Outdoor Activities to Share with Your Kids

featured from Healthy Journey

Family Wellness

Outdoor Activities to Share with Your Kids

by Aspen Valley Hospital March 25, 2024

If you’re looking for a reason to spend more time outside with your kids, the list is endless. Benefits of spending more time outside with little learners can lead to better sleep, reduced stress, improved moods, physical movement, an increased appreciation of nature, creativity, social connections, increased attention spans, freedom, better school performance, improved motor skills, confidence building and fostering imagination. One of the best things the Roaring Fork Valley has to offer is myriad outdoor activities with kids.

Opting for some fresh air fun versus letting kids park themselves in front of a screen is a great way to bolster mental health and connect as a family. And you can do it year-round – even during allergy season. Don’t let a little cold or snowy weather deter getting the entire family outside for some inspired movement and time together. Here are some ideas for outdoor activities you can share with your kids.

Exploring Nature Together

Nature offers an abundance of discovery and play, right at your fingertips. Simply head to your nearest hiking trail for a walk through the woods that can quickly become a go-to family activity. If your kids balk at the idea of going for a walk, spice it up with some intention, like:

Build a fairy house for others to find
Do a scavenger hunt
Look for signs of local wildlife

family hiking at dusk together outdoor activities with kids Another great way to get everyone outside is a good old-fashioned picnic. Pack up some healthy snacks or an entire meal and find a beautiful outdoor venue to sit down and enjoy. Fun foods and healthy treats are a great motivator for kids who might be reluctant to spend time outside.

Or go birdwatching! Did you know the smallest bird egg belongs to the hummingbird? And mockingbirds get their name from imitating sounds? These descendants of dinosaurs are an engaging way to connect with nature. Find a local birding guide and then take the family outside to learn more about feathered friends, their migratory patterns and their habitats. This is a fun one to do year-round as many birds migrate through different regions throughout the seasons.

Getting Active and Playing Games

Letting your kids get outside and play is a fun and active way to enjoy time together as a family. If it’s been a minute since you’ve enjoyed your favorite childhood game, now is a great time to get after it! Here are some active outdoor game and activity ideas:

Set up a bicycle obstacle course, either on a local trail or even in your driveway
Toss the frisbee
Recruit other kids and families for a lively game of capture the flag
Played kickball lately? It’s still a blast for all ages!

Creative Outdoor Projects

For fervent imaginations, the outdoors offer a blank canvas and plenty of ways to create. Gardening is a great way to grow together, nurture nature and offer your children a way to enjoy the efforts of their work.

If you’ve heard them say “I’m bored” one-too-many times, hand over a carton of sidewalk chalk and invite your kids to turn your driveway into a colorful masterpiece, hopscotch tournament or four-square game.

Creating art from natural materials is another excellent way to encourage kids to connect with nature. Consider these DIY nature crafts:

Nature crowns
Rock painting
Flower press
Embossing leaves
Pine cone decorating and ornaments
Painted bird feeders
Nature prints
Twig art
Flower suncatcher
Rock towers
Nature embossing or block prints
Build a pollinator drinking station

Camping Under the Stars

Camping is a time-honored way to get kids outdoors and truly immersed in nature. It’s also the perfect excuse to leave the screens at home and encourage your family to be fully present in the moment. Camping offers a variety of fun ways to connect as a family. Add these items to your next outdoor escape:

Take the trip a little farther into the woods and sleep under the sky’s canopy.
Brush off your best campfire or ghost stories, and encourage kids to come up with their own. For a fun game, have people contribute three random elements that must be included in the story!
Gaze up into the night sky, far away from city lights and other distractions that can dim their glow. Look for constellations and the North Star. See if you can even spot a planet!

Conclusion

Opting for some outside time is fun, inclusive and a great way to get everyone together. It’s also an important part of children’s development and mental health. Turning to nature brings with it cherished memories and encourages a lifelong love of adventure.