Make the most of outdoor spaces this summer

Are your kids getting enough time outside? A survey commissioned by the makers of Claritin of 5,000 American parents of children aged 5-13 found that 81 percent agreed their children are excited to be outside — yet 55 percent are worried that their kids are not spending enough time outside.

Getting outside is not just good for kids’ mental and physical health; it is an excellent way for families to bond and create memories together. When surveyed, 78 percent of parents said that some of their favorite childhood memories are of playing outside, with 66 percent revealing they want to recreate those memories with their children.

While more than half (55 percent) of parents admitted that their kids spend more time outside now than in pre-pandemic times, 72 percent acknowledge that their children would spend more time outside if their personal outdoor space was more exciting.

Not sure where to start? The Outsideologist Project, from the makers of Claritin, offers many ideas to encourage children to spend more time playing outside — whether in their own backyard, a local park or anywhere in between. Below are five tips on how to make an outdoor space more exciting and engaging with fun activities the whole family will enjoy.

1. SPORTS

What are your fondest memories of playing sports? Are they catch, kicking around a soccer ball or shooting hoops with your parents? Many kids develop a passion for sports from their parents, who can nurture their interests by regularly playing different sports with them.

While you may not have enough people to play teams, you can teach your kids the fundamentals and help improve their skills. Turn your lawn, backyard or even the park into a mini training camp. For example, if your children are interested in soccer, you can designate sections of the yard or field for different skills, such as dribbling around cones, scoring a goal and passing the ball.

2. GAMES

There are plenty of backyard games for kids to enjoy this summer and beyond. The triedand-true classics such as tag, water-balloon fights and hide-and-seek are always a hit, but there are fun creative games to try as well.

If your children like to play pretend, you can make their day by creating a treasure hunt so your little pirates can go exploring. Hide a few small prizes in your backyard, draw up a map with clues or challenges, and set the kids off on a great adventure.

You can also create a backyard obstacle course with cones, pool noodles, hula hoops or any other materials you may have. Bend the pool noodles or cardboard boxes to make tunnels or hurdles, and place hula hoops, or use chalk, to create hopscotch-like obstacles. If you have slides, incorporate those into the course for more challenging obstacles.

3. GARDENING

It is never too early to get children involved in gardening. If you are an experienced gardener or a hobbyist, you already have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to your kids. Teach them which plants grow best in which seasons, show them the different parts of a plant or flower, and explain how they grow and thrive.

If you grow fruits and vegetables, you can teach your children how to plant and tend these crops. Are you into flowers or herbs? Teach your kids how to identify them and explain their various uses.

Do you not have a green thumb? Depending on your kids’ ages, do some research, and have an interactive science lesson on photosynthesis, the plant life cycle or how the outdoors engages all five senses.

4. ART

Arts and crafts are not just indoor activities. You can have your child look for natural materials in your backyard to incorporate into their art projects. For example, they can paint a rock, make an owl sculpture out of a pine cone, or press flowers to use as decorations for bookmarks or journals. Best of all, creating art outside means there is no mess inside your home and makes for an easy cleanup.

5. CAMPING

No list of outdoor recreation would be complete without camping. You do not need to plan for a long weekend at a state park to enjoy camping. Simply set up a tent in the backyard, break out the sleeping bags, and make sure you have bug spray and sunscreen.

If you do not have a tent, grab some blankets and get creative. You can make an outdoor fort or just relax and do some stargazing.

“Getting outside is essential to children’s overall well-being,” Claritin spokeswoman Catherine Vennat said. “That’s why The Outsideologist Project is dedicated to providing parents/guardians with fun and engaging activities for their own little adventurers.”

To learn more about the project, visit Claritin.com/The-Outsideologist-Project.