Do you struggle to come up with some fun ways that your kids can have fun at home? It’s easy for kids to reach for their iPad when they get home from school, but there are plenty of activities, toys, and crafts that your children can enjoy with some backyard fun.
When children play outside, they get exercise, boost mental capabilities, and create fun memories at home. You just need to find some activities they’ll love doing just as much as their electronics.
Here are 5 backyard activities you can do to entertain your kids. We recommend trying each of these activities with your children after school to see which one sticks.
1. Play with Pets
Dogs and children need exercise and fresh air. Your children and pets can play a game of Frisbee and test how far they can throw to release pent-up energy and stress.
If you do not have a pet, you can start a scavenger hunt to catch some creepy crawly critters. Have your children go on a worm hunt by flipping over rocks. They can count up how many wriggly creatures they found.
2. Grow a Garden
One approach to get your children out of the house is to have them tend to a backyard garden. It teaches children about how nature works and taking care of the environment. It’s a life skill they will always remember.
Children are also more inclined to eat healthier and try new types of foods when they grew them themselves.
3. Create Messy Projects
It’s ok to let your kids get a little messy! It’s a great opportunity for them to let out some energy and express themselves.
Give them old, white bedsheets and paint expressive colors to make a tarp. You can also find leaves and rocks to paint and decorate with sparkly glitter.
Another fun and messy project is to create your own homemade bubble solution. You can use ingredients you have in your house, such as dish detergent, sugar, vegetable oil, and some food coloring. They will love running around and popping bubbles from their creation.
4. Get an Inflatable Pool and Water Toys
Playing with water can feel refreshing. On a hot day, nothing is more appealing to kids than an inflatable pool with cool water. Inflatable pools are easy to put away and pull out for a backyard water day. Water sprinklers are also fun for kids to jump over and run away from splashes.
You can organize a “water fight” in the pool with little water guns and try to tag one another. Other fun toys that you keep in the bathtub can be brought to the outdoor pool, like rubber animals, cars, and boats. Additionally, dumping and filling up cups with water gives children fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of spatial awareness.
5. Purchase a Playhouse
Children have strong imaginations. Let them play out their ideas in your backyard on a wooden playhouse. In their eyes, a playhouse could transform into a rocket ship, a fort, or a castle. Playhouses with inventive features, like doors and windows that actually open and close, will encourage make-believe playtime.
Some of the most elaborate playhouses have swings and slides attached. Kids can get more use out of these elaborate playhouses because they have so many options or different fantasies they can create in their heads.
Conclusion
These fun-filled activities just can’t happen indoors. Each of five these activities will create positive experiences that lead to more time in your backyard.
Encourage your kids to explore their backyard with fun scavenger hunts, fetch, and gardens. Purchase products that give them an incentive to step outside, like playhouses and inflatables. The more resources kids have in their backyards, the better!
