Getting outside with the family has so many benefits. It’s great to get a good dose of fresh air and vitamin C, it improves mental and physical health, and it’s an excellent learning opportunity for young children.
However, it can get difficult to come up with new ideas for what to do with your family outdoors. So, we’ve taken care of that for you. Take a look at these top ideas for entertaining all the family outside.
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Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a simple yet effective way to keep everyone happy. Perhaps you have a child that likes to draw pictures or color in. Maybe one of your children loves to play hopscotch or tic tac toe.
You can make it even more interesting by creating a competition for everyone and see who can come up with the craziest drawing. Make sure to do it somewhere away from traffic, like your driveway or a local park.
Create a Garden
A garden is a lot of work but when all the family gets involved, it takes half the time. It’s a great opportunity to teach your children about planting and growing. You could plant flower seeds in pots, in the grass, or build your own vegetable patch.
Nature Niche also has some great products, like bird feeders. Hang them in your yard and watch the wildlife come to visit. The great thing about gardening is there’s always a job to be done.
Go For a Hike
Hiking as a family can be so much fun. Find a nearby trail and pack for an afternoon out. Make sure to wear good walking shoes and take food and drink with you. If you have small children, you may want to choose a flat trail.
If your family can take on a challenge, look for a trail with inclines and increased length. You could even do it for charity and raise money at the same time.
Go For a Picnic
Who doesn’t love a picnic in the sun? Pack up some little treats and head towards a park or beach. Find some shade and throw a picnic blanket on the floor ready for a feast.
Even if you can’t find anywhere suitable nearby, a picnic in the backyard is just as good. Spending quality time together as a family doesn’t have to be outside of your own home.
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great way to create some lasting memories and learn while you’re at it. Give the kids a list of things to find while you take a walk around your neighborhood or at a local park. It could be things like a spider’s web, a squirrel, or a pine cone.
Alternatively, you could set up your scavenger hunt and get the neighbor kids involved. The adults walk around the neighborhood dropping things to find and the kids get a list of what they need to look for. It’s ideal for finding eggs at Easter.
Water Fight
On a hot day, when everyone needs to cool down, nothing’s better than a water fight. Water balloons, water guns, sprinklers, the garden hose; nothing is off-limits. Create family teams and hide around the garden to avoid getting soaked.
The winning team receives a special prize. However, no matter who receives the prize, every family member will remember it as a good day.
Create Paintings
Painting is a creative skill that everyone enjoys having a go at. You could each do one small canvas each. Take your canvases and paints outside and either paint what you see or create something entirely from your imagination.
Similarly, you could get one big canvas and let everyone in the family have a go at splashing on some paint. You could do handprints, fingerprints, or footprints and create your pictures. It’s fun and if you do it outside, you don’t have to worry about the mess inside.
Outdoor Game Night
Have you and your family got a favorite board game? Who says you have to play it indoors every time? If you have a particularly warm and clear evening, it’s great to take a game night outdoors.
Think about playing Twister on your lawn or charades out on the porch. If your neighbors see, you may even start a new trend.
Fruit Picking
Does your family enjoy a healthy dose of fruit throughout the week? Instead of going to the grocery store, why not take your family to a local orchard instead? You can fill your baskets with the fruit you need and find out about how it grows while supporting a local business.
You can also pick pumpkins during the Autumn or pick your Christmas tree as a family in the winter.
Kite Flying
The great thing about kite flying is you don’t need much to go and do it. As long as you’ve got a kite and a decent bit of wind, you can have as much fun as you like.
Challenge the kids to try and get the kite up off the ground and flying as high as it can.
Getting Outside With The Family
Whether it’s planned or spontaneous, getting outside with the family will always create precious memories. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other families and build lasting friendships. If you’ve got a young family, you may need to take things with you when spending a day outside, so always have some handy snacks ready to throw in a bag.
For more ideas and tips on home and family, take a browse through our articles.