Fun Outdoor Activities For Children

As parents, I think we can all agree on these facts: children are curious and active beings. It's very difficult for adults to keep up with them sometimes because they love to explore play. Because of technology, you would often see children glued to their gadgets instead of playing outside. If they learn to have fun as they explore the world around them, they begin to take interest which later helps them learn. You could help build their interest in going outdoors if you organize fun activities for them to do. Here are some examples:

DIY Obstacle Course

Obstacle courses for children could be as simple as putting card boxes on the ground where they could jump or rollover or you could enlarge it to a more elaborate course over time. Use their old toys and other makeshift materials in making a lot of features like a fort or balloon buckets. Incorporate different physical activities to help them build muscle while having fun. Set goals and marks they need to collect or accomplish to motivate them. This is something they could do with their family or friends. Ask them to set up their own obstacle course to make it more exciting for them. You don't even have to set a prize for this one because their greatest reward would be the accomplishment of completing the obstacle.

Treasure Hunting or Scavenger Hunt

This is a classic game that would build their curiosity and sense of adventure. Design a map with a hidden treasure and ask children to look for it. Dress them like Indiana Jones or Dora the Explorer, hand them a map that has a clue, equip them with ropes and two-way radios and watch them search for that treasure tirelessly. 

Another option is to go treasure hunting in common places where old coins and other things could be buried. Equip the children with metal detecting devices and watch them inch the ground in search of a signal. You could initiate this by planting a few coins to help them start then proceed to look for other things like metal forks, cans, and instruments. Make sure that they are wearing gloves and they have their mini shovel to retrieve their treasure. Incorporate learning by telling facts about the people on the coin and trivia about any item they find valuable. 

Fun Investigation

The outdoors could be a source of rich information for children beyond their eyes. Buy them a magnifying glass and tell them to look at objects with it. Investigate what ants are carrying on their backs, what spider webs look like from up close, and what patterns on leaves are like. Have them write and draw the findings of their investigation to boost their creativity. They could also use their phone to take pictures and videos of what they see. 

You could be hitting two birds with one stone by setting fun and learning in the activities you prepare for children. They could be easy and simple to execute. You could also involve them all throughout the process to teach them how to create and make. This will not only give them a reason to love outdoors but will also make them abandon their gadgets completely.