Spending time outside is incredibly good for children. In fact, it’s good for everyone – but it’s especially important for developing young minds. This is an opportunity to breathe fresh air, absorb sunlight (and produce vitamin D), boost mood, increase coordination, practice athleticism and build physical health, and even establish better mental health and resilience.
Unfortunately, there are many forces keeping kids inside for long, sometimes excessively protracted stretches. So what steps can you take to encourage your kids to get more outdoor time?
Photo by Jéssica Oliveira on Unsplash
Identify (and Address) the Root Cause
First, it’s a good idea to identify any potential root causes that could be precluding your children from getting the outdoor time they need. Once you identify them, you can address them specifically.
1. Screens. Though it’s something of a cliche, it is true that excessive screen time does prevent some children from being outside. Why go outside if you can watch a movie on your tablet or play a video game? The easy solution here is to limit screen time, but you can also find ways to make outdoor time just as exciting as indoor screen time.
2. Lack of space. Some children don’t go outside because they don’t have a space where they feel comfortable doing so. If you don’t have a big backyard or a nearby park, this may require you to travel to a fun park or a totally different area.
3. Weather. Sometimes, bad weather and harsh seasons can make outdoor time less palatable. A propane fire pit or an outdoor patio heater could help your kids stay warm in fall and winter, and umbrellas and enclosures can mitigate the effects of precipitation.
4. Lack of activities. Kids who find the outdoors boring by default need activities to draw them outside. If they have nothing to do, give them something to do by introducing them to a new sport, a new game, or an activity like hunting for mushrooms.
5. Excessive activities. On the other end of the spectrum, kids may struggle to get outdoor time if their schedules are so packed they don’t have much free time to themselves. The solution here is to reduce responsibilities and scheduled events.
Be the Example
You can encourage your kids to spend more time outside by spending more time outside yourself. Kids are highly impressionable and likely to imitate whatever behaviors are exhibited around them.
If you’re constantly staring at a screen inside, they’ll probably want to do the same. If you’re constantly outside and engaging in physical activities, they’ll probably want to do the same as well. Be the example for your kids and your job will be much easier.
Limit Access to Unhealthy or Overused Indoor Activities
Spending too much time is associated with some very real and detrimental side effects. That’s why it’s a good idea to limit access to unhealthy or overused indoor activities. We already mentioned the importance of limiting screen time, but it may also be useful to set strict time limits for other indoor activities that take too much of your kids’ time.
Sign Them Up for a League or Club
If you’re still having trouble getting your kids outside, consider signing them up for a league or a club, assuming it’s for something at least marginally interesting to them. Chances are, there are plenty of recreational sporting leagues in your area that would love to see your children join.
Help Them Make Some Friends Who Love the Outdoors
If your children have friends who love to spend time outside, your children will want to spend lots of outside time with them.
If you live in a neighborhood with lots of other kids, go out of your way to make introductions and see if you can arrange an outdoor play date. Otherwise, venture out of your comfort zone to find like-minded children and parents that you can spend time with.
Make It a Daily Habit
Habits are hard to break once they’re firmly established – and that goes for good habits and bad habits alike. Make it a point to have some outdoor time for your kids scheduled every day. If it becomes entrenched as a daily habit, they’ll start going outside more naturally and with less pushback.
Host Normal Activities Outside
Sports and games offer the benefits of physical exercise in addition to the benefits of being outside, but they aren’t strictly necessary to get some of the benefits of outdoor time. One way to motivate your kids to spend more time outside is to host normal, everyday activities outside. For example, you could cook and eat dinner around a fire pit.
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Unsplash
These are just some of the strategies that can help you get your kids the outdoor time they desperately need. Try to make adjustments based on your kids’ unique personalities and interests – and take whatever wins you can.
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