How To Get Your Kids Outdoors More
Thereโs plenty of fun and fresh air just beyond your front door. But getting your kids to actually head outside can be a challenge.
At Posh Peanut, we understand the importance of kids enjoying playtime which doesnโt just involve their iPads, tablets, or streaming services. Here are some of the most important reasons why your child should spend more time outdoors. Weโve also compiled a handy list of fun things to do outside that will entertain your entire family, no matter what the season.ย
Why Kids Should Play Outside
Having kids play outdoors isnโt just about burning off their restless energy, though that is a great benefit. When kids head outside to engage in outdoor play, they get the chance to improve their physical being, as well as develop stronger mental and emotional capabilities. Read on for the benefits children get when they spend more time outdoors.
Improved Motor Skills
Playing outside is an opportunity for kids to challenge their physical endurance. If they are running around, skipping and jumping, or climbing the monkey bars, they are improving their motor skills. These acts are beneficial to their evolving coordination, balance, and agility.
Strong Bones and Better Immune Systems
Kids need plenty of vitamin D to help build strong bones and prevent rickets, a condition where childrenโs bones can soften. Vitamin D also strengthens our immune systems. We need sun exposure to make vitamin D, so playing outside will make sure your kids are getting just what they need.
Healthier Bodies
Obesity can trigger many health issues in a child, such as diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular challenges. Playing outside can help children get the daily movement their bodies need to maintain a healthy weight. Experts advise that children be active for an hour every day, and studies have shown that children burn more calories when they are playing outdoors, so it's a win-win for all.
Better Sleep
Got a kid who is a night owl? Playing outside may help your child fall asleep earlier. โโWhen children spend time in the sun, their bodies become more naturally in tune with day and night rhythms. The brain actually shifts into a drowsy state as it grows dark, which should help your children establish an earlier and more consistent bedtime. Itโs one they'll look forward to if they get to wear their favorite pajamas.ย
Improved Mood
Exposure to sunlight increases the release of serotonin, a hormone in the brain which boosts mood and helps kids and adults feel calmer and more focused. Being outside will help your kids feel happier than if they are cooped up inside all day long.
Greater Social Skills
Participating in outdoor games and sports gives your child a chance to socialize with others, learn to respect their peers, and become comfortable working with a team. These skills are crucial as they grow up and become a functional part of society. Studies also show that children who play outside are more likely to develop observational and reasoning skills, according to a study by Harvard University.
Sharpened Eyesight
Yes, being in the sun may make your childโs eyesight better. Studies have shown that kids who spend more time in sunlight are less likely to suffer from myopia, which is nearsightedness. Being outside gives kidsโ vision a break from close-eye stimulation, such as reading or online surfing.ย
Appreciation for the Environment
Want your children to have a greater appreciation for nature? Have them play outside! While outdoors, children can interact with our greatest natural treasures. They can climb trees, plant gardens, smell the flowers, observe creatures outside like squirrels, birds, and bugs, and dig in the dirt. Having this first-hand experience with our earth can make them more appreciative of it, and more inclined to take care of it once they are grown.
Continued Dedication To Movement
We know how important it is for us all to get more movement in our lives. It can be hard to commit to a daily regimen of exercise if we start at a later age. Allowing your children to play outside will get them familiar with moving and using their bodies actively, a habit that will most likely stay with them as they get older.
Limited Tablet Time
Kids today spend an inordinate amount of time looking at screens. Playing outside unplugs them from this addictive digital pastime. Dedicated outdoor time gives children a chance to reap all the benefits listed above while improving a child's behavior and emotional well-being.
What Kids Should Wear Outside
Kids need to be comfortable when they are outside playing. They may sweat or get wet, and it goes without saying they are going to get dirty. Your kids can have fun without the fuss in Posh Peanut tops, bottoms, and rompers, which are elasticized at the bottom to avoid tripping over too-long hems. Our clothes are made out of Viscose from bamboo, which makes them easy to care for. They also have a little stretch so your child can reach, tug, and pull easily. If itโs chilly out, they can always slip into our sweaters and joggers.ย Weโve also got your kids covered from head to toe, with our adorable collection of headbands and socks.ย
Here are other items you should have on hand for your children to play outside:
- Sunscreen
- Raincoat
- Rain boots
- Baseball caps
- Helmet (if they are riding bikes)
- Sneakers or gear shoes
- Bathing suit
- Sunglasses
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The Best Outdoor Activities For Kids
Ready to be in the great outdoors? These fun outdoor activities for kids are sure to put a smile on your little onesโ faces. Whether you plan to do outdoor activities for kids at home or want to try some outdoor nature activities for kids, these ideas can be done together in the sun, shade, and moonlight!
Ride A Bike
Start with your toddler on a tricycle, and then graduate your little ones to a standard bike with training wheels. When they are ready, remove the training aids and watch them roll!
