6 Fun Outside Activities to Bolster Girls
APRIL 21ST, 2020
We’re all spending so much time at home these days, that getting outside feels like a real gift. But sometimes just sending kids to the back yard or taking them to explore a grassy plot nearby isn’t enough to hold their interest. (Especially as so many kids are becoming used to the constant stimulation of screens.) So today we’re sharing 6 fun outside activities for cooped up girls. We choose these activities because they bolster girls by encouraging imagination/adventure play or appreciation of the outdoors, or are physically challenging.
1) Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts can be fun because they give kids something to do while they’re outside and can feel like a game. Steph over at MomDot.com put together this great scavenger hunt that you can download and print out. It is perfect for a hike or backyard fun.
2) Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is great because you can use it in an unstructured way, to allow girls to express themselves and create works of art, or to setup games. Games that are easy to setup with chalk include hopscotch, tic-tac-toe and chalk mazes. It can also be fun for girls to lay on the ground, have a sibling or parent trace them, and fill in their form to create a self-portrait.
3) Obstacle Course
One fun way to keep girls busy and moving is to setup an obstacle course. Or even better—get them started and let them design the course! Chalk obstacles or mazes, hula hoops placed on the ground or dangling from tree branches, traffic cones, jump rope strung across a path, and strategically placed outdoor chairs can all make fun obstacles. To encourage girls to play a bit longer, use your phone or grab a plastic hourglass from a game and time them.
4) Backyard "Campout"
If you’ve got camping equipment collecting dust in storage, consider breaking it out for a backyard adventure. In particular, tents, sleeping bags, and camp chairs can be a lot of fun.
5) Hiking
We’re always big proponents of hiking with girls and right now is a great time for it. If you can find the time to get outside and go for a walk in nature, it really can be invigorating for girls and a stress reliever for adults.
6) Forest Play
Similar to hiking, just hanging out outside can be fortifying for girls and adults. Forest play really just means going out into the forest with no real agenda and letting kids play. Kids love turning trees into make-believe towns, running in grass, constructing houses out of branches, etc. If you don’t have forests in your area, any kind of nature will do!
We hope you enjoy these ideas!
6 Fun Outside Activities to Bolster Girls
APRIL 21ST, 2020
We’re all spending so much time at home these days, that getting outside feels like a real gift. But sometimes just sending kids to the back yard or taking them to explore a grassy plot nearby isn’t enough to hold their interest. (Especially as so many kids are becoming used to the constant stimulation of screens.) So today we’re sharing 6 fun outside activities for cooped up girls. We choose these activities because they bolster girls by encouraging imagination/adventure play or appreciation of the outdoors, or are physically challenging.
1) Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts can be fun because they give kids something to do while they’re outside and can feel like a game. Steph over at MomDot.com put together this great scavenger hunt that you can download and print out. It is perfect for a hike or backyard fun.
2) Sidewalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is great because you can use it in an unstructured way, to allow girls to express themselves and create works of art, or to setup games. Games that are easy to setup with chalk include hopscotch, tic-tac-toe and chalk mazes. It can also be fun for girls to lay on the ground, have a sibling or parent trace them, and fill in their form to create a self-portrait.
3) Obstacle Course
One fun way to keep girls busy and moving is to setup an obstacle course. Or even better—get them started and let them design the course! Chalk obstacles or mazes, hula hoops placed on the ground or dangling from tree branches, traffic cones, jump rope strung across a path, and strategically placed outdoor chairs can all make fun obstacles. To encourage girls to play a bit longer, use your phone or grab a plastic hourglass from a game and time them.
4) Backyard "Campout"
If you’ve got camping equipment collecting dust in storage, consider breaking it out for a backyard adventure. In particular, tents, sleeping bags, and camp chairs can be a lot of fun.
5) Hiking
We’re always big proponents of hiking with girls and right now is a great time for it. If you can find the time to get outside and go for a walk in nature, it really can be invigorating for girls and a stress reliever for adults.
6) Forest Play
Similar to hiking, just hanging out outside can be fortifying for girls and adults. Forest play really just means going out into the forest with no real agenda and letting kids play. Kids love turning trees into make-believe towns, running in grass, constructing houses out of branches, etc. If you don’t have forests in your area, any kind of nature will do!
We hope you enjoy these ideas!