Familymatters2me’s Weblog

Outdoor play can unleash your child’s imagination, strengthen his/her body and foster a love of nature.

Outdoor play encourages discovery and exploration.  It builds relationships with both biological and social communities.  Children get all the health benefits of exercise, along with the benefits of character building during play.  I know it is tough to get kids outside these days.  How do we get them to turn off the TV and the video games?  Sure parents worry about potential hazards outside, streets to cross and unknowns to encounter.  BUT think of the possibilities, trails to create, animals tracks to find and all the stuff you kids will learn from nature.  I have some suggestions that will help you get your child connected with nature.

Take indoor toys outside: Take stuffed animals for a wagon ride, or baby for a bike ride.  Maybe Barbie would like to go on a safari or to the beach.  Use your imagination along with your child’s and you will be surprised what adventures you can come up with.

Start a nature collection: See what you can find.  Look for things like feathers and see if you can figure out which birds they are from.  Look for empty nest.  Identify the different types of leaves.  I have a collection of dragon flies.

Think outside the lawn: Get the neighborhood kids to want to come play at your house.  Have something special like a tree house or fort.   Kids love dirt, make a dirt pile and let them dig or make a race track.

Organize a hike or a walk: Find a path or a park around where you live and pick a day to explore, invite other children and parent to come along.

Discover the hidden creatures: Learn about the animals that live near you.  Turn over a brick or a rock, what did you find?  Go out to the garden and look under leafy plant.  Watch something may jump out at you.

Limit Screen Time: Computers, TVs, and Video games keep us from the outdoors.

Then there is the normal everyday outside stuff: Ride a bike, skateboarding, rollerskating, sidewalk chalk. jump rope, ball games, should I go on….

GET OUTSIDE!