7 Outdoor Activities & Adventures for Kids Right in Your Own Backyard
Springtime is right around the corner which means more opportunities to get outside and find adventures for yourself and your kids. Check out these 7 outdoor activities for children right in your own backyard.
1. Construct a treehouse
When built safely, a treehouse can create countless hours of outdoor fun and adventure that can send any imagination soaring to new heights. Let it be a project for the whole family, and let the kids give their input in the tree house layout and design (within reason, of course). Once the treehouse is complete, allow the kids to decorate it in a way that is reflective of their personalities, and encourage them to pick a theme for the house. After all, a treehouse can be almost anything from a castle looking out over a vast kingdom to a headquarters for superheroes as they work together to save the world.
2. Make a trail in your backyard
Depending on the size of your backyard, creating a small path through the property can be a fun way to have your very own nature walk. Mark the trail with rocks, mulch or trees and consider landscaping along the side with various flowers and shrubs. For the kids, it could become a place to play hopscotch, look at birds and insects, take pictures or pretend they are walking on a long journey to another land.
3. Build a birdhouse together
The Mountain State provides many species of birds. It’s likely safe to say many children don’t know the difference between a cardinal and a robin, so building a birdhouse can be a way of teaching them more about nature here in Almost Heaven. Let the kids help with the construction of the house as a way of improving their hands-on skills. Once it’s completed, use it as an opportunity to learn about all different types of birds, and encourage the kids to keep a journal of all the types of visitors they see.
4. Develop some green thumbs
Not only can a garden help save money on the grocery bill, but it also instills a sense of responsibility and pride over the environment they helped create! Begin small with just a few types of plants and gradually add more with the goal being for the kids to take over the tasks of watering, pruning and the like.
5. Find some simplicity in a swing
Commercial playsets are a wonderful source of entertainment, but how about an old-fashioned wooden swing that hangs from a couple trees? The simplicity could help kids appreciate the low-tech things in life. It could also become a place to think, reflect and daydream.
6. Make leaf rubbings
Set out on a backyard adventure to find your favorite leaves or piece of bark from a tree then take them inside to make fun crayon rubbings! You can create a challenge to see who can find the largest leaf and compare it in the fall.
7. Create a summer camping oasis
Springtime brings great weather for a bit of spring cleaning. During this time, you can mark out a new camping spot in the back yard for those summer adventures. The kids can pick out a new area for a firepit for s’mores and ghost stories. If the area needs further maintenance this gives you enough time to measure out the proper measurements for a tent and other necessities.
This post was last updated on February 28, 2022