In today’s world where most kids spend their time indoors with gadgets or playing video games, it is essential that they have time in their activities that would allow them to go out. Staying outdoors also helps in avoiding screens as well as benefiting from exercises and creativity plus enhancing a pro nature attitude. In any case, be it for keeping your children busy or in order to have fun, outdoor activities are perfect for that end. 

Here is a list of creative and enjoyable outdoor activities that children will enjoy.

Fun Outdoor Activities

Following are some fun outdoor activities that you can opt for. 

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Here is your nature scavenger hunt for kids which makes them look around the environment while they learn what they already know. Make them a checklist of what they should look for like leaves, rocks, bugs or flowers etc. You can go even further and make it an educational process, where they will have to point at the items they saw or find interesting facts about the items. This activity can be done in your own backyard, in a park, or hiking down a nature trail.

Obstacle Course

One of the best ways of incorporating games from the list and exercising the children is to create an obstacle course. Assuming such an activity is carried out in a children’s home or a children’s party, here are some ideas to apply; They include; cones, ropes, and hula hoops among others. Lay the cones in a way that forms sequential lanes and have the children run/jump/crawl/balance their way through them. You can make it as basic or as complicated as you wish depending on the children’s age and development. If you need your child to become more coordinated and agile while refining his or her problem solving skills, then an obstacle course will do just that and more; children can be kept busy for hours on end.

Bike Riding

Bike riding can be said to be one of the oldest exercises that are done out in the open. Whether your child is still practising the use of the bicycle or is already a professional one, biking is a great opportunity to go outside the home, to have more muscles to use and of course, to hone balance. It can be a simple bike ride in the neighbourhood or around the compound, going for a bike trail, or even encouraging the children for a mini bike race. Just make sure safety is kept intact by ensuring that the child wears a helmet and follows basic traffic laws.

Outdoor Art and Crafts

Here, creativity must be added to nature – create an art station outside. Some resources include; papers on which the children can draw and paint, paints, markers, natural objects such as leaves, twigs, rocks etc. They may also be guided to do some art through making of leaf rubbings, painting of rocks or sculpting with objects that they see around. Besides, this activity affects creativity and allows the child not only to get acquainted with the natural environment but also in an interesting way.

Gardening

One cannot underestimate the fact that gardening is such an effective way to teach young children about the environment, chores and patience. Make your kids engage in planting flowers, vegetables or even herbs in your compound or in pots. Allow them to apply water to greenery; let them, in addition, pull out the thorns and observe as whatever they sow turns into something of beauty or food value. Gardening also has an added advantage of enabling one to learn about plant life processes and the care of the environment and the pleasure of cultivating one's meals.

Hiking and Exploring

Outdoor exercise in the form of hiking for instance is always a wonderful way to achieve fitness as well as adventure. Select a local trail or any nature reserve that is within your proximity and accompany your kids for a nature walk and urge the children to explore the surroundings. You can make the hike informative by pointing out the various species of flora and fauna or pass on best practices and regulations when on a hike. Hiking as a form is also very successful in promoting the concept of adventure while at the same time enhancing the individuals awareness of the environment.

Water Play

At a glance Children enjoy water games during summer since most activities can be undertaken outdoors when the weather is hot. Organise some meals with a burst of water for the kids by setting up a sprinkler, water balloon or a kiddie pool in the backyard. If the weather is hot you can go swimming in a lake, beach or in a pool. If you are living in an apartment or a housing society where there is a pool then swimming is another good way to enjoy and be active. Besides, cooling, water play also contributes to the child’s motor development as well as the improvement of coordination.

Outdoor activities therefore apart from being entertaining are very healthy for children, their body, mind and soul. In addition to promoting your kids to go out in the sun, you are creating a bond that links them to the environment and an opportunity for them to learn some skills. Whether it’s going for a walk, doing art, or going on a hike, there are so many fun things to do outdoor. Therefore, pack your sun lotion and go out and get occupied with these exciting outdoor activities for kids and run.