for kids.

    Step 1: Prepare your squirt gun painting area

    Protect your yard and nature

    Whether you are water squirt gun painting in your own garden or on location (in the woods, on a hike), you may like to cover some of the delicate areas for paint drops. If you’re concerned about the paint staining or ruining a surface, you may want to take this activity onto the grass or protect the area under/behind the canvas with a large tarp or sheet of reusable plastic. Also, prepare a small table with a cover to put guns and paint down whenever you need to reload, without making a complete mess. And believe me, the first load of paint goes fast, thanks to the enthusiasm of our young ones.

    Decide how to hang your canvas

    If you have an outdoor easel, you can use it for the best result. You can also hang your canvas on the fence, a tree (like we did), or even just prop it up a bit.

    Find the perfect squirt gun art location

    We decided to go to a forest we love so much, located very near to our home. We took our water squirt gun painting gear with us as the sun was setting with the goal: create squirt gun paint art and have a blast! All packed with a bag full of guns, paint, another bucket of water, and a blanket/plastic to cover our work area, we took our chance to catch the most beautiful moment of the day. 

    Be prepared

    We prepared extra paint and water in case the guns would empty fast. At home, all of our materials were ready to use. In the forest, we had to be a bit more creative when it came to setting everything up. In the end we put everything on a blanket in close range. It was perfect! 

    Best Squirt Guns for PaintingBest paint to use for squirt gun painting

    Step 2: Fill your water guns with paint

    Once your area is set up for painting, you’ll want to make the paint and fill your squirt guns. We recommend using a funnel to help get the paint into the squirt guns to cut down on the spill and mess. You can also use plastic baggies to mix/make the paint and then snip off a corner and squeeze/squirt the paint into the gun. If the plastic stopper hinders your efforts, cut it off and then recap the squirt gun once the paint is in. Shake your guns well before using.

    How to make squirt gun paint

    Start with basic tempera paint. You’ll want to dilute your paint so that it’s not super thick and squirt/runs better on the canvas. The paint should be a 50/50 split between paint and water. You can either fill the squirt gun with the paint and then added water and shake it up. Or, you can mix the paint and water together (before putting it into the squirt gun) in a cup to get the right consistency. Either way works just fine! Use a funnel when pouring paint into the squirt gun.

    Squirt Gun Painting

    Step 3:  Squirt on the canvas

    Once your water squirt guns are ready the game is on! Make sure every child has enough space to squirt his or her own canvas. And let them squirt all over. They will love it! The little artists can paint at close range, a technique that is easier for our younger kids. This gives a great effect on the canvas and on the child!

    If your children know how to use the water gun, they can stay further away and fire paint across the garden.

    When all the squirt gun painting is complete, let the canvas dry outside or in a safe space overnight (or until the paint is fully dry to the touch). Then bring it in to hang on the wall or give as a gift!

    Different ways of squirt gun painting

    There are so many fun and different ways to paint with squirt guns. There’s no right or wrong way to do it! Just have fun and create! Here are a few different ideas to get your creative juices flowing. 

    • Painting on the canvas with only a squirt gun (no attributes or anything else)
    • Relief painting with tape and stickers – Add forms and figures on top of the canvas to create fun art when they’re removed. For example, use painter’s tape to make a shape or the first letter of your child’s name on a canvas. When the paint is dry, you can remove the stickers or tape gently. This results in the greatest birthday gifts for grandparents! 
    • One child standing in the front of the painting to squirt a silhouette. Canvas and paper might be too small, but this is great fun with a white sheet! Oh, and don’t forget to put on some play clothes, ready to get dirty! 

    how to paint with a squirt gun

    Paint and create – watch the fun unfold

    That focus when the children start pumping their guns! The enthusiasm when they paint squirts out of the guns onto the canvas! The astonishment of how fast the paint squirts onto it and the beauty of the colors when they spatter and drip all over the fabric! This is such an amazing activity for kids. My girls just couldn’t get enough of it. I suppose most of the time this will be the case with kids, so I advise you to bring some spare canvas with you. They wanted to create more and more! 

    Aisha, our oldest daughter was fully focussed on her art piece and kept adding layers till she was happy. Our youngest daughter, Sienna, decided to use her hand to let the colors blend even more. In the end, when she noticed there wouldn’t be any contrast on her painting, she decided to paint her nose instead! They were having so much fun! 

    Squirt Gun Painting tips and adviceoutdoor nature crafts and art projects for kids

    Squirt gun painting trial and error

    I have to admit, we first did a try-out of our squirt gun painting before we got it right. Doing a trial run (not on your canvas) is a step I highly recommend. First of all, it is just so much fun, so the extra squirt gun painting was entertaining. But also, this activity does require a bit of preparation (as we needed to find a spot in the woods to do this), so I’m glad we tried it out at home before hitting the trail with our gear. 

    We powered up in the garden and measured how much paint and water needed to be added to get the best result. Our trial check let us know that we added too much water the first time. This resulted in very pale-colored paint drops that didn’t even stick to the canvas at all. If this happens to you, no worries, you can always add more paint on the spot, if you bring your funnel and paint to your own outdoor art studio. 

    Clean up time

    But exactly as it is at home, after the fun comes clean-up! In the forest, we made sure everything was in the same conditions as when we arrived there. We had enough water in the bucket to clean the paint in the area. All plastic we brought to the painting fiesta we of course took back home. Nothing was left behind. 

    And what did we win from this adventure? Lots of fun and in total four amazing paintings from the greatest artists in the house! 

    Squirt Gun Painting - art projects for kids

    Have you ever squirt gun painted with your kids? 

    About the author

    Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband, soulmate, and the father of her two girls while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago they moved back to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her kids are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. Having kids added a big value to her life, because seeing life through the eyes of her little ones lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them. 

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
    RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
    Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com