Go Outside and Play

Get your kids outside to play

I have to admit that I sometimes have a hard time pulling my kids away from the TV or the Internet. My husband and I try to strike a balance between the “connected” world and the “real” world for ourselves as well as our kids. But it’s not always easy.

A recent BusinessWeek article reports that by the time most U.S. children enter kindergarten, they have spent more than 5,000 hours in front of a television. Wow – I’m sure the folks at Nickelodeon love those stats but how are we as parents supposed to combat that? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids get at least 60 minutes of daily exercise to improve physical and mental health.

Okay, great! So tell the kids to go outside and play, right? I’m sure you’ll agree that this tactic doesn’t work so well. So here are a few ideas to get you and your kiddies moving this summer. And then you can get on the Internet and play games with your kids. :-)

Adventure Walks

Kids love to run, jump, skip, and climb and will do that more often outdoors. Let them explore and go at their own pace. Make it a nature hike by scouting out different leaves or flowers, textures or smells. Head to the beach in search of special shells and rocks. Go to the park and roll down the hillside.

Playgrounds & Parks

Of course kids love playgrounds but they can become a bit stale if you’re hitting the same park every day. Change it up by bringing a soccer ball to kick or a frisbee to throw to each other. Our son loves to chase down balloon rockets. He had such a tomato face last weekend that we had to make him stop playing to take a drink and cool down.

Community Centers

Check out your local community center to see what types of kids classes are available. We just enrolled our son in soccer (yes, that’s my little guy in the picture) and he absolutely LOVES it. Sure, his class is only 40 minutes once a week but it has sparked his interest enough that he wants to play on his own, too. There are so many classes to choose from that you are sure to find something to fit your child’s interests.

Exercise Together

Kids learn by example and the best way for kids to learn to enjoy exercise is with you. Try and set a “date” for your family to do something together at least once a week. Go swimming at the local pool, ride bikes in the canyon, play flashlight tag in the backyard, or go ice skating. The key is to do something active together as a family. We are trying to resurrect our nightly walks after dinner. I’d be thrilled with twice a week!

Ignore the Weather

Rain, rain go away, come again another day! Or…get outside and splash and play. Who says you have to stay indoors when the weather isn’t perfect? Get outside and start singin’ in the rain. Kids love to splash in puddles – why not make it their mission on a rainy day to find as many puddles as possible?

Kickin’ it Old School

Don’t discount the good old games that we used to play as kids like tag, hopscotch, jump rope, and kick ball. These are great exercise and still a ton of fun. Plus, it requires very little investment (if any).

So tell me! What are you doing with your kids to keep them active this summer? Please share your tips!

Enjoy!

Tara
KidZui Mom