10 Easy Ways to Get Outside With Your Kids This Summer
Going on camping trips and adventuring outside is a great way to bond with your kids, but what about the smaller, in between moments when you aren’t off on a big adventure? Getting outside doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated for it to be worthwhile. Here are ten easy ways you can get outside with your kids this summer.
Make a list of nearby parks to explore this summer
Make a list of parks in your area and make it a point to explore a new one each time you go to the park! By mixing things up a bit, you and your little one can explore something new together. There are some incredible playgrounds out there with everything from ropes courses to dinosaur bone digging and even mountain bike parks specifically for young kids! You might be surprised by what you find! If you are in the Denver area, a must see is McKay Lake Park.
2. Eat meals/snacks outside
This one has been a personal favorite of mine to do with our kids. Sometimes it looks like bringing their high chairs outside to our back deck for a meal and other times it has looked like walking to a nearby pond and eating on a picnic blanket. Just getting outside and breathing the fresh air can become a highlight of the day.
3. Invite them to join you on your favorite activities
My husband and I LOVE to run, and jogging with our boys in their burley jogging stroller has been a great opportunity to take them on our adventures with us! If you don’t have something like a burley trailer, I would HIGHLY recommend it. The versatility of these trailers allows you to bring your kids with you whether you are running, biking, skiing, or simply going for a walk! Not to mention, the waterproof flap allows you to get out with your kids rain or shine! And, for all you twin mamas out there or mamas with two young kids, the burley trailer is an excellent way to get out with both of your kids even if you are solo!
Running date to pick up food from a favorite restaurant! We didn’t have childcare for a date night so we got creative: ran with the boys to the restaurant, picked up food to bring back home, put the boys down for bed, and enjoyed a meal together. Running dates are great ways to get some good conversation time in with each other!
If you are anything like us and are looking for the next opportunity to get out hiking or backpacking with your little one, getting a backpack child carrier like the Osprey Poco Plus or a Trail Magik carrier (for longer hikes/backpacking with toddlers who will want to walk but might need a boost) can create many opportunities for you to get out with your kids on the trail! These can be pricy, but we were able to find ours used for a good price!
Lastly, I am not a mountain biker, but if you love to mountain bike, they create seats for small kids that attach to your mountain bike so that you can get out on the trails with them that way!
There are so many ways to bring even your young kiddos out on the trails with you and there is no better way to continue doing the things you love AND bonding with your kids than to invite them to join you!
4. Plan mini-adventures throughout the week
Find some local trails and get out with your kids! Exploring a new trail together doesn’t have to be complicated. There are some great apps out there that are easy to use and can give you enough trail information to get out and enjoy the trail without the mental load of investigating every small detail. Hiking Project is a personal favorite of mine!
When you are out on your adventure, make it a point to allow space for the small things–climbing a rock, looking at the plants…as cliche as it is, enjoy the journey and don’t hold onto the destination too tightly. Adjust your mindset to being present to your little one rather than focusing on an end goal. Adventuring with kids involves unexpected twists and turns and the spontaneity involved in hiking with kids makes for the best of memories!
5. Learn about local plants or birds with your kids.
Go to a natural area, find a local trail, or even a walk around the neighborhood and see what plants or birds you find. There are some good apps out there for identifying plants and birds, which can be a fun learning opportunity for the two of you!
6. Keep it simple
Some days require more simplicity than others. Hang out on your front porch and play with bubbles, draw with sidewalk chalk, play hopscotch…the opportunities are endless.
7. Join local groups with your kids
There are some great groups that you can go to with your kids. Try out a mommy and me yoga class, join a local hiking group specifically for moms and their kiddos, or join the local community garden!
8. Plant seeds for late summer harvesting
Planting seeds is great for kids on so many levels. Your kids will feel a sense of ownership in helping their tiny seeds grow and learn patience and responsibility as they care for their plants. Later in the summer, they can pick the vegetables with you and feel a sense of accomplishment and appreciation when their plants contribute to a meal you and your family enjoy together.
Getting their hands dirty has sensory benefits such as encouraging exploration and discovery through their senses without feeling overstimulated. What better way to help your kids develop an appreciation and respect for the environment than for them to experience the process of a seed growing into a plant.
9. Go tubing in a nearby creek (or simply dip your feet in the creek)
I have fond memories of my parents taking us to the Poudre River in Fort Collins to go tubing. This was such a fun way to escape the heat and feel a sense of adventure. If tubing isn’t your thing, simply going to a nearby stream, getting your feet wet and searching for interesting rocks can also be a fun way to escape the heat and explore.
10. Go geocaching!
This one is a blast for everyone in the family (adults included). Geocaching takes scavenger hunting to the next level. The basic idea is you receive clues that will lead you to the geocache (aka hidden “treasure”). There are varying levels of difficulty and literally a geocache in almost any place you can think of–there might even be one hidden in your neighborhood! This is an excellent activity for kids to learn teamwork, to grow in confidence, to practice problem solving, and have an adventure with their parents!
“All children need nature. Not just the ones whose parents appreciate nature. Not only those children of a certain economic class or culture or set of abilities. Every child.”
For many of us, we work 9-5 jobs and getting out for a big trip or adventure is not something we can do regularly. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that you have to have an adventure-less summer indoors. The ten ideas listed above are just a starting point. I’d encourage you to get creative and find ways to get out with your kiddos. The possibilities are endless!
