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One of our family’s favorite things to do together is to get out in the woods and explore. Sometimes we venture farther off into the mountains or state parks, other times we keep closer to our home and stick to nearby environmental centers and local parks.
It’s a free and fun, and a great source of exercise for all of us.
There are times when fatigue or forgetfulness make me prefer the comfort and ease of staying home, but inevitably, as soon as we are outdoors together, I quickly remember why the effort is worth it and how special these times are.
Being outside, exploring nature, testing their physical strength, learning from observation– getting your kids outdoors is one of the best things you can do for them this summer.
And doing it together is important too. Your children will pick up on your enthusiasm and sense of the worth of being in nature.
You don’t need to take a lot with you when you are going out for a simple day hike with your kids, but there are a few things you want to be sure not to leave behind.
Here is are 5 items that always make it into our bags when we head off onto a trail:
1. Water
Obviously a hiking necessity. A bottle for everyone makes it easier to keep track of how much everyone is drinking and can help motivate younger children to stay hydrated. Don’t skimp on water breaks– rather, make it a point to take them together and see that your kids are taking drinks too.
2. An energy boosting and filling snack
Hiking can be physically strenuous and at some point you are going to need to replenish your energy with a good snack. A good snack is especially helpful for children who don’t typically have the stamina of adults and who would benefit from taking a short rest to eat. Granola bars with protein, nut butter balls, apples, oranges, a bag of seeds and nuts, sliced cheese and so on give everyone the fuel they need to complete a hike.
3. Bug repellant and bite cream
We don’t actually use much bug repellant, but if your family is prone to insect bites, this is good to have on hand. A little lavender essential oil or Hyland’s Bug Bite Ointment is also good to tuck into your bag in case of itchy, irritating bites someone gets along the hike.
4. Two diapers and a small amount of wipes. (If a baby is attending the hike)
This is one instance where you don’t need to overpack “just in case”. Bring what you need for one or two changes while you are out. If something requiring more happened, it may be time to call it a day.
5. Small backpacks or bags for the kids
Children old enough to carry them should be encouraged to take along a small bag to hold their water and treasures that they find along the hike. Small rocks, neat leaves or feathers, a cool looking stick– these can all be great mementos to bring home to continue talking about your hike.
Help them to resist the temptation overpack their bag before starting out. Keep it light and they will be more likely to succeed in carrying it themselves.
A few more items that are sometimes good to have on hand:
1. Sunscreen
If you are hiking out in the sun or plan to stop and play in the water, apply sunscreen before you start and take along a small tube for reapplications as needed. Here’s a great DIY Sunscreen!
2. A map and compass
Most trails are well marked and maps aren’t often necessary.
3. Baby carriers
Depending on the ages of your children, a good baby carrier (or two!) might be a lifesaver. We love our backpack style carrier for young babies (perfect for naps on the trail) and our framed backpack carrier which is better for toddlers who can’t walk long distances on a trail but want to be a part of the experience.
What is your family’s favorite outdoor activity?
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Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer
Here in my Midwestern farm town, it’s only Spring according to the calendar. Go outside and you’re confronted by cold, rain, and 45mph winds that supposedly bring warm air up from the south but have yet to bring me anything except damage to my front porch accessories.
But I can see my bulbs poking through and so I trust that someday, spring will come in all of its glory. Until then, I sit in my cozy living room, pinning pictures of beautiful outdoor spaces and dreaming of warmer days.
It’s doubtful that my nondescript, treeless backyard will ever look remotely like the images I pin, but it’s fun to dream. And to see what I can adapt to real life, on a real budget.
Here are some favorite ideas I hope to translate to reality this spring. Some require more construction than others but the end goal of all is cultivating beauty or joy in my little backyard.
Simple Outdoor Ideas for Kids:
The Sandbox
Photo via Young House Love
While enjoying a lovely beach vacation last summer, I became convinced that sand is magical: it occupies my (very active) children for hours.
A mound of sand is deceptively simple. But with plastic gardening tools, measuring cups, buckets, bowls, random kitchen utensils, and some imagination? Cities, castles, feasts, and sculptures can be made.
Thoughts on sandbox construction: The easiest route? A plastic baby pool filled with sand. Or something like this.
Making a more permanent fixture? Consider including: benches/seats for sitting, storage for toys, and some kind of cover if animals are prone to traipse through your yard.
You could simply use a tarp or build wooden covers like this or this. Rumor has it sprinkling cinnamon in the sand keeps pests away, but I’m not brave enough to rely on it in the face of an outdoor cat.
The Fairy Garden
Where oh where have these been all of my life? For someone who wishes she lived in Narnia, you’d think I’d have constructed five of these by now.
Turns out there’s a whole section of Hobby Lobby dedicated to them. But woe to the buyer who shops without coupons, sales, or funds from Grammie: fairy garden accessories aren’t cheap, yo.
As Grammie happened to be visiting this week, my (ahem, my daughter’s) first fairy garden is now prominently displayed on our front porch.
Thoughts on construction: Depending on the age of the fairy garden recipient, choose durable features. I’m already repairing a tiny wooden bird house and I’m pretty sure the ceramic frog’s days are numbered. I expect greater longevity from the metal bird and garden bench.
Also, consider using found objects—a bird’s nest and rocks from your yard, a plant that is languishing inside, twigs and leaves to make a fence and simple fairy house.
The Water Table/Wall
While I’m a big fan of our indoor “water table,” I look forward to the days when my kids can play with water outside.
You can buy actual water tables, obviously, but we just fill up the baby pool and toss in various measuring cups, spoons, bowls, medicine droppers, and my daughter’s plastic tea set.
Also new to me?
The water wall. Come warmer weather, I’m so making one of these.
The Garden
(To distinguish it from the fairy kind, this is the type in which you grow food).
Last year my first garden yielded little, but I’m choosing to believe that was due to poor placement (in a bog-like section of my yard) and am giving it another go in a different spot.
My kids enjoyed watering and picking our meager crops last summer but I’m excited to involve them more in the process of planning and planting this year.
I may even give them their own little pots of veggies to tend in hopes of increasing their interest at dinnertime. But I won’t hold my breath.
A Birdfeeder
While clearly not an interactive play feature, a bird feeder in a spot visible from a child-height window can provide a fun nature show on a wet spring day.
Grab an Audubon book or Google and try to identify the birds with your kids. So far, we’ve seen finches, mourning doves, and robins. Only they’ve been renamed “Julia,” “Mud-brown,” and “baby Sam.”
What are your favorite outdoor play ideas for kids?
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5 FUN outdoor ideas for SUMMER:
1. Go to a splash pad
We LOVE these! If you have never heard of a splash pad, it is kinda like a water playground. Check out your local park & rec to see if there is one close to you.
2. Go to a pool
3. Go camping
4. Go fruit/veggie picking
*Growing a garden is another idea. If you have a garden, have your kids help you maintain it and care for it.
5. Go to a national park
How are you going to have fun outside with your kids this summer?
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