Summer is really and truly here and it’s time to get the kids outside – there isn’t a moment to lose. So many of you responded to our post about “old-fashioned summers” with fond memories of spending entire days out of doors. Although we probably moaned and groaned at our moms as they kicked us outside, we seem to have enjoyed ourselves immensely. It’s time to pass that joy onto our own kids and here to help you with some creative ideas to encourage outdoor play is guest writer, Wendy Thomas of Lessons Learned from the Flock.

I consider myself to be a pretty creative mom. I’ve been able to convince my kids to set free all of the treasured  pebbles brought home in pockets so that they could go live with their stoney brothers and sisters on our unpaved driveway. The Toothfairy has been known to come a few days late not because parents have been too busy to keep track of such things but because there were so many kids in China losing their teeth that she’s too busy on the other side of the world and will get here as soon as she possibly can.

But getting kids to go outside? That’s tough. When I’m competing against TV, computers, and video games, that’s when I have to pull out my “A” game with regard to creativity.Most kids these days have their lives scheduled. If they aren’t in school then they’re at the soccer field, or baseball, or tennis for their team’s practice. That’s followed by coming home for dinner and homework. The days of kids playing games in the neighborhood seem to be over.

Which is why when summer comes and the kids don’t have their regular schedules they seem to be lost. It’s too easy to sit in front of the TV having it entertain you instead of doing the entertaining yourself.  Here are some ways I compete against electronic screens to get my kids to “just go outside!”

Frisbee Golf (FOLF) – I remember playing this in college and having a blast. For my kids I made up a course in our neighborhood (it actually goes all the way around the block). On the map the “holes” (a fire hydrant, an old birch tree) and pars for each hole are identified (I was pretty generous with the pars, 6 or 7 per hole). Each child gets a Frisbee and then they start the course. From beginning to end they are usually out for at least 45 minutes – added bonus, they get to greet many of our neighbors along the route. Like all good golf players do, the kids are rewarded with cold drinks at the “19^th hole.”

Self-sufficient picnics -  My kids are old enough to realize that I have work to do and can’t entertain them all the time. I went to a discount store and got one of those picnic backpacks that included plates, wine glasses, a tablecloth, utensils, and a cutting board. My daughters love to plan a picnic with their friends and will spend hours both preparing the picnic and then walking to the perfect spot to have the food. It’s the next step in little girl’s tea parties.

A pet that goes outside – in this case, chickens – granted not everyone has chickens but you might want to consider getting a few. (If you can’t have chickens a dog,  goat, or even a rabbit that needs exercise outdoors will do). When we started our small backyard flock two years ago, I had no idea how our hens would help me in the outdoor/indoor war. Chickens and other animals need to be taken care of, they need to be exercised, fed, and watered, houses need to be cleaned out, and with chickens eggs need to be gathered. If the kids want a pet, the kids will all have to pitch in to take care of it.

Meals on the deck – if it’s warm and if it’s not raining we have dinner outside. That’s an unbroken rule in our house. Not only is it a time for us all to come together to share our days but it also allows us to see nature right in our backyard (chipmunks, a red cardinal that is building a nest nearby, a toad that we almost stepped on). More than once we’ve pointed out clouds that look like animals or a flower that is particularly beautiful, it’s amazing what you see when you slow yourself down and pay attention. For my kids, being outdoors is more than just exercise (although that’s an important aspect, of course) it’s an important way to remind them on a daily basis that they are all a part of a greater whole.

How about you? Any time tested tricks you have for getting the kids outdoors?

Wendy Thomas is an award winning journalist, columnist, and blogger who believes that taking challenges in life will always lead to goodness. She is the mother of 6 funny and creative kids and it is her goal to teach them through stories and lessons. Wendy’s current project involves writing about her family’s experiences with chickens (yes, chickens).

Image Credit: Jessica of Hammonton Photography