Top tips: Easy outdoor activities for families this spring

Spring is a wonderous time to get outside and appreciate the magnificent world around us. Encouraging parents to embrace the outdoors at this time of year can have many benefits for themselves, as well as learning opportunities for their children. Here are some benefits of being outside to share with parents and some simple, fun activities to get them started. 

Why get outside?

  • Getting some fresh air daily helps to boost health and happiness as well as helping to support a strong immune system
  • Exploring the local area and its nature sparks creativity and curiosity in children. Outdoors also offers children a wealth of hands-on experiences which enhance their sensory development
  • Playing outdoors helps to build confidence, resilience and independence.

What can we do outdoors?

  • Go on a treasure hunt: You could hunt for bugs, colours, plants, flowers, or simple signs of spring 
  • Enjoy a listening walk: Challenge your child to identify 5 (or 10) different sounds as you enjoy your walk together 
  • Use the flowers/leaves you’ve found on your walk to make a nature collage at home. Alternatively, take a homemade picture frame with you and make your picture in the outdoors 
  • Visit the local pond to feed the ducks: Birdseed is best, bread can make them poorly 
  • Cloud watching: Take a blanket and spend a moment lying on the grass and watching the clouds. See how they move, what shapes or pictures can you see? 
  • Embrace the spring showers: Pop on your wellies, open up the brolly and have fun jumping in the puddles!

A little time outside, especially as the weather starts warming up, will do wonders for your well-being and can make a big difference to your children’s development.  

NDNA products related to these tips

PANCo – https://ndna.org.uk/panco/ 

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Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.

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