I spent so much time playing outside as a kid. My kids, not so much. They’d rather be playing Minecraft or Fortnite or whatever it’s called. My goal is to encourage the kids to play outside more often. Here are a few fun ideas I found that will help get kids to play outside.
Sometimes I feel like getting my kids to play outside is like pulling teeth! Seriously, why do kids now-a-days find the outdoors so boring?
You tell me dinner will be ready in an hour and I can go outside and do whatever I want, peace out man! I’d be gone. Swinging at the park, walking the dog, reading a book on a bench somewhere. Anywhere.
But I say that to my kids and they wanna know how long they “have” to be outside for. [Insert annoyed mom face, you know the one.]
Moms, we have to get these kids outside more! They need it!
Outside play helps kids:
- Foster creativity
- Lose dependence on screen time
- Can help self-esteem, kids are out there making small decisions on their own
- Get enough exercise every day
- Improve their moods
Fun ways to encourage your kids to play outside this summer
#1 Grow a garden together. You can go all out and have an elaborate garden to take care of. Or it can be as simple as a small fairy garden.
#2 Buy gigantic game sets. We have the giant checkers set from Walmart, it was about $20. There’s also Jenga, or oversized dice to play Yahtzee.
#3 Keep soccer balls, footballs and basketballs around. My kids like playing basketball and a family game of soccer.
#4 Let them be bug catchers! Give each kid a mason jar or plastic Tupperware and have them try to find interesting bugs. Tell them to be gentle with the bugs and make sure to put the bugs back once they finish “studying” their findings.
#5 Outdoor laser tag. This set has 4.5 Stars on the reviews. It’s on our wish list for summer.
#6 Play with them! I can keep my kids entertained for about 45 minutes with Simon Says. Even the older kids. They LOVE it. Not because Simon Says is cool. It’s because I’m playing with them. They even play Duck, Duck, Goose with me!
#7 Keep your bikes and scooters maintained. Growing up, if something happened to my bike, it was over. My parents wouldn’t fix it. The bike would sit around, rust up and I’d have to wait for a new one. It sucked! My husband and I try to keep the kids’ bikes maintained and ready to go. They have these scooters and we keep them charging in the garage.
#8 Get a pool! We bought this pool over at Walmart. The kids love it! 
You can find more cool backyard ideas over at Own The Yard.
What’s your best tip to get kids to play outside?
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“Growing up, if something happened to my bike, it was over.” This is how I felt, too!! Our bikes were fun, our mode of transportation, and most importantly our independence!! Luckily fo us, we had a gas station around the corner from our home where we could go to fill tires (for free- not like nowadays where you have to pay) and if the tire needed more than air- it was torture just waiting for our parents to finally go to the store to get a new tube. These are all great tips! Thanks so much.
I totally agree that it is important for kids to experience outdoor play. Appreciate your tips to encourage them to be more active.
Hello, Crystal! I read about your ideas for summer leisure time with kids with great pleasure and planned something for the next summer. For example, I particularly loved summer swimming pool that you mentioned. I am thinking to put it up in my yard. My three-years-old son and me spent last year in the park – he wanted to ride his new bike all the time.
Annette Barnes recently posted…Best Bikes for 3 Year Olds in 2018
What a fantastic article on encouraging kids to play outside during the summer! It’s crucial to foster their love for outdoor activities and exploration. While enjoying the fresh air and physical play, it’s also essential to balance their interests, such as gaming.