Fun and Educational Activities for the Entire Family

Encouraging your kids to play and explore outside with you will push them to be more active, which is crucial when battling child obesity. And when these activities are fun and educational, kids will be more enticed to stay outside longer. Of course, it will also help tighten the bond of the family. These days, though, kids are struggling to come up with ideas on what they can do outdoors. As the adult, you play a big role in getting the ball rolling with a few creative ways to start up their imaginations. Below are a few suggestions.

Blowing bubbles. Children love bubbles, so this should make for a great outdoor activity. For your young child, you can blow the bubbles while he chases them around the yard. Older kids can blow their own bubbles or have a content to see who can blow the biggest one. Create large bubbles with a wire coat hanger as the bubble wand.

Gardening. With gardening, you can encourage your kids to go outside, learn about growing things and even grow food for the family. If you have a garden, designate a certain spot to be the responsibility of the child. He can grow whatever he wants, for as long as he regularly weeds it and keep it watered.

Nature hunt. Make a list of items you need to find outside, like a red bird, a pine cone or a mushroom. Afterwards, take your kid on a nature walk, challenging them to find all the items on the list. Create a new list each time you head out. You should find something different for your child to look for.

Relay races. In a traditional relay race, children form teams. The members take turns running to the goal and back, tagging the next team member to go. You can think of more creative ways to do this. For instance, instead of running, the kids can hop, skip or crawl. You can also get them to walk with an egg on a spoon, taking care not to break it, or kick a small ball across the lawn.

Water activities. During summer, water activities is a great way to cool kids off. Set up a pool for swimming in your yard, or take them out for a day at the beach. Another idea is water painting with a squirt bottle filled with colored water to draw designs on the sidewalk. Have more fun by starting a playtime war game with water balloons and squirt guns.

Community events. Check with your local chamber of commerce about any special events. There are many chambers and school groups that offer movies in the park, craft fairs, concerts and other fun activities for families. Also check with local museums about any fun activities for families as there are those that offer free admission during special occasions.

You should still find many more things to do with kids in your neighborhood. If you are new in your place, ask your friendly neighbors for their favorite places to go and activities to do. Give the entire family some time to adjust and, in no time, the whole family will fall in love with your new home.