4 Tips for Getting Your Kids Outdoors More This Year

Growing up has changed a lot in recent years. In the past, growing up used to be characterized by spending the entire day outside until the sun went down, and only coming home when your mom called you in for dinner. Today, children spend their entire days inside, watching TV while simultaneously scrolling on their parent’s iPad. Technology has made great advancements in society, but a huge drawback is how reliant people have become on it. 

But just because we live in a world dominated by technology doesn’t mean your kids still can’t experience that quintessential outdoorsy childhood. You just have to think of creative ways to pull them away from their screens and get them in touch with nature. Technology is a part of our lives, but it’s necessary to find a balance between spending time on screens and spending time outside. If you want your kids to spend more time in nature, follow these 4 tips for getting your kids outdoors more this year:

1. Start Small

It’s very unlikely you’re going to tell your kids you want them to spend more time outside and they’re immediately going to jump up from their spot on the couch and run to the backyard. Instead of setting unrealistic goals, start small. Tell them they have to spend at least three hours a week outside, and work your way up from there. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

2. Entice Them with Gifts

Kids love gifts, so there’s truly no better way to get them to do something than by enticing them with new things. Get your kids excited about spending more time outside with new gifts they can play with outdoors. You can get them into baseball with a T-ball set or volleyball with a volleyball net. And let’s not forget about a reusable kids water bottle, which is an absolute necessity when doing things outside. By providing them with toys to play with and setting up fun outdoor activities, your children will likely be more tempted to spend time in nature.

3. Start a Garden

Get your kids into nature by starting a garden with them. Kids love to be given tasks to accomplish, and gardening is simple enough for them to get the hang of. You can teach them important lessons about nature, while also spending quality time with them out in the sunshine. They may also really enjoy getting to see their gardens bloom! Just make sure to start small, like with a flower growing kit.

4. Plan Outdoorsy Vacations

If you book a vacation with your family that involves a lot of outdoor activities, your kids will be forced to go on them with you. How genuis? But seriously, planning outdoorsy vacations is a great way to get your kids excited about doing activities outside. The earlier on you get them outside, going on hikes, and exploring nature, the more likely they are to continue with those habits later on in life. Doing things as a family will show your kids that the outdoors can be really fun, as long as you’re with people you love!

Living in a world with technology constantly around us shouldn’t stop you from encouraging your kids to spend quality time outside. There is nothing like spending an entire day under the sun and not looking at your phone screen once, and having experiences like that should be a part of every childhood! Follow these tips and your kids will be running to the backyard to play, without you even having to tell them first.