How can you get children outside and into the fresh air more often? I grew up in the village and was basically outside every free minute of my childhood. We played soccer with the other children, built dens in the forest or bathed in the river. There were countless opportunities to do things in the great outdoors - to put it bluntly, we were only really indoors to eat and sleep.
However, digital media now also offer countless opportunities for entertainment. Many children spend the majority of their free time indoors on PCs, smartphones, televisions, consoles or tablets. In moderation, this is harmless - but regular, hour-long media consumption can lead to developmental disorders, concentration problems or aggressive social behavior, for example.₁ There is simply a lack of oxygen and exercise.
I would now like to give you some valuable tips on how to get your kids outside in the fresh air more often and raise their environmental awareness.
In advance you can find here already a Table of contents about the contribution:
- Reading books about nature adventures together
- As parents do not stand stubbornly at the edge of the playground
- Start going out together at an early age
- Create a wild garden that is as close to nature as possible
- Make excursions to corners of wild nature
- Play with animals and observe them
- Ride a bike, sled, inline skates or skateboard
- Collect chestnuts and acorns
- Tinkering with natural materials
- Build soapbox and participate in competitions
- Allow contact with other adults
- Participate in activities organized by wildlife schools and forest kindergartens
- Limit your children's media time and show them alternatives
- Turn off music & radio while driving
- Organize scavenger hunt
- Consciously plan slots for outdoor time together
- Be curious yourself
17 tips and ideas - How can you get children outside in nature more often?
Spending time in the fresh air acclimatizes your children to temperature fluctuations, strengthens the immune system and thus also prevents illnesses and allergies. When children spend time in the sun, this is also a preventative measure to prevent a possible lack of Vitamin D. It should not be forgotten that playing in nature trains fitness, motor skills, agility and balance and makes kids more efficient. Ultimately, time spent outdoors forms the basis for a natural, healthy life.
Use the following tips and ideas to help your child enjoy playing more often. Outdoors in the health-promoting nature busy. You will soon realize that the foundation for this is laid at a very young age. Let's go!
Notice: I have written a separate post about how you can Inspiring children for environmental protection and sustainability can do. The main focus here is on how you can get children outside in the fresh air and nature more often.
1. read books about nature adventures together
We all know how Reading books is important is. If you want to get your kids excited about the environment and nature, you should get their Imagination and inner imagination through exciting stories. For example, I was always fascinated by the story of the shipwrecked sailor Robinson Crusoe inspired.
2. as parents, do not stand stubbornly at the edge of the playground
If you go to the playground with your child, you as a parent should also play along and not just stand on the sidelines and watch. This gives your child the opportunity to show you something that he/she is proud of or that he/she particularly enjoys. The more beautiful the memories and moments, the more likely your child will want to go there again.
3. start going out together at an early age
Even as an infant, you should always take your offspring with you on Walks in the countryside and get them used to the fresh air. As soon as you can, you can take toys, such as a Take ball to itso that you can play together on the grass and develop your child's motor skills.
The more often they find this time enjoyable, the more likely they are to enjoy spending time outside in later years.
4. create a wild garden that is as close to nature as possible
Spending time in nature gives children a zest for life. All the better when this happens right on your own doorstep, the most sustainable garden possible is possible! The more natural and lively it is, the more there is to discover. Children already enjoy pond pumps, stones and clouds - but if your Garden also still bird friendly is, all the better!
If you feel like it and have space, you can also Growing vegetables - I definitely always really enjoyed this as a child. You can also start a competition with your siblings: for example, "who grows the biggest pumpkin" or something similar.
5. make excursions to areas with the wildest possible nature
Neither in the garden, nor in nature everything must always be perfect and orderly! Children must also be able to be wild and take some risksto have extraordinary experiences and learn for life.
Therefore, go on excursions into the wild nature, where it is discover new things that are fun. An old wasteland with different plants and insect species is often enough to spark enthusiasm. This works particularly well in spring, when the wildflowers are blooming on every corner and the animals come out of their winter holes. This also makes the Environmental awareness strengthened.
6. play with animals and observe them
Animals are vitalizing and relaxing companions for children. Make sure that your children regularly see animals or have direct contact with them. I personally no longer consider zoo visits to be in keeping with the times. Instead offer Animal-friendly alternatives for zoos an. For example, visit a one Life yard, on which rescued animals are housed. Farm vacation or the visit of a Sanctuary for wild animals are also a good way for children to develop compassion for the animals. Personally, I have always been enthusiastic about simply Watching wild animals from the high seat.
Tip: It's also nice to grow up with a pet. Try to avoid animals from breeding and instead rescue a dog from animal welfare or an animal shelter, for example. But there really are countless ways to Help animals in everyday life.
7. ride a bike, sled, inline skates or skateboard
If you want to get your children outside, then you should be active with them more often. Ride bike, inline skates, skateboard or sled! Does what season and environment so give. It's fun, connects parents and children - and not least provides fresh air and plenty of exercise.
