Kids shouldn’t spend spring and summer days cooped up in their homes. Enjoying the fresh air and the warmth of the sun is essential for proper development. The outdoors provides babies with ample opportunity for physical development and playtime with other children. Because of this, it’s recommended for parents to take their kids outside whenever the weather allows it. Here are some ways you and your child can enjoy some fun outside.
1. Personal waterpark
With a couple of household items and some water, you can give your child a real waterpark experience in your own backyard. Plastic pools are easy to come by and they’re pretty cheap. All you need is a functioning garden hose to start it off.
If possible, keep the water at a moderate temperature. Kids tend to shy away from cold water if they’re able to. Anything else you could incorporate would be a great addition. Plastic bowls and measuring cups are some of the most cherished playthings in a child’s toy arsenal. They become even more fun when you add water to the mix. Always keep an eye on your child when they’re playing in a homemade pool, even shallow water can be dangerous.
2. Fun on the sand
Sand gives babies an opportunity to interact with a different environment than they’re used to. It’s the perfect material for learning some basic concepts. Kids love testing the limits of sand by building things. You’ll often see babies building castles and hills according to their imagination. It’s a great exercise in creativity for their young and malleable minds.
Whether you’re visiting the beach or just playing inside a sandbox, the sand is going to pique their interests either way. They are fascinated by the texture of sand and it provides them with a unique tactile experience that they won’t soon forget.
3. Playground games
You don’t notice all the different playgrounds in your neighborhood until you have a baby. You should get familiar with them because they’re going to be a quintessential part of your parenting experience for years to come. Kids of all ages enjoy spending time in these versatile play areas. Take advantage of these free playgrounds and let your baby enjoy the fun equipment.
The best part is, it can be fun for both of you! See-saws might have lost their charm on you years ago, but to your child, they’re still a pretty exciting novelty. You can horse around on them for quite a while before your child gets bored. Swings are another adrenaline-packed activity that your baby won’t forget. Just make sure to start off with some softer pushes. It might not seem like a great height to you, but imagine how it must look from your child’s perspective.
4. Stroller joyrides
Strollers might just be a tool for convenience for moms, but they are a bunch of fun for kids. For them, it’s a fast-paced ride through unknown environments. Luckily, there are also ways to make this mundane activity even more fun for moms. There are lots of local communities that offer stroller exercise classes. These classes allow you to get fit while also making some new friends along the way.
Put on some workout clothes and get ready for a fun day with your baby. Remember to take a lightweight stroller with you to make the exercises a bit easier. The kids get to kick back and relax while you socialize and get a workout with the rest of the moms. This can be an even better activity if you have delivered twins as twin strollers can activate more of your arm muscles. It’s the ideal activity for both of you.
5. Outdoor obstacle course
You shouldn’t keep all the fun exercise activities all to yourself. Your baby might not be big enough to do any serious workouts, but it can still have some light physical fun in the outdoors. Take the time to set up an obstacle course in your backyard.
It doesn’t have to be particularly complex. Kids imaginations are wild enough as it is, even the simplest items will inspire them to do things. Boxes and hula hoops are great tools for this. You can construct tunnels for your baby to crawl through. If you want to go all out, you can always buy some orange cones for soccer practice and incorporate them.
Conclusion
You should use every opportunity available to take your child outside for some fun activities. Natural playtime in the outdoors has a host of benefits for the child’s development. Health is something that shouldn’t be disregarded, either. Let’s not forget that sunlight gives them plenty of vitamin D. For children, the actual activities aren’t as important as simply giving them something new to experience. Every new area they visit is something that they haven’t seen before and it allows their imagination to go wild. The good news is that when you go outside, every area has something new to bring to the table.
