Three perfect outdoor adventures with kids

Activities

Published on Thursday, 02 September 2021 09:49

Last Updated on 02 September 2021

Monica Costa

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Getting outside is incredibly beneficial to both our overall health and our mental health.  Just being outside lowers the stress hormone cortisol and can ease and possibly protect against anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. In addition, it can boost our vitamin D levels, give our eyes a beneficial break from screen time, clear our lungs, and improve our blood pressure and heart rate.  It can even enhance our brain function, including concentration and focus. 

With all these benefits, going outdoors frequently is clearly vital for all of us, especially our kids.  You can give your kids a gift that will last a lifetime by helping them build a habit of being active outdoors regularly.  And it will be great for you, as well!  So, here are some ways to incorporate more outside time into your lives.  

Hikes and Walks

Walking is an aerobic exercise that can increase cardiovascular and respiratory fitness.  As little as a 30-minute walk, five times a week can help adults prevent disease later in life.  For kids, many countries recommend as much as three hours of activity a day, or about fifteen minutes for every hour spent awake.  Walking is a great way to reap some of the benefits of both physical activities and being outdoors.  Consider walking to school or the store with your kids if you live nearby.  Or simply get into a habit of taking an evening constitutional as a family.  Letting your kids lag behind or run ahead, as appropriate for their age, can be a great way to encourage them to discover the nature around them, too, and the art of the slow walk can have benefits for you too.  

Camping

There are few better ways to spend quality time with your kids outdoors than to go for a camping trip.  Even when things don’t go well, it is a significant bonding experience.  And, if you are inexperienced, you might be surprised to find that things usually do go well.  Spending so much time outdoors is incredibly refreshing and can improve your mood and reduce your stress, even after you come home. In addition, any camping trip can be a fantastic voyage of discovery with your children.  Not only are there natural wonders to take in on your road trip, being outdoors provides endless teachable moments and opportunities for you to learn with your kids.  If you are hesitant to camp out in the traditional tent, look into options like hard floor camper trailers, which can make camping with kids a lot easier.  

Take Up Outdoor Photography

Photography is an excellent and versatile hobby when you are looking to spend more time outdoors.  You and the kids can shoot anything together, from city scenes to local birds and plants.  And with so many kids cameras available for different age groups, you won’t even need to share a lens.  It can also be a great way to teach your kids researching skills.  If you look up the subjects of your snaps when you get home, you and your kids can become experts on your local flora and fauna, the history of your area, or any notable sights nearby.