How to Get Your Child to Love the Great Outdoors

This is a collaborative post.

Getting kids to swap their screens for sunshine can feel challenging, right? Just think about it; between Roblox, YouTube marathons, and their absolute refusal to deal with bugs (totally different than the kids generations ago), the great outdoors doesn’t always feel so “great” to them. To a degree, kids have always been like this. It used to be toys, books, comics, TV, video games, the internet, and sometimes all. Kids don’t change; it’s the technology that does, however.

But sometimes, that fresh air and a bit of mud are exactly what they need. The outdoors is where childhood magic happens. It’s where they can run wild, discover the joys of nature, and move instead of sitting like a potato on the sofa. So, how can you get children to want this? 

What can you do to make them yearn for the outdoors? Well, it’s possible to get them out of hermit mode; it could be through education, the right playset or toys, or even the location itself.

Now, here’s exactly what parents can do!

Make Outdoor Time About Fun, Not Bugs

For kids, the outdoors often comes with a mental checklist of horrors such as creepy crawlies, dirt, and the terrifying possibility of boredom. So, to change their minds, focus on the fun. For starters, physical play activities are an amazing way to ease them into the fresh air without making it feel like a chore. It depends on what it’s going to be, of course.

For example, a game of hide-and-seek, a football match, or even just a party in the garden can show them how much better it feels to run around than sit on a couch staring at a screen. The more fun they associate with being outside, the less they dread it.

Let Nature Do the Entertaining

If you think about it, nature is one giant playground, and once kids realise that, they’ll be hooked. The trick is to open their eyes to all the cool stuff they’re missing.

So, you may want to take them to a forest and show them how leaves crunch underfoot or how the sunlight filters through the trees. You could even do something like find a park pond and let them marvel at the ducks or throw pebbles into the water to see the ripples. But just be sure to encourage them to climb trees, dig in the dirt, or collect pretty leaves and stones.

As you already know, nature is filled with small wonders, and kids are naturally curious. So, if you can tap into that curiosity, they’ll start to see the outdoors as a place of discovery rather than a boring alternative to their favourite game.

Turn It Into an Adventure

Kids love a good story; seriously, what kid doesn’t? So why not make the outdoors the setting for their next big adventure? No, really, why not do something like that? Have you ever watched The Rugrats when you were a kid? Well, that’s the perfect example; they’re always on adventures, even if they are just right in Tommy’s backyard! It’s about helping them set up that blank canvas for a big adventure!

Make Outdoor Play a Social Event

For the most part, few things motivate kids, like their friends or siblings joining in the fun. For example, outdoor time becomes far more exciting when there’s a group to share it with. You could do something like organise playdates at the park (there are apps for it if you’re struggling to find kids), and you can host something in your own backyard too. But it helps to get your kid active by having other kids be active with them.

Create Moments to Treasure

The outdoors is full of moments that stick with kids forever, like catching their first frog, watching a butterfly land on their hand, or building the perfect sandcastle. These little wins remind them that outside isn’t a scary or boring place; it’s somewhere full of magic waiting to be found. You remember your little outdoor moments as a kid, right? Well, when it comes to your kid, encourage them to take keepsakes, like a seashell, stones, or even a lead. Just something small.

Show Them How Screens Fit Into the Bigger Picture

Now, here’s something you need to keep in mind: screens aren’t the enemy, but they can’t be the only source of entertainment. This is where parents do get it all wrong. You need to teach your little one about balance; that really can’t be stressed enough. If they see you glued to your devices, they’ll think it’s okay to be glued to theirs.