Children can get bored quickly, and when that happens, they tend to act up or make a mess at home. Even if they aren’t bored, kids do tend to act up when they feel upset or bothered about something — and that’s totally understandable.
Spending some time outdoors with your children can be a great way for you both to unwind and have a healthy, physical outlet for their developing emotions. According to research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, studies through the years have found that exposure to nature helps improve children’s attention, working memory, and concentration. Parents can also use outdoor moments to teach children the importance of inhibiting impulses, reducing hyperactivity, and also promote physical activity.
Taking your children for some outdoors fun can be great entertainment for everyone. If you’re worried about them getting hurt, remember to take necessary precautions before doing outdoor activities, like ensuring they’re wearing the right clothes and gear, and that you don’t leave them unsupervised. So without further ado, let’s explore some more ways you can help your children calm down and enjoy the outdoors:
Grow Plants with Them
Gardening can be a soothing and therapeutic hobby for adults, but there’s no reason children can’t join in on the fun as well. Teaching them how to grow and care for plants can help them learn simple habits like remembering to water the plants, and give them a taste of responsibility. Courgettes and beans are among the best “kid-friendly” plants to grow because they’re easy to grow from seed, according to a feature on gardening with kids from BBC Good Food. Plants like cherry tomatoes and strawberries are also great for children to try growing, as they’re familiar and have bright colours that kids can enjoy.
Getting physical can be fun, but it won’t hurt to pick up a hobby that’s a little more slow-paced. This way, you don’t get tired quickly, and it can be a special time for you and your kids to talk about their day or school.
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.
