Making Nature Fun
Making Nature Fun: Outdoor Activities Are a Must
Research shows kids who spend regular time outdoors experience reduced stress, increased happiness, and improved cognitive function. According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2018), just 20 minutes of nature exposure daily can significantly boost children’s overall well-being. The winter season is ending here, and the weather is starting warm up. Just last week, it was a warm 62-degree and sunny day and after breakfast both of my boys ran out the back door and continued to spend the rest of the day outside. They did homeschool, ate lunch, played, ate dinner and didn’t come back inside the house until well after I got home from work and sat down to spend our quality time together.
From our experience, we wholeheartedly agree with the benefits highlighted by this study. From the moment we became parents, our boys have naturally gravitated toward outdoor adventures. Here are some of our favorite tried-and-true tools and methods to help you keep your kids happy with outdoor activities:
1. Nature scavenger hunts: Create simple lists with items your children can find outdoors, such as specific leaves, rocks, birds, or flowers. This game encourages curiosity and exploration, keeps kids engaged, and helps them observe and appreciate their environment.
2. Family Hiking Adventures: Plan short hikes suitable for kids, turning each walk into a mini adventure. Pack snacks, water, and a notebook or camera to document interesting finds. Hiking promotes physical activity, resilience, and bonding as a family. We have done this a couple times already with our boys, and at first they weren’t into it, now when they look at pictures or the video we made of it, they remember and ask to go back out to do it again.
3. Gardening Projects: My wife set aside a small area in the yard, we build a nice planter box where my wife and the kids can plant flowers, vegetables, and herbs. The kids love seeing the seed they planted grow and turn into food. In fact, our youngest will stop in the middle of jumping on the trampoline and run over and grab a few cherry tomatoes for a snack before going back to playing. This also lets your kids get hands-on lessons in responsibility, patience, and nature’s life cycle.
4. Outdoor Art and Craft: Use nature as your inspiration and supplies. My wife likes to send the kids out to get big leaves and rocks to paint and build crafts with them. This stimulates creativity and allows our kids to interact directly with their surroundings in imaginative ways.
5. Camping in the Backyard: This one we are getting ready to begin doing with our boys, we showed them what camping is a couple weeks ago, and they were absolutely star struck. The excitement of being able to lay outside, in a sleeping bag, light a fire and eat smores together and star gaze. Backyard camping gives kids a sense of adventure without extensive planning or travel. Like I said, this is where we are starting, and we are going to continue to provide updates here and on our YouTube channel for these camping events.
Most of these methods have consistently made our kids happier and happier, it brings joy and enthusiasm for our boys. Nature truly offers endless opportunities for exploration, learning, and happiness. So go ahead—step outside and watch your kids thrive!
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing
Development in Young Children. Pediatrics, 142(3), e20182058.
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2058