Children are naturally curious and love to explore the world around them. The best way to nurture their love of learning is to provide opportunities for them to get outside during their playtime. Outdoor activities are not only fun for toddlers, but they can also help them develop important skills like sharing and cooperation for optimal early childhood development.
More importantly, you can spend time together with your child and create memories that will last a lifetime. When you bond with your child, they feel loved and supported. This sense of security lays the groundwork for your toddler to thrive both emotionally and socially. We’ve previously covered how you can bond with your little one in the kitchen. Here are more great outdoors activities that can foster family closeness while facilitating your child’s development.
What to Do Outside with Childrens as a Family
1. Build an outdoor fort
For starters, encourage your child to be creative and build their own fortress in the backyard. Forts inspire individuality and problem-solving, and your child is guaranteed to love the final result after all the hard work together. Spend quality time with your child by coming up with ideas, gathering materials and constructing it with them.
Once it’s finished, this can be the perfect place for outdoor storytime and movie nights.
2. Sketch and draw in nature
If you’re bringing your child to a park, bring along a sketchbook, coloured pencils, crayons and more art supplies. Drawing can be an exciting and easy activity that the whole family can enjoy together. And it’s not just for childrens – adults can get in on the fun too!
Drawing amidst nature will help your child tap into their imagination and better understand their surroundings. When your child draw from nature, they are able to take in more of the things around them and capture what they see in a creative way – your child might just surprise you with what they can create.
3. Birdwatching
Birding is another great way to explore nature in a different perspective and it can teach your child about the different types of birds that live around them. Check out some of the parks or nature reserves near your area and don’t forget to grab your binoculars along!
Looking at birds up close can be a magical experience for your child. If they show interest in birdwatching, you can take it to the next level by setting up a bird feeder by your home window or backyard. Your child can get an intimate look at the birds as they come to feed, providing an excellent opportunity for observation and discovery.
4. Make a kite
Have you ever flown a kite with your chidrens? If not, you’re missing out on a fun, enjoyable activity that comes with a host of benefits. Kites are also a lot of fun and can provide hours of entertainment for the whole family. You can guide your child through making a kite from scratch and get it ready to fly. Not only will your child feel proud once the kite is done, but flying it can also help improve their coordination and balance, build strength and increase stamina.
5. Go camping
Especially if you’re wanting to limit your child’s screen time, camping can be worth the while when it comes to spending more time outdoors as a family. Be sure to get your child involved throughout the preparation process, from packing for the day’s trip to pitching the tent at the campsite. If your child loves challenges, camping will definitely push them out of their comfort zone and try new things.
Make the most out of this hands-on adventure by including activities like melting marshmallows over a campfire and stargazing as the night approaches.
At MindChamps, we incorporate more age-appropriate outdoor activities in our curriculum to help your toddler develop physically, socially and emotionally. Complement your child’s learning with our range of engaging lessons that promotes exploration. Book a tour today to find out more!