No one has ever accused parenting of being easy to do. Frankly, it’s often overwhelming and gives one the sense that they’re failing in some way, even when they’re not. That’s why it’s important to remember that the best thing you can do for your children is to be there for them and be present in their daily lives. This includes doing various outdoor activities with them that will keep your children active, open them to new ideas and understandings of the world around them, and help build memories with them. Here are a few ideas for those activities.
Enjoy A Hike Through the Woods
Going on a hike through the woods is a great way to introduce your child to nature. Together, you will be able to learn about plant and animal life, all while staying active and getting some fresh air. This is also an opportunity to teach how to take care of themselves while they’re outside. Some minor skills, like being able to tell what poison ivy looks like goes a long way for children. Considering poison ivy is found in the 48 mainland states and at least 85% of people will have a negative reaction to it, this is incredibly important to know. No matter what, though, they’re sure to find something they love about hiking.
Give Your Dog a Bath
For families who have a dog, a great way to spend time outside together while also instilling a sense of responsibility and compassion in your child is to wash the dog. Not only does your dog probably need it, but this can be a fun activity for you and your kid to do together. Use as much soap as necessary and enjoy the bonding time together. Additionally, washing your dog on a regular basis is a good thing to do for multiple reasons. Especially if you take your dog outside a lot, it’s very common for animals to get fleas, which can go 100 days without needing to feed. Not only will you be spending time with your child, but you’ll also be teaching them how to care for other living things.
Teach Your Kids How to Swim
One great way to make sure that your children always have something to do in the summer, is to teach them how to swim. In the lake, pool, or ocean, you can teach them a set of strokes, how to kick their legs, and generally be safe while they’re in the water. This will keep them active and help them to be confident and build friendships during the summer. Furthermore, it’s something that they’ll never forget you did for them.
Coach Them on How to Play a Sport
A common way for parents to spend time with their children is to spend time playing a favorite sport together. For instance, by coaching your child’s youth baseball team you can spend time with them, help them to make friends, learn about teamwork and competition, all while staying active after school. Part of this might be about them getting better at a sport, staying active, and spending time with them. However, so much more of it is being a part of the life lessons that they can learn from playing sports.
Take Them to a Corn Maze
A lot of time people think of outdoor activities as being a summer thing, but they don’t have to be. By taking them to a fun fall activity, like a corn maze, they can get an idea for how the seasons change and what impact this has on how people spend their time, eat, and drink.
Getting out and being active with your kids is an amazing way to spend time. Not only that, but spending time with your kids can be a great learning experience for them as well. For example, if you happen to pass by a courtroom while you’re out and about, you can explain to them how a bail bond agency can act as surety for a defendant. While spending quality time together is important, the conversations we have with our kids are, too. Through trial and error, you’ll be able to have a meaningful connection with your kids, regardless of their age. It’s just a matter of finding what the two of you can bond over and enjoy doing together for years to come.