8. collect chestnuts and acorns
Autumn is coming? Then you can go with your children to collect acorns and chestnuts. But make sure you don't collect too much fruitas the forest needs their seeds to regenerate naturally. Ideally, the trees should not be in the forest, but scattered along roadsides or in the village.
Forestry offices, game parks or forest enclosures can usually always use the tree fruits. Deer and roe deer are particularly fond of horse chestnuts. But it's always best to ask first. Your offspring may even be able to earn a few euros in pocket money.
Tip: Chestnuts can also be used to make Make detergent yourself. You can find out how to do this in the linked article! Incidentally, the same applies to Ivy, which you can use to make your own washing-up liquid.
9. craft with natural material
Although this creativity is occasionally encouraged at school - but the wild thinking and curious trial and error, children usually learn at home with their parents.
Now you may have some Chestnuts and acorns collected. A few Branches, leaves and pine cones and you could make something cool together. Like what, for example? You can make little hedgehogs out of pine cones - and great figures out of chestnuts and toothpicks, for example!
Tip: You can also use natural materials to Wrap gifts plastic free. Just try it out.
10. build soapbox and participate in competitions
Of course, you can also buy a soapbox. But you will spark your child's enthusiasm if you build it together and take part in a competition at school or in your region, for example. This promotes the manual skills and will increase their interest in regularly trying out such things in the fresh air. But don't forget the brake pedal!
11. allow contact with other adults
Of course, you have to be careful and pay attention to who your offspring makes contact with - but it's not just freaks in this world! The children need adult role modelsthat they can look up to. And that doesn't just have to be their own parents. Allow your children to have contact with other adults so that they can develop their full potential.
12. take part in activities organized by wilderness schools and forest kindergartens
Wilderness camps, wilderness schools, Nature trails, campfires and exciting stories - There, children can not only experience and learn a lot, but also meet like-minded people and build friendships. Just let your kids have these experiences and decide for themselves whether they want to do it more often. It's guaranteed to be adventurous and educational - and maybe you'll be able to get your children outside in the fresh air more often in the long term.
13. limit the media time of your children and show alternatives
Whether your child is already spending hours in front of a screen every day or screen time is gradually increasing, it's a good idea to set a clear limit for media use. To be on the safe side, you should not even bring into the house. Personally, I also learned a lot from computer games - but I was generally on the devices far too often because the games are naturally addictive.
There should be a Spending time outdoors as a natural part of leisure time. After all, this time is crucial for our health and personal development. Ideally, you can make outdoor activities much more fun for your child than the alternatives within your own four walls.
Tip: You, too, should learn to control your Reduce screen time. You can find out how this works really well in the linked article.
14. turn off music & radio when driving a car
Do you often travel by car with your children? For example, when traveling or on the way to school? Then switch off the radio, screens and all distracting technical devices so that your kids can look out of the window, where there is always plenty to see and discover. Especially in the morning hours many wild animals on the move and also the morning dew or the cloudy sky give quite a bit!
15. organize scavenger hunt
The next Children's birthday is already in sight? Then organize an exciting scavenger hunt. The kids can solve puzzles and explore their surroundings. Turn it into a competition and reward your child and all their friends with creative prizes.
16. consciously plan slots for outdoor time together
Many of us are absolutely swamped in our everyday lives and hardly have any free time. But you won't get those moments with your children back if it's too late. That's why you should Block off certain periods of time each week for activities with your offspring. Use the time to do something together in the fresh air. And don't stress too much! Remember: adventures begin where plans end!
17. be curious yourself!
As a parent, you must set an example of curiosity and enthusiasm for the world around you - your child will imitate you because he or she will take their cue from those closest to them. Try to Leave out prior knowledge and your own experience and explore nature together with your children in a questioning and open-minded way. Above all, try to spend as little time as possible indoors in front of screens if you want to get your children outside!
Get children outside in the fresh air and raise their environmental awareness!
Being out in nature is a natural, human need - it is the The basis for a healthy life. Accordingly, we are obliged to spend more time outdoors to protect the health of our children and also to protect our own health.
At this point I would like to present the Book "How children grow today" by Herbert Renz-Polster and Gerald Hüthe. It's all about the Connections between child development and time in nature. I am sure that it will help you in addition to this article. Here you get it*.
I hope I've been able to help you get your child out in the fresh air more often in the future. Do you have any questions, suggestions or other tips you would like to share? Then just write me a comment under this article.
Stay environmentally conscious,
PS.: Look you with pleasure still something in the Sustainability Blog around. There, for example, you will learn about 10 things that Adults learn from children can. Have fun!
References:
₁ https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/56968/Uebermaessiger-Medienkonsum-von-Kindern-und-Jugendlichen-Risiken-fuer-Psyche-und-Koerper
