There are an infinite number
of outdoor activities, but oftentimes we draw a blank when we have the
opportunity to get out the door. Whether
you are by yourself, with younger children, or spending time with your entire family,
I hope you’ll enjoy and utilize this large list of outdoor activities in a safe
and fun way.
By yourself (or with your hubby
or friend!):
- Simply sit outdoors, take some deep breaths, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
- Trade the gym for the park one day a week. Enlist some friends and have a outdoor bootcamp.
- Check into dates for the next meteor shower and spend an evening stargazing (if you live in a well-lit city you may want to head towards a more rural area for better viewing). (http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors)
- Try your hand at gardening. You can improve your flower beds or veggie intake during the summer months, while you soak up a little sun.
- Plan to be outdoors everyday for a walk or a run—take your dog along! Layer your clothing during the colder months, don’t simply stay inside.
- Sign up for a sports league that meets outdoors during the warmer months. Volleyball, softball, basketball, and soccer are all popular sport activities—check with nearby recreation departments for their schedules.
- Go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, bicycling, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, or roller-blading.
- Grab a camera and head to a special location. Catch a sunset, fresh snow, or fall trees in a new light.
With Younger Children:
- Have a picnic.
- Grab a blanket and watch the clouds go by overhead.
- Play Angry Birds with water balloons : http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/05/angry-birds-inspired-water-balloon-game.html
- Pretend to be animals and ‘walk like a bear’ or ‘jump like a frog’.
- Pull out the sidewalk chalk and work on letters, shapes, and colors. For slightly older children, have them create roads for their bicycles complete with stores, ponds, trees, and houses.
- Enjoy bubbles, trikes, bikes, hopscotch, jump rope, Frisbees, and balls –then use your imagination and see what games you can construct using those favorite outdoor toys.
- Make your own ‘golf’ course with a small ball and plastic cups.
- Wash the car… or have the kiddos make their own toy car wash.
- Create an outdoor scavenger hunt.
- Play in the mud, puddles, sprinkler, leaves, snow, or dandelions.
- Fingerpaint --Or use your feet on the driveway instead!
- Collect worms, insects, frogs, butterflies, or other critters.
- Grab a blanket and read some stories in the backyard.
- Create your own fun fitness obstacle course.
- Gather leaves, blades of grass, acorns etc. for a nature collage.
- Plant a flower, vegetable plant, or seeds.
- Go sledding or make a fort in the snow.
- Set up a bird feeder and count the birds (or squirrels) that come to eat.
- Go fishing. Children don’t need a license to fish and it is great fun if you don’t mind the hooks and worms.
- Play in the rain. Send your kiddos outdoors with umbrellas, boots, and raincoats. Just be careful to watch for lightning.
With your entire family:
- Try your hand at geocaching, a real-world treasure hunt using your GPS. Check out www.geocaching.com for more info and cache locations.
- Take your meals outdoors. My kids love eating outside, whether at home or on a picnic at the park. Plus, the cleanup is often a little easier! Surprise them with a summer morning trip to the beach/pool for breakfast.
- Do yard cleanup together. Whether picking up sticks or cleaning up leaves, our yards often present opportunities for fitness and fun – we just need to get creative when we enlist our children’s help!
- Do some shopping at outdoor farmers’ markets. Enjoy the fresh air and extra veggies.
- Go for a family hike in a neat location. Even teenagers that aren’t interested in nature might perk up if there are rocks to climb or a waterfall to reach.
- Go camping or cabining in the woods. Or, if you don’t enjoy staying overnight out in nature, enjoy a state or local park for the daytime hours.
- Pick apples, strawberries, blueberries, pumpkins and more! Start with selecting your product and then see what fun and healthy foods you can create.
- Be an outdoor tourist in your own city. See how many unique outdoor activities you can fit in one day or afternoon. Ditch the car and grab bicycles or simply walk!
Resources:
Schuman, C. (2011). 10 Unique Family Activities: Tired of the
same old routine? Spend quality time with your family while trying some fresh
and fun activities. Parents. Retrieved September
18, 2013. http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/unique-family-activities/#page=5
Walters, J. (n.d.). Why Getting Outside is So Good for You:
Are you Nature-Deprived? Sparkpeople.
Retrieved on September 11, 2013, from http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=1680&page=2
McDonald, A. (March 7, 2012). 50 Simple Outdoor Activities
for Kids. No Time for Flash Cards.
Retrieved September 18, 2013. http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/03/50-simple-outdoor-activities-for-kids.html
Photos courtesy of Microsoft Office
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