Getting kids outside is one of the best things you can do for their health. Research shows spending time in nature boosts mental health, creativity and the immune system while reducing anxiety and stress. And the best outdoor adventures can be done any time, anywhere, for free. Take your pick from these no-effort-required adventures and turf the kids outside…
1 Take a torch walk in the dark
Everything is more exciting after dark because everything feels unknown and different. The best thing is there is almost no effort involved. You don’t have to go far. Even just exploring your own back garden, street or nearest nature spot after then sun has set becomes a a thrilling new adventure when lit up by just a torch and your own imagination.
If you’re happy they are in a safe environment (such as your garden), send the kids out alone to explore. If you’re accompanying them, get them to tune in to all their senses to heighten the adventure. What can they hear, smell, touch?
2 Dam a stream
Whether it’s on the beach or a woodland stream, damming a river can provide hours of fun for children. This is a great team building activity for kids and often if one child starts a dam on a beach, within minutes a whole gang will join in to help try and divert the stream.
Try sand or rock designs on the beach or mud, leaves and sticks in a stream. It’s fun to explore the flow of water and discover how it travels around obstacles.
Once the kids have had their fun, encourage them to knock down the dam and restore the flow of water again. Wildlife downstream may depend the water flow and what it carries.
Younger children might also enjoy making their own ‘river’ in the back garden, with a long piece of cardboard lined with foil or some plastic sheeting.
3 Create an obstacle course
It’s a classic for good reason. It can be done anywhere, with anyone, using pretty much anything…and it’s always satisfying.
Resist the urge to help too much and let kids flex their imaginations and get creative by designing their own obstacle course (another great adventure for their team building and socialising skills too). Can they include jumps, balances and hops?
We used to keep a stash of stuff in the back garden so that the kids could get creative with obstacle course design. Planks (sanded to be sure of no splinters), bricks, hoops, ropes, anything goes. If it’s a dry day, cushions, blankets and chairs can be brought out to add to the excitement (with permission!).
Most kids love to be timed to add the extra challenge of whether they can beat their own record. So offer to be the timekeeper and see if they can improve.
4 Have a water fight
Nothing beats a water fight on a warm summer’s day. And you really don’t need much for it to be fun. Simply fill up a few buckets of water, lay out a variety of containers (plastic cups, squeezy bottles) and let kids get stuck in.
If you’ve got water pistols for older children, let them go wild. Water bombs can be great fun too with a group of children – just allow plenty of time to fill them up. If you fancy splashing out, try Zuru Xshot Bunch o’ Balloons which takes just 60 seconds to fill 100 balloons (well worth the expense if you’re hosting a water party). Always supervise young children near water, but let them get as wet as they dare!
5 Enjoy a rope swing
Chancing upon a rope swing on a woodland or riverside walk is always exciting. And this is one adventure that can be tricky to plan. Rope swings appear, disappear or break all the time, so you can never be quite sure what you’ll stumble across (but that’s part of the adventure).
Always check the rope swing, and branch it hangs from, can bear your adult weight before you let the kids loose and make sure the landing looks ok. Remember that all rope swings can be dangerous so if you choose to swing, be ready to take the consequences. Risky play brings big benefits to children, but be ready to assess your own risk.
If you want to be sure of a rope swing adventure, take your own rope. Choose climbing rope or a reliable 3-strand twisted polypropelene rope. Make sure that the branch you are going to it to is strong and tick enough to hold your weight. And think about the swing spot. Is it high enough and clear enough to get a good swing? Next, tie a loop in the end of the rope, throw the rope over your chosen branch (attach a weighty stick first to make it easier to throw) and pass it back through the loop before tugging hard to make it tighten. If you want an easy way for kids to swing, tie a non-slip loop knot at the bottom of the rope so that the child can put their foot in the loop and swing. You could also fix a stick in the loop if you prefer.
For a more detailed description, check out this great video tutorial on how make a rope swing that tree-rigging specialist Waldo Etherington created for Base magazine.
If you’re heading to the New Forest, check out this handy guide to the best secret rope swings.
6 Go on a scavenger hunt
We love a good scavenger hunt. They encourage children’s creativity, they can transform a walk, and they are guaranteed to get everyone grinning.
You can make a scavenger hunt as easy or difficult as you like. And it can be as pre-planned or spur-of-the-moment as you fancy. If you’ve not planned it in advance, try simple ideas like:
- Find something matching every colour of the rainbow
- Find something that starts with each letter in your name
- Find different textures (hard, soft, spiky, smooth)
If you’re planning beforehand, you can put more thought into where you’re going and what they’re likely to find. Some good ideas are:
- An imagination hunt like the Blue Sky Tribe one you can print out here
- A list of ideas they have to photograph (shadow, light, a leaf, etc)
- For younger children who can’t yet read print out photos or draw pictures of what they need to find, or have colours that they can match.
For older children, remember to set some boundaries. How long have they got? And how far can they go?