Blow Bubbles
All you need are bubble wands and a soap mixture. Want to make your own? Pour 1/2 cup of dish soap into a large cup. Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the dish soap in the cup. Measure 2 teaspoons of sugar and stir it into the water/soap mixture. Youโre ready to blow!
Look For Cloud Shapes
To get this activity started, all you have to do is look up! Have your children stare up at the sky and pick out different shapes they see in the clouds, such as animals or modes of transportation.
Make A Paper Plane
Letโs see just how far your plane can go! Watch this video on how to make a paper plane, and then test your work outside. Itโs a great way for your little one to learn more about gravity.
Build An Outdoor Fort
Time to put that lawn furniture to good use! You children can arrange chairs, tables, and outside toys in different ways and create a little kingdom thatโs all their own.
Play Hopscotch
This skip and hop game has been around for generations. Draw the numbers 1 to 10 on the ground with chalk, alternating between one box over two boxes. Players toss or place a rock into a box, and hop around it before retrieving it on the way back. See how the game is played here.
Fly A Kite
Test the strength of the wind and let this flying toy take flight. You can make your own with some construction paper, a dowel, and yarn.ย
Have A Water Battle
Whether itโs with balloons or water soakers, these outdoor water activities for kids allow them to cool down while getting totally drenched.
Host A Picnic
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches taste even better when theyโre eaten outside! Donโt forget to pack your childโs picnic snacks in our durable lunch bags.
Tour The Town
Take a walking tour of your neighborhood or a neighboring town to discover new fun places, like a playground or a child-friendly restaurant.
Hit The Playground
Take your kids to the nearest playground and let them climb, slide, and swing on the equipment available.
Find Natural Treasures
Your kids can look for pine cones, acorns, flowers, bugs (if you can stand it!), and other items to learn more about the great outdoors, especially when dressed in our Spring Florals collection.
Pitch A Tent (In Your Own Backyard!)
Turn your own backyard into a camping ground! You can pitch a tent outside for your child to play in, or if your children are a little older, make setting up the tent a family activity.ย
Watch A Movie Outdoors
Itโs movie night under the stars! Use a commercial screen or string up a white sheet and project your favorite family film onto it, maybe something from the 90s?
Play A Game
Along with hopscotch, you and your family can play classic outdoor games such as Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can, or Red Rover.
Get Sporty
Let your child express their athletic side by playing softball, tennis, volleyball, or any sport they enjoy. All you need is the equipment.
Wash the Car
Youโve got to get it clean anyway. Make it a fun family activity with plenty of soapy water and sponges.
Work In the Garden
Your kids may be a little more into eating their vegetables if they grow them themselves. Allow your children to dig up dirt, plant seeds, and water their own little garden patch.
Set Up A Stand
Your kids could set up a lemonade stand, host a yard sale, or sell their own DIY products, such as lanyard bracelets. Theyโll get a chance to flex their entrepreneurial spirit. Just make sure to research your townโs laws on selling items on the street.
Seek A Local Outdoor Excursion
Now is the perfect time to find local outdoor activities close to where you live, such as mini golf courses, botanical gardens, and local amusement parks, just to name a few. Just type โthings to do near me outsideโ in your browser and see what outdoor adventures await you!ย
Outdoor Activities For Kids: Fall And Winter
If you live in an area where the climate changes per season, you can add these outdoor fall activities and outdoor winter activities for kids to your list.ย
Pick Some Apples
Early fall is the ideal time to go apple picking with your family. Check your area to find a family-friendly orchid. Continue your outdoor activities and bob for apples when you get home.
Jump The Leaves
When the leaves change color and fall off the trees, you and your children can make huge piles of leaves to jump into. Or try a line of smaller leaf piles where they can jump from one pile to the next.
Play In The Snow
Whether your children are making snow angels, snow people, or snowballs, playing in the snow is such a fun activity to do in the winter. Make sure your children are adequately bundled up to keep them warm as they play in the cold.
Get On A Sled
Got a hillside covered in snow? You and your children can race down the side in a commercial sled or experiment with making your own from ordinary household items like cardboard or a trash can lid.ย
FInal Thoughts
Getting your kids to play outside doesnโt have to be difficult. Try a bunch of different outdoor activities with your child and see which ones hold their interests. You can then incorporate their favorite choices into your weekly routines. Weโre pretty certain youโll see them putting down their tablets and picking up their jump ropes for a little fun in the sun. And they can do it all in our most comfy Posh Peanut two-piece sets, designed to let your kids be fashionable while at play!
Do you have any secrets on how you get your kids to play outside. Please share,ย weโd love to hear them! Be sure to follow Posh Peanut on Instagram and Facebook for the latest product releases, to enter giveaways and be the first to know about upcoming sales events!ย