10 Simple Outside Activities for Kids

From my favourite guy – John Muir, he said:

You could build an impressive Natural Playground in your backyard, or, you could just get out into the real thing.

Here’s some of my simple outdoors ideas on how to make it happen.

10 Simple Outside Activities for Kids

1. Play in the Dirt
   I dare you! Grab some shovels or even kitchen spoons and dig in the dirt in your flower garden, local park or playground, or even community garden! Lately, we have been practicing the first letter of our names by drawing them in the sand then erasing them with our feet. It’s a great sensory experience that no one has to clean up (double bonus).
2. Go for a hike
   
3. Look for conservation areas & provincial/national parks in your area. 
   These hold a wealth of information (and people who are brilliant) that can show you great places to go to walk or recreate and also teach you about local plants and wildlife. The admission fees are usually very reasonable and each one has their one amentities.
4. Take to the high seas
5. Form a local “chain gang” or bike crew.
   Grab a bike and get moving. Pick a neighbourhood trail, or road off the beaten track and get pedalling. Biking has been Mr J’s favourite form of transportation as of late!

    

6. Rockin’ good times. 
   Throw rocks into a creek, make art by matching rocks of different colours & shapes, write your name with rocks.
7. Go geocaching.
   Grab your handheld GPS or smartphone, connect with www.geocaching.com, pick up a couple dollar store prizes and a pencil. Watch out for muggles & don’t forget to find the magic in the hidden treasure (turn on beginner mode to help you get started!) 
8. Study a tree, plant or flowers.
   Take rubbings of it, study the textures, talk about where it seeds come from. Create a in-depth study of it using tweezers, magnifying glasses, binoculars.
9. Build your own fort
   In your backyard or favourite park, grab sticks, branches or other materials you have (sheets, etc) and build your own fort. Grab a few favourite story books and have snack outside.
10. Outdoor chores
    I know this may sound strange, but we have kid sized shovels and rakes so they can help us when we do our outdoor chores. Mr J loves to help shovel snow, hoe the garden and rake the lawn. Many of the items we picked up at garage sales and just cut the handles to kid sized. 

How do you get outdoors with your children?