Some of the most treasured moments in life are those spent together outdoors. Watching wildlife, hiking on a trail or playing at a park, nature provides the perfect setting for family activities.
Family Activities Can Help Kids Get Outdoors
The Outdoor Foundation Association in their 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report revealed kids ages 6-17 spend much of their time indoors or in structured sedentary activities which has left many experts concerned about children developing a disconnect to nature. The report also revealed that outdoor activity declines with age. Parents can help build lasting memories while reconnecting their children with the outdoors through these outdoor family activities.
Simple Outdoor Activities for Families to Enjoy Together
One of life’s simple pleasures is watching wildlife in their natural habitat. Equip kids with a pair of binoculars and animal guides to help them identify the birds and animals and head out to a local nature preserve or wildlife habitat. Be sure to bring along a camera, notebook and pen to jot down animals and birds spotted during this outdoor adventure. Turn this outdoor family activity into one done monthly and build a scrapbook out of all the pictures and discoveries made together while exploring nature.
Get outdoors and take a hike under the light of the full moon. The abundant light the full moon provides adds new interest to hiking while family members can discover the wildlife that comes out at night. These nightime hikes are magical with shadows and light dancing between the trees. Many nature centers offer guided moonlit walks, so be sure to check with any nature preserves in the area for an educational outdoor experience.
Another outdoor family activity is to get involved with a local nature center or nature preserve by helping with one of the center’s habitat restoration programs. Habitat restoration projects can help kids associate nature with habitat and the importance of protecting the homes of animals and other living creatures.
This outdoor family activity is one that gets the day off to a wonderful start by enjoying breakfast outdoors while watching the sunrise. Pack an early morning picnic-style breakfast that includes juice, bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit or other favorite breakfast foods and leave before sunrise to travel to a local park. Get settled on a waterproof blanket and prepare to watch the sky transform as the sun welcomes a new day while listening to the birds sing their morning greetings.
Spend time together while having fun with an outdoor scavenger hunt. Put together a list of items to find in the outdoors before heading out. Include items such as leaves, rocks, acorns, insect sightings, and animal tracks. This is a fun outdoor family activity suitable for all ages.
Plan an electronic free day to embrace life’s simple pleasures. Head to a nearby park and fill the day with activities past generations may have enjoyed when they were children. Try skipping stones stones across a placid lake or pond. Fly a kite. Build sand castles at the beach. Identify the types of trees at the park. Watch dragonflies dance across the water.
Parents can help their children get outdoors while rediscovering some of the simple pleasures of life. Nature serves as the world’s largest playground making it the perfect setting to explore new family activities together. Best of all, most of these simple pleasures are free or very affordable, making them ideal family activities to do together without spending a fortune. After all, some of the best things in life are free.
Sources:
“Outdoor Recreation Participation Report 2008,” The Outdoor Foundation
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