Children are a great way to spend your time with, especially when summer vacation is nearby. You can try out different outdoor activities that will keep you and your children occupied during the day. While you have parks and playgrounds, where you could take them, but it is all about being creative. Introducing new activities each time makes things even more fun. From a scientific standpoint, activities are a primary source of children exploring themselves and bringing out creativeness from within.
It helps both the physical and mental state of the body. It is the only time when a kid isn’t required to follow limitations and does whatever he/she wants. Researchers argue that parents should offer their kids activities that improve skills like decision-making. With that being said, we bring you a list of some simple and fun outdoor activities you could do with your children to spend your time and energy the right way.
Play a backyard game
Playing a backyard game is a great start. As kids, we loved playing hide and seek and freeze tag, etc. These are simple games but feature a lot of excitement. Teach your kids how to play these games and watch how they jump with excitement. Allow them to create their versions and set rules as well. This will make things even more fun for them. Plus, you could play hide and seek in the dark as well using flashlights. How cool is that? Remember! Not to allow your children to step out of the house.
Take a walk
Sometimes simply taking a walk could be a fun outdoor activity. You could schedule a mini-walk after dinner and stroll around the neighborhood. Beware of vehicles passing through. Challenge your family a hike in the woods. It will be fun, ideal for fitness, and a splendid family bonding technique. Introduce limitations and set up rules, so that maximum fun could be achieved out of the activities. If you live in great places with walking trails like Austin, Texas, Colorado or other areas then walking is a great option.
Hula hoop race & catch
The hula hoop race & catch is such an exciting activity and features loads of fun. For this, you will need multiple hula hoops. Then, look for an appropriately sized green space. Line the children up and hold the hula hoops vertically. Roll them along the ground with maximum force. Pick children by their names and ask them to run after the hula hoop to catch it. As soon as they bring one back, release another. This is an ongoing activity that could last for hours.
Ride a bike
Bike rides are something you could take part in as well. This is a healthy activity, which can take you places. Invest in a reasonable bike for yourself as well as your children and push pedals every day. You could come out when the sun is about to set and enjoy nature along with the beautiful scenery. Moreover, you could join cycling groups as well that travel a certain distance in groups. This way, you will be better able to explore areas, which otherwise you get to see in your vehicle while passing by.
Fly a kite
Kite flying is an inexpensive outdoor activity. You just have to follow the wind and the rest is done automatically. The best thing about kite flying is that you could invite friends from your neighborhood as well and compete. Create a party type environment, where both music and food go hand in hand. You will need a sufficient amount of area to fly kites. Therefore, take it to the park, but make sure that the string used, is not harmful.
Plant a garden
Children will find amusement in almost everything grownups will do. They would like to copy and have a taste of it as well. Therefore, not everything is supposed to be fun and games. Put them to work in the garden. This will inculcate a sense of responsibility in them. Furthermore, they will get to know about different types of plants and vegetation at such an early age. Sooner or later, the knowledge and experience will come into use. Ask them to rake, weed, dig, and water the plants.
Red light, Greenlight
Another fun activity on the list. If you have a sufficient amount of room, this game could easily be played inside. This game works by one person becoming a traffic light and standing at one end, while the others are at the other end. When the traffic light person faces the group, he or she says ‘Red Light’. The group has to freeze immediately. Then, the traffic light person faces the wall and says ‘Greenlight’. The group has to come near as possible and stop moving when ‘Redlight’ is again repeated. If anyone is spotted moving, they will have to go back to the starting position. The first person to tag the traffic light wins.
Musical Chairs
One of the most popular outdoor activities is musical chairs. Usually played at parties, this is a fun game, which the grownups can enjoy as well. It involves a number of participants that run around chairs when the music is played. As soon as the music stops, the participants have to occupy chairs by sitting on them. The individual who is not able to occupy a chair is eliminated from the game. The game continues until only one individual is left to occupy the remaining last chair.
Telephone
This activity is hilarious. It involves children sitting in a circle and one person thinks of a sentence, which is then whispered to the other person. The sentence is then circulated until it reaches the last individual who speaks it out loud. Since the sentence is changed while it is being circulated, hilarity ensures when nobody gets it right like the beginning. You will need several participants for this game but no equipment. Therefore, it is as simple and easy it could get.
Organize water fights
This is probably the most fun activity amongst all. Get your hands-on water guns or water balloons and fill it up with water. Run around firing water on your children or bombarding them with water balloons. Set up a parameter and do not allow the children to cross it. This will make the activity secure as well. Divide the kids into groups or teams and set up rules. Decide who wins and setup a prize for the winner.
Final Word
Concluding, when it comes to outdoor activities, there is just so much you can do. From playing hide and seek to bicycling, it all depends on how you want to make it both fun and exciting. It would be better to opt for activities that help your children grow both mentally and physically. You could always invite your friends and their families as well to join the fun. At the end of the day, you will be making memories, worthy of cherishing your entire life.