Outdoor Activities That Are Anything but Boring

By Kids 'R' Kids Learning Academies (A Patch Partner)

As the grass dries out and the weather gets warmer, take your children outside to run around, play, and soak up the sunshine. There are many options for outdoor activities – but some of them take a little bit more planning and creativity. Here are a few outdoor activities that require very minimal planning and preparation.

Whatever you choose to do with your children, remember that quality time spent with them is more important than the activity that you actually end up doing!

Plan a scavenger hunt.

Before you go out to your favorite park or nature area, make a list of items for your child to find or do when you get there. It can be as easy as “Find a tree with flowers on it,” “Find a dandelion,” or “Do 10 jumping jacks!” The goal is to keep your child occupied and active! If you want to encourage some healthy competition, set a timer and reward the child who gets done with the scavenger hunt first!

Pitch a tent and have a “camp out” in the backyard.

If you have a backyard, take your kids outside for a “camp out.” Pitch a tent, bring out some sandwiches and lemonade, and pretend you’re in the middle of a forest. When it gets dark, look for shooting stars, and maybe even tell spooky stories!

Get out the chalk and make sidewalk art.

This outdoor activity requires nothing more than colored chalk and a sidewalk. All you have to do is pick out a shady area and let your child’s imagination go wild! To spice things up, pick a theme for your sidewalk chalk art. Tell your child to create a fairytale land with castles, dragons and princesses. Or, create a zoo with giraffes and monkeys!

Go on a nature safari.

Is there a creek near your home? A lake? Or even a wooded area? Pack some binoculars, a sketch pad and a glass jar and go exploring! Ask your child to be extra quiet as you observe different types of birds, squirrels, and other critters. Pay attention to different types of flowers and plants that are sprouting out of the ground. If you come across an interesting bug, or even a frog, help your child scoop it up in a jar and look at it up close. If your child is artsy, give him time to draw the critter in his sketch pad before returning it to its natural habitat.

At Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies, we value outdoor fun, creativity and imagination. That’s why each of our centers is equipped with three or four outdoor play areas with state-of-the-art equipment. Children have scheduled times in the morning and afternoon to explore the outside world in a safe environment with supervision. Schedule a tour today to check out the facilities of any of our Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies!

Headquartered in the North Atlanta suburb of Duluth, GA, Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies® provide secure, nurturing, and educational environment for children ages 6 weeks - 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. With over 160 locations in 15 states, Kids ‘R’ Kids International® is a family owned and operated organization that ranks in the top 10 nationwide for franchised early childhood education centers. Find a location near you.