Welcome to Day 5 of “Gearing Up Families to go Screen Free“! If this is your first time hearing about the event, please check out our updated tab here. Make sure you check out the giveaways at the end of this post (they are ONLY open for 24 hours- midnight to midnight EST!)
There is no replacement for the outdoors as THE playground for kids and adults alike. Gross motor skills are developed through running, jumping, climbing and exploring. Motor manipulation skills are improved while passing a ball or pushing a friend on the swing. Fresh air alleviates stress and brings peace. The ever-changing environment outdoors challenges on a mental level too while discovering insects, birds, the movement of dirt and the speed and direction of winds (which we know about all-to-well around here!)
If you are new here, you may not know how strongly we promote a “15 minute” rule. We are outside EVERY day for AT LEAST 15 minutes (though usually much, much longer.) There are a few exceptions, of course, but we know how related our outdoor time is to the happiness of our family.
We believe recess is crucial (even for home-schooled kids, kids not yet in school AND adults) and love what Keen is doing through their RECESS promotion (check it out if you haven’t seen it yet!) is changing workplaces.
We hope there are a ton of families outside playing next week – here is a list of our favorite ways to play outside:
- Throw a ball down a hill (and chase it 
)
- Ride bikes (see the incredible giveaway below if you have a toddler!)
- Sidewalk chalk
- Build a fort (use scrap wood, grasses, rocks, and your wood pile…:))
- Dig dirt (and don’t worry about getting dirty). Use shovels, trucks, or your hands!
- Play a board game outside (if you are lucky enough to not have the wind like we do!)
- Paint outdoors (use the sky as inspiration)
- Do relay races (race a timer if kids/adults are limited!)
- Conduct a scavenger hunt
- Hunt for flowers
- Take photos
- Hike, climb and/or swim
We want to know your favorite ways to play outdoors are! If you have a blog, feel free to link up to some of your favorite outdoor play posts (and make sure you read through them for more inspiration!)
GeoPalz: Rebecca Roland
Parafoil Kite: Ann Fischer
Strider Bike: Tiffany Akin
a Rafflecopter giveaway<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”>You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
a Rafflecopter giveaway<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”>You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>. a Rafflecopter giveaway<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”>You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
We have several ways we like to play outdoors….hiking, swimming in the creek and searching for animals and bugs, canoeing, and good old fashioned playing in the dirt
We get outside to play by hula hooping, bike riding, hiking, exploring, walks, laying in the hammock to watch the clouds and many other activities.
We love to play outdoors by just exploring some of our favorite woods.
We love to be outdoors. When it is winter we are sledding and playing in the snow. When it comes to spring time we are going for walks and playing outside with the kids. We love to be outdoors and finding new things to experience. We are always looking for a new thing to do.
We get out by going to the park, riding bikes, pulling weeds/planting flowers in our own yard, hunting for bugs and worms in the dirt, having picnics for lunch, running in the sprinkler (we even had a 75 degree day the other day!), going for walks…
My 20-month old little girl thrives on going outdoors every single day. Woe betide me if we do not, as my little girl quickly becomes a destructive little ghoul. My favorite way to get outside with her in our small town is to tow her behind my bike in my Chariot CX1 and ride along the centennial trail, hitting up all the parks along the way. When she is awake we slow it down, stopping to play and explore, and when she sleeps I ride like there is a pack of wolves at my back. It helps me to get my blood pumping, and she loves to explore new terrain. Highlight of the last ride? Garter snakes!Soon she will be tall enough to enjoy a Strider bike, which I could easily strap to the Chariot for her to use whenever possible. I would love to win one!
My boys and I spend time outside everyday, rain or shine. Today they spent the afternoon “watering” the flowers with spray bottles.
We scored a little tykes fort/slide from craigslist so my son loves to play on that while I hang the laundry on the clothesline. We play soccer, baseball, pirates, just chase eachother and laugh. I keep a plastic easle outside for painting and I also let him decorate our concrete patio with sidewalk chalk. He likes to help me garden too
As an adult, my play often takes the form of choosing to walk instead of take a car or public transport! When it’s play then It’s usually some little used trail in the outdoors!
I get outside to play when I garden. It is something I really enjoy. I also play with my children. They love to be pushed on a swing, thrown a ball, have me be goalie, or just take a walk around the village. They want to be outdoors every moment of the day
kids love outside and go for bike rides, hikes and anything
We love to hula hoop, ride bikes, go for a jog, play tag, soccer, follow the leader, take “I Spy” walks, garden, skateboard, etc. Oh and the water play! My kids fav activity right now – playing on our giant trampoline with the hose. My kids are always outside playing!
We go on SLOW mountain bike rides since the twins are still inside momma!
We ride bikes, swim in the summer, go for walks and fish whenever we can. My kids also enjoy jumping on the trampoline, drawing with sidewalk chalk, blowing bubbles and catching bugs. And of course, camping.
We like to go for hikes and walks. One of our fav. outdoor play ideas right now is alphabet scavenger hunts where we hide ABC letters around the yard or playground and my son finds them (in order)
When the boys were little they played for hours in the dirt or stream bed with their truck – wait they still do that! Also when they were little we would do scavanger hunts, garbage pick up, and collecting of treasures! Now it it is biking, basketball or other sports in the yard!
Our favourite things to do outside are to go to the park to play soccer, and go biking on the paths through the large park close to our house. We often stop to throw rocks into the river and bring picnics along.
C just likes to be outside not matter what we are doing. She find ways to entertain herself by just walking around and checking everything out. Of course her favorite thing to do is pick grass and feed it to the horses.
we love going to the park, taking walks on the water front and looking for ducks, playing in the yard all day, and blowing bubbles on the deck!
we do get out when it’s not raing, which it has been alot lately. We play soccer and haki sac, and on our play equipment. We play tag and chase. We like to hike in our woods and play in the creek. We take walks and go on scavenger hunts. We ride bikes and roller blade at the local boat dock. when it snows we sled, board and build
We love to get outside, rain or shine. We’ve got the perfect driveway for my daughter to play on a strider. Those are amazing little bikes!!!
Today I was outside playing in the dirt planting flowers and tomatoes and tonight I’m going with some friends to play mini golf! That kite looks like so much fun too!!!
Pio mostly goes outside at nap time – due to schedule of nanny kids. It’s also usually the only way he will take a 3rd nap when he needs one. We try to take him out back to watch his cousins play while my mom watches them too. He gets to ride on mommy, swing, or sit in his carseat. Soon enough he’ll be joining in the play too though!
We are always outside! Riding scooters, in the pool, looking for spider webs…or just running around! These giveaways are amazing, I hope to score on one of these!!
A friend of mine jokes that “you open the door, step outside” and in our case it’s very true (except for the summer when the door is always open
Biking, hiking, skiing, exploring, camping, running, jumping, swinging… my son loves to move!
Dear Mountain Mama,Thanks for spreading the word about the importance of play for all ages! We like to puddle jump, cloudgaze, shoot hoops, and take our dogs for walks. We also love a good game of four-square! We have some other fun suggestions at recess.keenfootwear.comBest,KEEN Recess Team