Tips to Ensure Your Kids Stay Safe Exploring Outdoors This Summer

When it comes to getting kids to play outside, modern-day parents are at a disadvantage their forebears didn’t have to reckon with. There are lots of powerful attractions that keep children from engaging in outdoor play and exploration, the latter which adds so much to their summertime experience and fosters learning and a spirit of inquiry. Video games, social media, and streaming services, which let them play their favorite movies at will, lead kids to believe that all the entertainment they need can be had within the confines of their own bedrooms. Once school is over for the year, the idea of going outside to play may seem foreign and unappealing, but it’s important that children of all ages spend time getting their fingernails dirty and their hair mussed. This summer, try reintroducing your children to the great outdoors by helping them see it through fresh eyes and possibilities.  

A safe, green space

It’s remarkable how unfamiliar kids these days can be with their own backyards or neighborhoods. Help them engage with nature by identifying trees, flowers and birds, and encouraging them to touch and smell the flora they see every day. Make sure that any objects, natural or otherwise, which could cause injury or an allergic reaction are removed, fenced off or locked away. Don’t lose patience or force your children to do something that might make it difficult for them to engage their own imaginations and sense of curiosity. The objective is to encourage independent play and the involvement of all their senses in their own way.

Dig in the dirt

If you have young children, don’t underestimate the fun they can have just playing in the dirt, making mud pies, or creating things out of sand. Consider creating a sandbox or play area where your kids can use their imagination. A few pieces of smooth wood, some nails and a few pounds of dirt or sand can give your little ones hours of interactive fun with nature. Add a few play tools, such as plastic trowels, empty milk cartons, and a container they can fill with water to create a little moat or river.

Their own world

Kids can create inventive, imaginary worlds with some cardboard boxes, magic markers, and a little outdoor space. Suggest to your children that they create a town of their own creation with buildings, such as a bank, city hall, and library, and houses with addresses and yards of their own. Encourage them to come up with a name for their town and hold elections to see who will be mayor, sheriff, and head builder. The local grocery, liquor store, or big box appliance dealer are good resources if you’re looking for boxes of different sizes and shapes. Look carefully for any loose staples or sharp edges on your boxes before turning them over to the kids.

The joy of mud and water

Most kids can make a good time out of water and mud. If space allows, hold a touch football or baseball game in a mud-soaked yard created by your kids according to their own specifications. Break out the old, worn, clothing and shoes or boots and watch as the mud flies! Muddy clothes and shoes are easily cleaned once the mud dries out, as are children after a quick trip to the shower.

Pool safety

If you have a pool or take the kids to one in your area, make sure they understand the rules of pool and water safety. Kids should take swimming lessons and can begin learning as early as six months. Pool rules include no running allowed, no going in the water without supervision by an adult or lifeguard, and always keep breakable items out of the pool area. Your pool should have at least a 4-foot fence with a dependable lock on the gate.

Helping your children make the most out of outdoor play this summer will give them a healthy and enjoyable alternative to gaming consoles and an appreciation of nature. Kids need to spend time outdoors to get the physical exercise they need and for their cognitive development and motor skills.

Sponsored Post by Courtney Rosenfeld of Gig Spark. Image via Pexels