With technology dominating society, kids are spending more and more time indoors. When you were a kid, it was probably normal to go out with your friends and play in the neighbourhood. But kids these days prefer to stay inside glued to their tech. If you’re worried about your child becoming a hermit and always staying indoors, you’re not alone. Millions of parents around the world are looking for ways to get their kids more invested in going outside.
Because of this concern, there have been many parents going online to search for solutions to this technology addiction. And just as many have insights on what’s worked and what doesn’t. Parents from all over have shared their best strategies, and we’ve compiled the top ones here.
Of course, the article won’t contain every single idea to get your kids outdoors, but it will contain the best ones. Read on to find out how to get your kids outside and enjoying nature again.
Plan park trips
Plan a weekly park trip. It may seem too simple, but if you get your child in the habit of going outside, they’ll quickly consider it a part of normal life. Even if it’s just once a week, or whatever works with your schedule, any outdoor time spent with you will teach your child to enjoy the outdoors.
Whether it’s walking or playing in the park, or going for hikes along trails with the dog, your child learns by example. In that way, it’s up to you as the parent to instil a love of the outdoors in your child.
This doesn’t have to be a hassle – walking around the neighbourhood is also a great way to get kids active and looking at their surroundings. This can also be incorporated into vacations, where you privilege taking outdoor excursions over indoor ones.
Invest in outdoor toys
As well as your actions affecting your child, the things you buy them will affect their behaviour. If you only buy them video games and other toys that encourage indoor play, your child will only stay inside.
The occasional video game isn’t bad, and there are plenty of active video games for the Wii U and VR that require movement. However, nothing compares to being out in nature, and for that, you want outdoor toys. This means buying your child things like a 3 wheeled scooter, a bicycle, or a toy truck.
In addition to getting your child outdoors, these toys also give you a great bonding moment with them. You are able to teach them to ride any of these and help them become confident in themselves. You should also stress being safe on these toys by wearing a helmet and knee pads with them while you are practising.
Enrol them in summer camp
A great way to get kids excited about going outside is to send them to summer camp. Summer camp is a way to get children acquainted with the outdoors in a safe, controlled environment. There, they will also make life-long friends and learn valuable skills that can serve them well in life.
There are all different types of summer camps these days. Whatever your child is interested in, whether it’s religion, water sports, or the art of camping itself, there is a camp specializing in it.
Camp also gives you some needed relaxation time, knowing that they are safely in the care of the counsellors and camp program. Having your own outdoor adventure over the summer gives you something amazing to talk about with your kid when they come back. Again, another way to bond with your child.
Getting kids to love the outdoors is simpler than you think, even if technology seems to dominate all young people’s lives. If you follow the advice listed above, your children will soon be begging you to go to the park. They’ll become lovers of nature for the rest of their lives.
Featured image: Jonas Mohamadi/Pexels
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