30 Ways to Get Your Kid to Play Outside

Kids today spend 55 hours a week indoors using electronics, and less and less time outdoors. But how do you get your kid to experience the wonders of nature, develop creativity and learn to appreciate the virtues of quiet? Here, The Daily Green presents some ideas in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There campaign, which urges parents to give their children a "Green Hour" each day: one hour outdoors engaging in unstructured play (BeOutThere.org).

One idea? Camping. The outdoor vacation is making a comeback! Hiking and camping have been increasingly popular in recent years, and there's no better way to introduce your child to the wonders of the outdoors. But if your family's not quite ready for wilderness camping, organize a campout in your own backyard! It's cheap, fun and easier than you think. The Great American Backyard Campout is June 25, 2011. For more information, visit BackyardCampout.org.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found that kids spend, on average, more than seven hours per day with electronic media. The antidote for gamer's eye and texter's thumb is right outside the door, where neighborhood nature offers sights, sounds—even smells—to engage and recharge all of a child's senses.

One great way to start? A citizen science project like NestWatch (www.birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse), a program of the Cornell Lab or Ornithology that gathers valuable scientific data about nesting birds from neighborhood observers across the world. For more ideas, try the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Watch at nwf.org/wildlifewatch or The Daily Green's list of citizen science projects at thedailygreen.com/science.

Turn your wildlife expedition into a "photo safari," or guide your child in the creation of a nature notebook. For nature photography inspiration, check out nwf.org/photozone and to find a local park try nwf.org/naturefind.

Ever try letterboxing or its high-tech counterpart, geocaching? Both involve hunting for objects or landmarks in the outdoors, both require some problem-solving skills and both encourage participants to explore new areas. These family-friendly activities are a great way to have fun together outdoors, get some exercise and work on skills such as problem solving, map reading and math. Another idea: Have your kids make a nature map of the neighborhood, so they learn to define their own special natural places.

For more information, visit
Letterboxing.org or Geocaching.com.

Sometimes the simplest outdoor activities leave the most lasting memories for kids. Remember how to skip a stone, make a daisy chain, or blow a grass whistle?

These easy games could be making your child happier, too. Research by Cornell University environmental psychologist Nancy Wells shows that children with more exposure to nature have reduced stress levels and longer attention spans.

A nature scavenger hunt is a great way to explore your backyard, neighborhood, or any green space. As your children grow older, they'll be able to make their own scavenger hunt lists – and send YOU on the hunt. Download an example (pdf).

Your family doesn't need to travel to the Serengeti to have a photographic adventure. Simply peering through a camera lens is a great way to see the world around you from a fresh perspective.

Head out to the backyard or a local park and put these six tricks for better pix to use.

For nature photography inspiration, check out nwf.org/photozone and to find a local park try nwf.org/naturefind.

Instead of looking at leaf-raking as a dreaded chore, think of it as the necessary prelude to an afternoon of jumping into a pile of leaves. You might be able to get your kids to help if they know they have something to look forward to! And for some fun with leaves in the non-autumn months, try doing some nature rubbings.

City, country, or anywhere in between, birds are probably the most familiar wildlife we see each day. Invite them to your own green space by making homemade feeders or nesting boxes for songbirds and hummingbirds. Or, simply enjoy their songs and calls—and see if you and your child can identify these familiar birds by sound.

See more bird conservation tips, and family friendly citizen science projects that benefit birds and other wildlife.

Kids are natural collectors – why not use the seeds, pine cones and rocks they gather after a day outside as part of an at-home craft project? Or, set aside a space on a windowsill or table to display your child's collection.

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services recommends one hour a day of physical activity for children. Make a walk part of your family's routine! You can play a nature scavenger hunt (pdf) to keep it fun.

To find a walking trail near you, plug your zipcode into this NWF database of parks, trails and other outdoor destinations.

Why wait for the rain to go away, just to come again another day? Let your child pull on a pair of rubber boots and a raincoat and explore the rainy-day world of squishy yards and splashy mud puddles. Earn bonus points by joining them in the soggy fun!

Gardening is a great family activity that can help teach children about so many things—life cycles, pollination, and nutrition, just to name a few. Whether it's in your own yard or a community garden plot, why not plant a garden with your child—one to benefit both humans and wildlife? The National Wildlife Federation has tips for making your garden friendly to birds, bees and other wildlife (nwf.org/gardenforwildlife). Research shows that children who plant vegetable gardens tend to make healthier nutritional choices as adults.

Stop to smell the roses—and to appreciate any of the wildflowers your family can find growing nearby. Make a keepsake of a favorite natural find: press your flowers or make leaf prints. To press flowers, simply put them between pieces of wax paper and close them in a big book. To make leaf prints, ink a leaf with a sponge and press it into paper for an instant artistic creation!

Kids love dirt! Put a spoon or a small shovel in their hand and they will dig a hole to China ... or make a dozen mud pies. Let your kids get dirty: A growing number of researchers believe that good old-fashioned dirt play exposes children to a myriad of bacteria, viruses and microbes that strengthen their immune systems. So, dedicate a small part of your yard as a digging station. No yard? No problem. Set aside a large container or flower box just for digging in the dirt.

Exploring nature doesn't have to stop when the sun goes down. Spend some time with the moon, the stars and all the animals that like to be active at night. Go for a moon walk, trace the constellations of stars, learn to identify nocturnal insects and have your child keep a moon journal that will help your child understand the phases of the moon. The darkness outside makes it more of an adventure!

Sure, there will always be the occasional stinger or biter to watch out for, but the vast majority of insects are harmless. Even better, they're plentiful, accessible, and fascinating for kids to study up close.

Cost: Depends on what plants and trees cost in your area. Find sources of native plants through the North American Native Plant Society.

Create multilayered communities of plants to mimic natural habitats: provide canopy trees, mid and understory shrubs, grasses and annuals. Many birds forage and nest high in the branches of native trees. Thick, shrubs provide cover for birds that stay closer to the ground such as quail, sparrows and thrashers.

Have your child make a map of your neighborhood — using only natural landmarks. This will heighten their observation skills and can be the first step in creating a "field guide" to the nature in your neighborhood.

No batteries, no instructions—just a lot of fun and satisfaction. Bushes, trees, cardboard boxes, old blankets—you may have turned them into a secret play space when you were a child; don't let your kids miss the chance to exercise their imaginations and build a fort of their own. All you need is some fort-making materials: some long branches, an old appliance box, a sheet ... or any number of other materials. Let your child's imagination run wild.

Does your child think there's nothing to see or do near you? Turn over almost any rock, log, brick, or patio stone to reveal the hidden world of insects, worms, snails, and pill bugs just waiting to be discovered.