Are your kids bouncing off the walls? Here are 4 ways to engage them outside.
With COVID-19 upending so many schedules, many families are feeling the stress of trying to keep their children active and learning while balancing other responsibilities. Luckily, spring has come, and there are many great ways to get kids outside and playing.
Playing outside has tons of benefits: it improves motor skills, builds imaginative thinking and spacial awareness, and cuts down depression and anxiety. Remember, the most important part of outside play is simply to do it. It doesn’t have to look perfect! But getting kids outside has so many benefits—for families as well as the kids—that it’s worth it to try and send them outside every day.
If you’re a family in need of some outdoor play ideas, slather everyone in sunscreen and get outside to try one of these ideas:
1. Make a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk
This is a classic outdoor standby, and with good reason. It’s cheap, easy, and it can be done in a variety of locations. Feel free to simply hand over the chalk and let the kids go wild with it. Or, if they need more structure, consider creating a Drawing Idea Jar: fill an old shoe box or coffee can with drawing ideas written on small slips of paper (such as "draw a rainbow," "draw a cat," etc.). When your child needs inspiration, have them pick an idea out of the Idea Jar. This is a great art lesson that builds motor skills and creativity.
2. Build a stick house.
Take a basket outside and look for fallen nature objects—sticks from trees, moss growing between the cracks on the sidewalk, branches from hedges or shrubs, etc. Fill the basket as much as you can, and when you have a decent amount of nature objects, let the kids use them to build a small stick house. Kids will get practice thinking like an engineer as they experiment with building.
3. Mud play
First, set up the area for success: dress your kids in old clothes and set out towels and any other supplies (like diapers or snacks) so they’re in easy reach. Find a good spot, unspool your hose, and make a large patch of mud. Then, let the kids have fun playing in the dirt. As a bonus, you could also give your kids some old Tupperware containers to practice scooping and building with the mud. Even babies can participate in this activity (with supervision, of course)!
4. Create a container or windowsill herb garden.
This is a great option for families without a yard of their own. Find an old, food-safe container (read more about safe containers for gardening here), punch a few holes in the bottom, and fill it with dirt. Find a sunny spot and plant it with seeds (available online.) Let your child take the lead with watering and caring for the plant. For older children, you can even create a garden journal to help them practice their writing and observation skills.