Another Summer approaches, which means it’s time to think of different ways to maximize your children’s fun while minimizing screen time. How do you do it? The key is to get them outdoors and doing things that will really get them moving. So even if your kids aren’t the “sporty” type, here are some tried-and-true activities you’ll want to try.
.jpg)
- Build a fort
For an activity that will keep your kids moving and busy for hours, nothing does the job quite like building a fort. Gather up some blankets, old sheets, chairs, and whatever else is lying around the house or yard, and let them get to work. The building process alone can eat up a whole afternoon, and once it’s done, the fort becomes a base for whatever game they dream up next. It’s one of those activities that starts with their hands and ends with their imagination running the show.
- Start a garden
Want to plant a few more flowers to brighten up your yard? Or maybe you want to embrace the farm-to-table lifestyle and grow your own vegetables. Either way, getting kids involved in a garden is a surprisingly effective way to keep them engaged outdoors. Give them their own patch or pot to look after and let them take ownership of it.
- Go for a hike
A hike doesn’t have to be a serious trek through rough terrain or up a mountain. It can be something simple and easy enough for your kids to do without complaining the whole way. Hiking with a goal or destination in mind, such as a waterfall, is a great way to keep your kids engaged and focused on the reward at the end of the journey.
- Get a trampoline
Few things beat a trampoline for getting kids outside and burning energy without them even realizing it. Jumping builds coordination, core strength, and balance, and it also has genuine sensory benefits, helping kids regulate their nervous system and settle after a big day.
A trampoline is one of those backyard additions that kids use all the time, no matter their age. It’s not just something they’ll use for a week after it arrives. It’s one of the few pieces of outdoor equipment that kids will head outside for all by themselves (even when a screen is competing for their attention).
- Do a scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is easy to put together and almost impossible to resist for kids of most ages. Write up a list of things to find around the yard, the street, or a nearby park, and send them off. You can theme it around nature, colors, shapes, or even a loose story to make it feel more like a mission than a game. It gets them moving, keeps their minds busy, and works just as well solo as it does with a group of neighborhood kids.
- Try plogging
Plogging is a Scandinavian concept that combines jogging with picking up litter, and it translates surprisingly well to a family activity. Grab some gloves and a bag, head to a local park or beach, and challenge the kids to collect as much rubbish as they can while walking or jogging the route.
It gives the outing a sense of purpose beyond just exercise, which tends to make kids more enthusiastic about it. It’s also a great way to start a conversation about looking after the environment without it feeling like a lecture.
- Streetwalk art
Chalk and a stretch of footpath or driveway is genuinely all you need for this one. Kids can draw murals, create hopscotch grids, trace each other’s shadows, or design an entire imaginary street with shops, roads, and houses.
Where can I buy a good-quality trampoline?
If your goal is to get your kids playing outdoors for as long as possible, then your yard isn’t complete without a trampoline. You don’t want just any old trampoline, though. So, go ahead and check out Vuly Play’s trampolines for kids. Here you’ll find a huge range of trampolines in all sorts of shapes, spring (or springless) designs, and sizes.
Final Thoughts
Getting your kids out of the house doesn’t have to be difficult when you’ve got super fun activities lined up for them. And you can say goodbye to kids glued to their screens this summer with these outdoor activities, because once they get moving, you’ll hopefully be begging to get them back inside.
You might also like:
.jpg)
Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and believer in creating your best momlife the way you see fit. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, my hope is you’ll find something here to make your life a little better/easier. Let’s be friends on social!
