How to Have Fun Outside This Spring
This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Wipeout Dry Erase Productive Gear. I received compensation for my participation, but my review and opinions are my own.
Spring is finally here (I hope) which means it’s finally time to get outside! If I am being honest, the kids never really stop being outside. It’s probably the number 1 thing I love about our neighborhood. We have an old school style neighborhood. The kids are always out playing.
Even though they spend the majority of their time outside, there are some challenges. We hear “I’m bored” every so often or there are disagreements that need to be sorted out. But for the most part, they are playing and making childhood memories.
How did it get this way? We have a few things that we do to help make this happen. Here is how we have fun outside during springtime (and all year round!).
How to Have Fun Outside This Spring
Gear Up! Make sports equipment and outdoor toys easily accessible so they’ll be more likely to use it. Park bicycles near the front of your garage, or keep scooters in the mudroom so they can grab a go. I keep sidewalk chalk and bubbles by the front door. The idea is to integrate activity into your everyday life so it becomes a part of your routine.
And don’t forget about the safety gear! If the kids are outside on their bikes or scooters, make sure their helmets are there too. I can’t tell you how many precious outside minutes are wasted because someone can’t find their helmets. And if you use Wipeout Dry Erase Helmets . Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear lets kids customize their helmets and pads with their own designs, using included markers and stencils – so they can start being creative right out of the box!
Wipeout makes safety fun — with a helmet as unique as they are, kids will want to wear their helmets and pads, meaning they will be safer on their bikes, skateboards, roller-skates and scooters or enjoying sledding and snow sports. Kids can easily wipe the designs off and create new ones, again and again.
Learn more about Wipeout by watching the video below.
Take a Walk. It sounds so simple, but sometimes it’s nice to get back to basics with regular walks. Take the dog out together in the morning instead of making it a one-man job. Or work off dinner by hitting the pavement as a family for a sunset stroll. It’s a great way to discover your surroundings, get to know your neighbors, and enjoy quality time as a family while burning off energy.
Plan ahead. The kids may have all the time in the world to be outside but parents are another story. But it’s important for us to get outside, too. To help with that, write your activity plans on a family calendar or in your planner. Get the kids involved and let them help plan the activities.
Plan for all weather conditions. Have some ideas for indoor activities on standby in case the weather does not cooperate. I like to keep art supplies and board games on hand. And there’s nothing better than reading a good book on a rainy day.
Let technology be a supportive tool. You don’t have to ban technology all the time when the kids are outside. We do have a rule that iPads stay inside when the kids are playing outside. But there are times when technology can be helpful. For example, I let the use their iPads or my phone to take pictures while on a nature walk or use the GPS tracker so we don’t get lost. We also started Geocaching and use an app to find treasures.
