Five Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors

In the age of technology, it can be difficult to get your kids to go play outside. With so many entertaining devices at their fingertips, they are often content with staying indoors all day long. Sometimes it’s best to get rid of their gadgets for a while and go outside for a breath of fresh air and wholesome fun.

Top 5 Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors

1. Gardening. If you already have a garden, give your child their own patch and let her select a flower, herb, or vegetable of her choice to plant. If your backyard is small or you live in an apartment, you can do the same thing but instead have her plant it in a pot. Teach her how to dig a hole, plant the seeds, and water her plant regularly.
2. Sunset/Sunrise Picnic. Dusk and dawn are some of the most beautiful times of the day, but few of us take advantage of the beauty that they offer. With all of the vibrant colors in the sky and the cooler temperatures of fall, sunrise and sunset can be the perfect time for a family picnic.
3. Walking/Hiking. Going for a short walk or hike in your neighborhood or the nearest state park can be a good way to experience the outdoors. Teach your kids to appreciate nature by using their eyes, ears, nose, and fingers. Ask them to describe what they see or what they hear. A great idea is to bring a pair of binoculars or a magnifying glass so they can get a heightened sense of the world around them.
4. Star Gazing. Do some simple online research on astronomy and find out what the constellations and planets look like so you can point them out and teach your child their names. Have him use binoculars or a telescope to get a better look at Orion’s Belt or the Big Dipper. Pay attention to when lunar eclipses or meteor showers are happening, so you can be sure to step outside that night.  If you’re lucky, you might even see a shooting star!
5. Camping. Having your children help you pick the camping spot will make them more enthusiastic about going on the trip. Another way to get them excited is to have them help you set everything up and have a competition to see who could do their tasks the fastest.

There are so many ways to experience the natural world. You can use these all as opportunities to teach your child the value of nature. At Prep Academy, we recognize the importance of the great outdoors and believe that teaching our kids to appreciate it helps them in their development. Learning about nature also helps them become more environmentally responsible. Most importantly, spending time together as a family outside helps build stronger bonds and motivates your child to reach their full potential.