Nature is the best playground, so outdoor activities with children should be easy. Yet it may not always feel natural to go out with children - and how can you entice older children? With practice, the right attitude, and a few tricks, you can turn nature into your home base. Here are seven tips for getting kids involved in the outdoors.
1. Find a reasonable excursion destination
You don’t need to go far if your child is young. A short trip to the nearest wooded hill is also outdoor recreation, so don't worry if you can still see buildings between the trees. Your child’s attention is much more likely to be directed towards a gnarled log to climb, a funny beetle crawling across the path, or water flowing in a ditch - perfect for splashing. The journey can be longer as the child grows, but it’s important to be careful it is not so long that the child loses interest and the trip becomes boring. Older children may need a bit more to sweeten the deal: Maybe aim for a waffle house or swimming spot, or rent a canoe or SUP board together?
2. Plan together
As soon as your child gets a little older, they can be involved in planning the adventure. Participation increases ownership and curiosity. Take out the map and show them where you are going. Let your child help decide on beverages, snacks and meals. And even young children can pack their own backpack (perhaps with a little support at the beginning). Talking about what you need when you're out and about can also be educational - for young and old alike.
For example, a princess dress or dinosaur costume is one of the "outdoor basics" that adults often forget. Add shoes, rain gear and warm clothing according to the season, and your child is ready for most things in the forest. (And how cute is it to have a princess or dinosaur exploring elder treesor blackberry shrubs?)
3. Embrace mischief and play
Do a somersault, walk a tightrope or roll down a slope. Find anything that makes you have fun together. Sit on the ground and listen to your child's thoughts as he or she discovers nature. Answer questions if you can, but avoid the impulse to Google the name of the strange beetle – you can do that when you get home. Carve a bark boat or make a bow and arrow instead. A soccer ball or a Frisbee won't take up much space in your pack and is an excellent way to play your way along the trail. And a game of "20 Questions" will help clear your mind if the hike feels long.
4. Create outdoor fun
Enhance the experience with cozy breaks. It's better to take many small ones than to work hard to reach a specific goal. Mix nutrients with things that the child perceives as a luxury: A piece of carrot, a handful of raisins, a cake or a piece of candy (see Tip 2 on planning together). Take out the candy when courage begins to fade, a headwind blows or to celebrate an intermediate goal. The important thing is not what you eat, but that you create small moments of comfort and reward that also keep hydration and blood sugar in check.
5. Make a base camp
Meals deserve a little extra care, but without going to the trouble of looking for the “perfect spot.” Dig a picnic pit if there's snow (a small shovel is good to have). Or find another good location – preferably with a view – to lay out a picnic blanket or mats to sit on. Let your child decide how it should be. Here, you can eat a packed lunch or cook together in the big kitchen. It's more fun if the child can help, so adjust the task according to ability.
6. Raise the bar a little at a time
Start with short day trips and expand your range as you get used to it. When you've been out a few times, you might want to try sleeping outside in a tent or shelter.
If you don't have your own equipment, you can rent it. And if you haven't pitched a tent before, it’s best to start close to home – maybe in a garden, at a beach or other place you know. For very young children, sleeping in a tent is no stranger than in other places (it's possibly more fun to play in a tent). Choose a place that you as a parent are comfortable with, and that is easy to get to and from because there will be a lot to carry. Read a bedtime story, brush your teeth, and do anything else you usually do at bedtime. Then snuggle up and listen to the birds, the wind, and the sounds of nature. You might sleep a little worse, but it's not the end of the world – you have the best little person(s) in the world for company.
7. Go with plan B
Sometimes things don't go as planned. If the weather turns cold or wet, turn around and do something else instead. Make up a game, eat your packed lunch in a sheltered spot, and try again at another time.
So, when can you start outdoor activities with children?
The answer: When they are very young, as soon as you feel ready for it. A short ride in a baby carrier in the forest with the newest member of the family might be your first adventure together. Or a short hike with a crying one-year-old, who gets to ride on your back or in a baby carrier when energy is low.
No matter when you start, whether with a newborn or an older child, there is only one rule: The child's needs always come first. Lower your gaze, slow your pace, and see the world through your child's eyes. There's plenty to discover.
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