Mom’s List: 5 Great Ways to Get Your Kids Outdoors

I can remember as a child my mom pushing me outside, telling me to get some fresh air in my lungs. “It’s good for you,” she’d say. And, I’d go. Now that I have my own children, I find myself doing the same thing. My kids turn around and ask why. Of course, they do.

The hardcore reason is that being outdoors is critical to mental and physical health. According to the National Wildlife Federation, it can help fight obesity, increase creativity, counteract aggressiveness and improve attention. You don’t need much more motivation than that. In case your child needs a little help knowing what to do, here’s Mom’s List (like a cheat sheet) of five great activities to keep bodies and minds busy outside for hours.

Sprinklers: Put on some swimsuits, grab the sprinkler or hose and go play in the water. Throw in some balloons and buckets for extra fun. Create a puddle and let them jump in it. They can paint the ground, spray each other, chase you and dream up all kinds of water games. There’s no end to the places their imaginations can take them. Bubbles: If you are really crafty, you can make your own bubbles, but the solution is so cheap, you might as well just buy it. I suggest buying the biggest bottle you can find. Then, have your kids craft their own wands in all shapes and sizes out of wire. Is there anything more beautiful than the shimmer and rainbow of a bubble in the sunshine? Chalk: Sidewalk art in the making. Wet the chalk for double the fun, and have your camera ready to take pictures of their creations. Cattails: My kids discovered this one by raiding a floral display on my dining room table. At first I freaked. Then I realized how much fun they were having and joined in on the fun. Grab a cattail, head outside and shake until you can’t shake anymore. Trust me on this one. Block Party: Lemonade, cookies, comfortable lawn chairs and a sprinkler. Enough said. Water Bottles: Save some water, soda or juice bottles throughout the week. Poke a hole in the cap with a pen. Refill with tap water. Then, let your kids draw pictures on the sidewalk by squirting water through the hole. Sounds silly, but this one entertained my daughter for (not exaggerating) two hours straight.


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