How do you encourage outdoor play?

[Vertical15]

Tips for Parents and Mentors to Encourage Outdoor Play

1. If you live in a house, create a child-friendly backyard.
2. Give children a place on the porch, deck or in the bedroom where they can display nature treasures that they find and want to keep.
3. Provide simple tools to aid discovery. Kids love tools! Include a bug box, trowel, magnifier, etc.
4. When you take children to parks and other natural areas, allow them to explore. Let them decide which trails to take. Stay nearby for safety, but don't interfere or help unless asked.
5. Encourage plenty of time outside. Consider taking a walk to the library, store or post office instead of driving.
6. If a child asks or remarks about a landmark or natural feature you drive past often, find out more about it and go for a visit.
7. Take advantage of the natural resources available in your area. Take children canoeing, kayaking or fishing.
8. Take a few leaves from different trees while the children are not looking. Give them the leaves and ask them to find which trees they came from.
9. Provide a tree identification book to help kids learn about the trees in their own neighborhood.
10. In the fall, leave the fallen leaves down for awhile so kids can run around and shuffle through them.
11. Rake up a big leaf pile and let them demolish it. If they're not pre-schoolers, leave the rake out so they can rebuild it if they want.
12. If you have an appropriate area, let older children build a campfire in the backyard. Set safety rules, then stay away while they and their friends discuss hot topics. Check for safety by looking out the window or wandering out to ask if they need more snacks.
13. Put out bird feeders that can be seen easily from windows. Let children help feed the birds. Keep a bird book by the window to help them identify what they see.
14. Make up challenges for children to do outside, similar to the "Survivor" television show. This is a guaranteed kid pleaser, especially if there is a reward (a gift of time with Mom or Dad, or perhaps a night off from helping with the dishes).

(http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1618)

[Vertical15]

I take my kids to the playground at least once a week and then we also do other things like walks at nature preserves (we have many within a short drive of home)  For the playgrounds, I take along bubbles, sidewalk chalk, playdoh, etc to keep them busy if they get tired of the play equipment (rarely!)

[karamille]

I throw mine out side in the back hard and tell them they can't come in until they have fun.  There's lots of stuff for them to play with.  A weather safe train set, pop up tents and tunnels, a sand table, a dirt pile with tonka trucks, backhoes and front loaders

[new_mom808]

 Oh, #8 is a GREAT idea. Love that.

We pretty much just open the back door, and that's all the encouragement he needs LOL.
Ocassionally we'll put up the kiddie pool or sprinker, or slip 'n slide, if it's really hot just to keep him outside for a little longer. (or to keep US outside a little longer)

[Vertical15]

I wish I could send them out alone but I can't so I try to keep things interesting by going new places, or at least different places each week.

Quoting karamille:

I throw mine out side in the back hard and tell them they can't come in until they have fun.  There's lots of stuff for them to play with.  A weather safe train set, pop up tents and tunnels, a sand table, a dirt pile with tonka trucks, backhoes and front loaders

[Vertical15]

My kids love to be outside-I think I'm the one who usually spoils the fun.  I usually have to beg them to come in.  Unless like a week ago, we see a spider the size of Philadelphia in the yard. . .

Quoting new_mom808:

 Oh, #8 is a GREAT idea. Love that.

We pretty much just open the back door, and that's all the encouragement he needs LOL.
Ocassionally we'll put up the kiddie pool or sprinker, or slip 'n slide, if it's really hot just to keep him outside for a little longer. (or to keep US outside a little longer)

[TerriC]

These ideas are great!  I usually encourage it by getting out there with them.  We do a lot of walks, nature walks etc.  We go up to the mountains almost every week and play at this park and take walks.

[new_mom808]

 

Quoting Vertical15:

My kids love to be outside-I think I'm the one who usually spoils the fun.  I usually have to beg them to come in.  Unless like a week ago, we see a spider the size of Philadelphia in the yard. . .

Quoting new_mom808:

 Oh, #8 is a GREAT idea. Love that.

We pretty much just open the back door, and that's all the encouragement he needs LOL.
Ocassionally we'll put up the kiddie pool or sprinker, or slip 'n slide, if it's really hot just to keep him outside for a little longer. (or to keep US outside a little longer)

 

 

[egyptian_mommy]

My kids love to go outside, they usually don't need any encouragement lol.

[batjmom]

My kids love to be outside so I don't need to encourage them much to go out. We have also created a backyard that they love

[frndlyfn]

We live in an apartment complex so it is a bit harder for us to get outside as much as we should.  We try to walk to one of the 3 playgrounds in our area every week.  Also do a walk around the complex to see what flowers people have on their porch area.  My guy used to walk with her in the stroller to the store which is a 2 mile trek.  We havent done that lately since now she is too big for a stroller and not sure she could handle that long of a walk.