Doctors and other people across the internet are continually advising that children need to have less screen time and need to spend more time outside. This is easier said than done in many cases, however, due to the fears that exist in modern society and the common interests that kids have. It is important to have some tips and tricks to get your kids outside rather than just hearing people yell at you about how your children are not outside enough. If you need some tips, continue reading the information that can be found in the list that is below.
1. Think of Them First
Many parents think of what they want to do and what they think their children will enjoy before actually considering the children. Consider what the child is interested in, and make outdoor plans that concern themselves with those interests, as this may draw your child in to want to participate. If your child likes to draw and paint, for instance, take them outside to a park to paint images of your surroundings. If your child likes to build on video games or with legos, take them into the woods and allow them to create forts and treehouses. Easily enough, if your child enjoys sports, play a sport outside with them.
2. Go Camping
You do not have to go very far to go camping, and you can still give your child a sense of adventure that they crave. Consider pitching a tent in your backyard, or simply lay out a sleeping bag on your porch to sleep under the stars with your children. You could even consider taking an RV or tent to a campground for the night to travel and get away from it all. If your child complains about the RV not being comfortable, remind them of the best RV mattress available that has gel foam.
3. Take Your Child Along
After you participate in activities outside that your child enjoys, he or she will be more likely to try out the outdoor activities that you enjoy. Take them along when you go hiking or biking, or get individual tickets to a sporting event, for instance, rather than calling the babysitter as you may have normally done before. It may be frustrating at first, but your children will learn quickly and you all will get to enjoy the experience together. The activities that you do together can become a sense of a tradition together so that they continue.
4. Encourage the Fun
As soon as you have an outdoor adventure or trip in mind, start talking about it with your children so that they can get excited about it. Encourage them to help you in making plans for any adventure that you foresee doing, and show them videos and books about where you are going or about the activity you are engaging in. Let them become interested in what you are planning to do and where you are going. Children, especially. younger children will mimic your emotions about a certain situation, so be sure to keep up a positive attitude.
5. Involve Friends
The final way to get your kids to want to play outside is to invite their friends to join you in the adventures or organize play dates for your children with other parents. Meet up at a local park or at a local lake where the friends can go fishing, for instance, and let them learn and laugh together. This will build an alliance in the friendship, and it will encourage each of them to want to try new things. Children often trust their friends more than parents, especially when they are in middle school, so this is a great opportunity.
Final Thoughts
Though the world is changing before everyone’s eyes, there are still plenty of opportunities to get your children outside and to let them experience all that nature has to offer. Consider one of the tips above, take your children on outdoor trips, and encourage times that you can go camping with your family. These experiences will build memories and will help your children to understand just how enjoyable it can be to go outside rather than spend time in front of a screen inside.
