With summer just about bursting through the front door, you would think that there would be nothing more difficult than keeping your kids inside, that they will be all over your backyard or playing in the streets and parks with their friends.
Instead, they spend their time inside playing video games or watching TV. Offer them some really fun activities outside as an alternative, and they will gladly follow you and spend time in the sun.
Water fun
Yes, it’s summer, and of course it will be hot. One way of “luring” your kids out is a promise they will get dirty, muddy, and soaking wet with your permission. All you need are several empty plastic bottles (any size will do), a sharp knife, and a few nails, and you can have your own water wall.
Cut out the holes in water bottles, and screw (or hammer) them onto a wooden fence and tilt them downwards a bit so that water flows freely from one bottle to another, all the way down into a bucket so that it can be reused.
You can also make your own sprinkler by making holes in a water bottle and then adjusting hose onto it.
Hoverboard race
Kids being kids, they are probably in love with Star Wars and all things sci-fi. To make them feel like tough guys from the movies, you can arrange a hoverboard race between them and yourself, or them and their friends, in your backyard.
Get a fantastic self-balancing scooter, mark the trail which they must follow, and time them as they go forward, back, and around obstacles in hopes of becoming a new champion.
Scavenger hunt
The beauty of scavenger hunts is that they can be done pretty much anywhere: backyard, local park, countryside, even library and your own living room.
Depending on how much time you have, you can prepare a photo scavenger hunt, cleanup treasure hunt, or a simpler one if you like. This way, children will be entertained, learn to pay attention to details, and respect nature more.
They can pretend they are pirates looking for buried treasure, or detectives looking for clues in an important case.
Lawn twister
Incredibly easy and a dozen times funnier than a regular one, lawn twister is great for kids. They will have fun trying to balance, and giggle because the grass will tickle their feet and hands.
Organize a twister tournament and be merciless with rules. This will make it more interesting and spark their competitive spirit. As for you, this means less mess in your living room and some really great photos for your family album.
By spending time outside, your children will become happier and healthier. They will get enough vitamin D from the sun, and their immunity will be ten times better because of exposure to plants, pollen, and small dust particles.
They will be stronger and more confident. And what is more, they will always look back to these days fondly and cherish the quality time they had spent with their family.
Image from Pixabay
Emma Lawson
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