There are lots of potential benefits when kids play outdoors. When they are outside their homes, they become active, both physically and mentally. Aside from that, they become more adventurous and social as well. The fresh air they get outdoors helps to alleviate their stress levels and boost their moods. Thus, they can focus more on their studies and complete their homework within time.
With less anxiety and stress, the kids can sleep better. In addition to that, moderate exercising also helps prevent weight gain and obesity in kids. Therefore, playing outdoors is important. However, motivating kids to step outside has become quite an uphill task these days. Below are some effective ways to motivate them to go and play outside. Check them out.
Keep Track
If your child has a fitness tracker, they will find it easier to get more activity steps while playing outside. Ask them to track how many steps they have accomplished in a day and check with them if they aim for more. Calculate how many steps they would cover by completing one lap around your yard. Inspire them to go for more week by week.
Outdoor Toys
If there are enticing outdoor toys outside, your kid will automatically leave the screens at home and step into the outside world. Though pediatricians are not in favor of trampolines, kids have a whale of a time with anything they come across that has wheels. They immediately fall in love with water and love enjoying them. In case climbing and bouncing are they are hot favorites, they would love a pogo stick. Climbing trees is a sort of adventure for the little ones. So, climbing cleats can do wonders. For kids, the risk is fun, and the more risks they take, the more confident, resilient, and creative they become. Of course, they should take part in these activities under parental guidance.
Challenge Your Kid
Inspire your kid to take on something challenging if they are willing. While they grow up, you come to know what they are more inclined to. If competing is their style, introduce them to a bike race, badminton, horse riding, or even an obstacle course that they like. If you guys are not in competition with each other, ask them to teach you something new. It can be any game that they have learned back at school or a sport they know better. Your kid would love that.
Take the Indoors Outdoors
You can turn ordinary stuff into something exceptional if you change the venues. You can invite your child to complete their homework on a picnic table, take meals to a patio, or play board games under a tree outside your home. This will go on to inspire them to get up and indulge in these activities. Making them active is the goal, and all these will play a major role in doing that. Remember, whenever they take part in an outside activity, they can put their entire concentration on their studies in a much better way.
Teach Them The Old Tricks
Remember all those exciting games you used to play during your childhood? Building forts, kicking the can, etc., with your friends were complete fun back then. Some of you might have experienced an adrenaline rush while playing street hockey or skating on a pond in your locality.
Those of you who were a little adventurous would have loved walking into the woods and exploring them. Share your passions as a child with your little ones. You will see them gradually taking an interest and following in your footsteps.
Treasure Hunt
The treasure hunt has been one of the most favorite activities of kids, generation after generation. It continues to strike a chord with them. After all, what can get more alluring and adventurous than hunting for buried treasure?
They would love to rush outside whenever they get the opportunity. It would be a brilliant idea is to bury some treasure in your backyard and ask your kids to hunt it out. You would notice the glint in their eyes and the hunger to prove themselves.
Staying indoors for a long time can make your kid’s life boring. These steps effectively introduce them to the outside world and let them get exposed to nature.