In the year 2020, we are seeing children become addicted to screens such as iPad and TV at an increasingly younger age. In recent years they have been trying to promote outdoor play, because it has a lot of advantages. Do you think it’s impossible for your children to have fun outside because they don’t have a trampoline, for example? Stephanie shares five fun outdoor games for which you don’t have to buy equipment.
Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, tricks and tadpoles
Playing outside has a lot of advantages for children. They move more, train their memory and push the boundaries, both literally and figuratively. Playing outdoors promotes creativity and it is even claimed that children experience less stress as a result.
But do you think your children don’t like to play outside because they don’t have a trampoline or playground equipment? Then be sure to read my five suggestions. These games don’t need new bought material, stronger: you already have it in the house.
1. Journey around the world
A route like ‘travel around the world’ is a piece of cake to build. Create, as it were, a route that the children have to carry out. Provide obstacles where they have to climb on top or under. Think of chairs from the garden set, a ladder or some flower pots where they have to crawl around. You can also differentiate the game in terms of speed and pace. Use a timer where the children have to complete the parcoer in time. Put on a nice music and pause this. At each break they have to change direction and so on.
2. Hide and seek
My favorite game of all time is hide-and-seek. Even as a 29-year-old woman, I can still be totally absorbed in this. Within ten minutes I have to find a hiding place and then wait full of excitement for people to find me. Don’t you have a large garden or real hiding places at your disposal? Vary then. Instead of your child looking for you, you can hide an object such as a cuddly toy or a towel.
3. Broken sheets, hours of fun
It sometimes happens that a sheet tears or breaks. Then don’t just throw it away with kids in the house. There are so many options you can perform. Your children will love building a camp together in the garden or a hammock. Or lay the sheet open on the ground and mess around with some paint!
4. Music Maestro!
Everyone has pots or pans somewhere. Put them outside and let your child experiment heartlessly. Fill them with water and let the children splash. Or play a nice piece of music together? Less good for your hearing but fun for the children!
5. Barefoot road
When the children play outside we usually ask them to wear bad shoes, because those new shoes (by the way, read our article with the cutest summer shoes for children here!) often don’t survive a play hour in the garden. But leave the shoes off and let them build a barefoot path in the garden. Afterwards, they can do this with their bare feet. Use mud, sand, grass, tree bark and so on. Build this path together. Hours of fun guaranteed.
Let us know for sure if you try these games. Post a nice photo on social media and don’t forget to tag us.
Do you have any suggestions of your own? Then be sure to let us know. Because here, too, a mummy sits with a three-year-old toddler who enjoys playing outside with her daughter.
