The Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Children: Engaging and Calming Their Energy
Children can get bored quickly, and when that happens, they often act up or create a mess at home. Even if they aren’t bored, kids may act out when they feel upset or bothered, which is entirely understandable.
Spending time outdoors with your children can be a great way for both of you to unwind while providing a healthy, physical outlet for their developing emotions. According to research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, exposure to nature helps improve children’s attention, working memory, and concentration. Additionally, parents can use these outdoor moments to teach children about inhibiting impulses, reducing hyperactivity, and promoting physical activity.
Taking your children outside for some fun can be an entertaining experience for everyone. If you’re concerned about their safety, remember to take necessary precautions before engaging in outdoor activities, such as ensuring they wear appropriate clothing and gear, and that they are supervised at all times.
So, without further ado, let’s explore more ways you can help your children calm down and enjoy the outdoors!
The Benefits of Gardening for Kids: A Fun and Therapeutic Activity
Gardening can be a soothing and therapeutic hobby for adults, and there’s no reason children can’t join in on the fun as well. Teaching kids about gardening not only allows them to grow and care for plants but also helps them develop simple habits, like remembering to water them, fostering a sense of responsibility.
According to a feature on gardening with kids from BBC Good Food, courgettes and beans are among the best “kid-friendly” plants to grow because they’re easy to cultivate from seed. Other great options include cherry tomatoes and strawberries, which are familiar and feature bright colors that kids will enjoy.
Engaging in gardening can be a fun way to get physical without being overly strenuous. It provides a perfect opportunity for you and your kids to bond and talk about their day or school while enjoying the calming effects of nature.
Take them out for a stroll
Another pleasant and slower-paced activity that can be great for the whole family is an outdoor stroll. A nice walk outside can help children clear their heads and can be a suitable, inexpensive means of stress relief for you. For younger kids, using the double pushchairs designed by iCandy allows you to seat one child behind the other, making it very easy to manoeuvre your kids wherever you go. This way, no one gets left behind, and no two kids fight over their “turn” on the pushchair. For even younger kids, some double pushchairs can even double as a changing bed, so you won’t have to worry about emergencies while out.
Being in a pushchair can also help children calm down better as they are less stimulated than when they’re walking. We’ve previously written about the five “Calming techniques for kids”, and having them in a quality pushchair can help them focus more on the five senses we discussed — looking, feeling, listening, smelling, and tasting. And honestly, you reduce the risk and stress of the children tripping or falling as well.
Take up an outdoor sport
For a slight change of pace that can still be calming for children — letting them learn an outdoor sport can not only help train and develop their motor skills at a young age, but it can also provide a healthy, physical outlet for their emotions and moods. Should you or your child not be the types to play ball, consider rollerblades or biking. For biking, remember to buy safety gear and the right bicycle size for your child’s age to prevent accidents. If your children are younger than five years old, for example, you wouldn’t want to get them heavy-duty BMX bikes. Remember to prioritise your children’s safety as much as you prioritise having fun.
