7 Outdoor Activities To Try With Your Family
In an age when children are said to be too reliant on electrical devices, why not get your family outdoors instead?
It’s no secret that being outdoors yields many, many benefits – for both adults and children. Increased fitness, boosted immune function, improved emotional well-being, reduced anxiety and improved sleep to name but a few. And of course, it gets kids off their tech.
- Lawn Forts
If you’re wanting to get the kids outside, why not build a lawn fort? Bedsheets and blankets can be assembled to create something simple or on the grand side. Once you’ve nailed the fort, you can picnic, play board games or make mud pies. Simple, fun and pretty much free – you can explore the outdoors in your own backyard. A winner for those who want to experience the great outdoors on a budget.
- Adventure Park
For all the little (and big) kids in your life – the Adventure park. Rediscover your own love for tree climbing and pass on rites of passage to the next generation. The adventure park allows you to challenge yourself on aerial trails or fly along zip lines safely and securely. A way of connecting your kids to nature at the same time as having heaps of fun – the adventure park is an outdoor adventure family favorite.
- Sailboating
Perfect for the springtime, sailboating allows children to enjoy the water when it’s too cool for a beach day. Understanding the joys (and the dangers) of water from a young age is good water safety and navigating the waves, an exhilarating outdoor activity. Grab some buddies and make a day of it. Throw in a BBQ at the end of the day and let the kids run around and enjoy the fresh air whilst you relax around the fire.
- Hiking
Pull on the walking boots (and possibly a waterproof coat) and get out in the wild. Walking is excellent exercise all the family can enjoy. If you’re super organised, you could print out a treasure hunt of plants and animals to spot as you stride – so kids learn about their surroundings as they keep fit.
- Camping
Nothing says the great outdoors like a pop up tent. An organised site will ensure access to basic amenities like electricity but some sites allow wild camping – so it’s just you and whatever you pack into your pop up. Camping allows families to experience outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, sailing – even biking.
- Gardening
Gardening might not be the first thing that crosses the mind when contemplating outdoor activities. But it’s an excellent hobby for kids, and it involves quite a lot of exercise if you’re putting your back into it! Gardening reduces stress, encourages children to eat healthier, fosters a sense of connection to the earth and develops many STEM and analytical abilities.
- Bike Ride
For most adults, the memory of riding a bike as a kid brings back pretty powerful memories. And, as they say, once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget. If you’ve not got bikes, there are places to hire them, so there’s no reason not to get out there and get peddling.
It’s all too easy to turn on the TV and become absorbed in the big screen – but being outside gives families the chance to become immersed in each other. Put down the TV remote and get outside – it will bring you closer together, improve your sense of wellbeing and will generate the family stories that you retell for years to come. Go on, get out!
