Childcare
10 Fun Activities For Kids To Spend More Time Outside
8 min | Updated on 30-03-2023 by HappyPreggie
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to stay inside for the past two years, impacting our physical and mental health. Now that the situation is improving, you ought to take your child out and give them the chance to explore the outside world they have missed. Outdoor activities are also essential for a child's development. Although it can be challenging to fit in the time for outdoor activities, you may still want to prioritise getting fresh air and having outdoor fun with your family. Staying active is also synonymous with good health; your child is more likely to grow up smart and alert. It is also an excellent method to limit your child's time attached to screens and gadgets.
(Image credits to Freepik)
When your child spends time outside, they tend to have a blast. Whether it's cycling around the neighbourhood, walking the dog, or hunting for cool rocks, there are endless fun things to do out in the fresh air. Sometimes, children will jump at the chance to play outside and develop their own ideas for physical activities. Other times, they may need a little encouragement and inspiration to get started. To make your parenting journey easier, we have listed some of the best outdoor activities you can do with your kids!
Benefits of Letting Your Child Play Outdoor
(Image credits to iStock)
Your child deserves a 'wildhood,' a space to be kids, where they can freely explore and adventure. By 'wildhood', we don't mean they need to put on a bearskin or hunt for the next meal, but simply a chance to get messy, dig in the dirt and splash in puddles. Below are some benefits your child can gain by playing outside:
I. Build Confidence
There are limitless ways to interact with outdoor environments, from your backyard to the park, hiking trail, or lake. Letting your child play outside allows them to choose how they treat nature, meaning they have the power to control their own actions. In this case, their confidence will increase as they encounter obstacles and find solutions independently.
II. Promotes creativity and imagination
This unstructured style of play also allows your child to interact with their surroundings. They can think more freely, design their own games or activities, and approach the world inventively.
III. Teaches responsibility
Living things, like plants, die if mistreated or not taken care of properly. If you teach your child to garden, thus entrusting them to take care of the living parts of their environments, they’ll learn from their mistakes if they forget to water a plant or pull a flower by its roots.
IV. Provides different stimulation
You may think that spending time with nature is less stimulating than playing video games, but nature can activate more senses - you can see, hear, smell and touch outdoor environments. If your child does not have time to spend outside, their senses may narrow, reducing the richness of the human experience.
V. Gets them moving
Most interactions with nature involve more exercising than just sitting on a couch. Getting them to play outside doesn't mean they must join the soccer team or cycle through the park. A simple walk can also get their blood pumping. This exercise is good for your little ones and can help them focus more, which is especially beneficial for kids with ADHD.
VI. Makes them think
Spending time in nature creates a unique sense of wonder that no other environment can give. The natural phenomena your child will witness in backyards and parks daily make them question the earth and the life it supports.
VII. Reduces stress and fatigue
Being in an urban environment requires directed attention, which forces us to ignore distractions and exhausts our brains. Getting your child to play outside can help them practise an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination, which creates feelings of pleasure and not fatigue.
Outdoor Activities For Your Kids To Spend Time With
Now, in no particular order, let’s see what are some of the outdoor activities your child can do!
#1 Cycling
(Image credits to iStock)
Cycling is an activity that all ages can enjoy. Mums, dads, kids, and even grandparents can take part in a family bike ride around the neighbourhood or park. It's a great way to share quality time together while keeping your child fit and healthy. Cycling may also help in boosting your child's self-confidence as they can explore the outside world independently.
#2 Camping
(Image credits to Freepik)
Camping can help your child build a sense of adventure while also allowing them to appreciate nature. It can also help them develop social, teamwork, and leadership skills, all of which are very important for their development. Camping allows them to have a reprieve from the social expectations pressuring them at school, which then can encourage them to relax and make friends easily. Spending time with people you love and enjoy being around will also make memories that last for a lifetime.
#3 Playing with bubbles
(Image credits to Freepik)
If your child is under 1 year old and you're looking for an activity suitable for them, you may want to consider playing with bubbles. Chasing bubbles encourage them to crawl, walk, reach and climb as they try to catch and pop the bubbles, which are good for strengthening the muscles and developing gross motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Not only can it help in your child's development, but bubbles can excite curiosity in babies that may make them eager to investigate the world with their senses (in this case, sight and touch).
#4 Rollerblading
(Image credits to iStock)
Rollerblading is another good outdoor activity you can do with your child because it can help build important muscle groups. Your child will not even notice they're getting exercise because they'll have lots of fun. In addition to strengthening the muscles, rollerblading is also an excellent aerobic activity. If you and your kids don't have your own rollerblades, you can visit places that offer these activities, such as Rollerwa.
#5 Hunt Scavenger
(Image credits to SheKnows)
If you don't know what a scavenger hunt is, it is a game in which the players - either individually or in teams - compete to see who can obtain the most items from a list with clues. Not only is this game fun, but it can also allow your kid to practice problem-solving in a tangible way. Your child will reinforce and act-out methods they have been taught by parents or teachers in a physical way, leading to increased retention of the lessons.
#6 Picnic
(Image credits to Freepik)
Sometimes, you don't need physical activities to enjoy family time together. Just relaxing under the sun or feeling the wind on the beach can also be meaningful, so you may want to take your kids to a picnic every now and then. Breathing in the fresh air can be beneficial, especially for children with respiratory problems like asthma. A picnic on a sunny day can also aid in vitamin D and calcium absorption, which helps build strong bones and teeth and prevent diseases like osteoporosis and rickets.
#7 Gardening
(Image credits to Freepik)
Gardening is a healthy and fun activity to do together with your child. Not only will your child learn about science and nature, but they may also be able to develop skills in planting, mulching, weeding, and cooking. Gardening can also be a way to teach your child to eat vegetables, as they are more likely to enjoy eating the food they have grown.
#8 Fly a kite
(Image credits to iStock)
Who would have thought that flying a kite has many benefits? Flying a kite provides exercise for your little one's body as they chase and is also great for hand-eye coordination, kinesthetic awareness, and gross motor skills. It can also help strengthen the eyes as your child focuses far and near while observing and controlling the kite's flight. You may also enjoy the cool breeze while watching your child handle the kite.
#9 Mud Kitchen
(Image credits to Carmen Mountain Preschool)
Making meals from mud is a classic kid activity that every kid should experience. You can prepare some old, used pots, pans, and dishes outside to play with your little one in the mud. Not only can you spend quality time with your child, but you can also expand their imagination by allowing them to come up with meal ideas using the nature around them, like leaves and stones!
#10 Hiking
(Image credits to Blue Jeans Images China)
If your child is slightly older and can handle more physical activities, hiking is a great way to spend time together while escaping the busy city life. Taking kids hiking helps them develop a life-long relationship with nature. While hiking, your child will also get the opportunity to learn about the plants along the trail. Remember to carry the essentials, including water, snacks, sunscreens, and more.
Spending family time together can increase emotional bonds and the ability to adapt to situations. It can also boost your child's happiness and reduce stress while improving their self-confidence and self-worth. A close family relationship will discourage them from having unhealthy lifestyle habits such as excessive drinking and lack of exercise later in life.
There are many other ways to spend your child’s free time. Read through our articles on These Are The 6 Best Traditional Malaysian Games For Children To Play At Home and Top 10 Baby & Toddler Playgroups In KL And Selangor for more ideas on activities you can do with your child.
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