5 Tips to Get Reluctant Children Outside

1. Feed Them

If you can, show them how to grow their favorite food, or travel to where it comes from. Or simply take your family for a picnic or cookout of a meal everyone enjoys. Wild foraging for fresh berries is a simple treat and fun activity for many. However, there are endless, yummy, options for cooking and eating out in nature.

2. Give Them Something to Do That They Like

The easiest way to get reluctant children outside is to do things they like outside. Sounds simple, but it sometimes needs a little imagination. And it changes with each child. If you have a unicorn-obsessed sibling who dislikes loud noises and an adrenaline-crazed

sibling who loves anything with a motor, finding a family activity everyone wants to do is a challenge. In families with more than one child, compromise is required. Incorporate your children’s interests in your outdoor activities.

3. Read Outside – Take Educational Activities Outside

Reading aloud, as a family is an incredible way to connect and explore distant lands without going anywhere. Spreading out a blanket under a tree, or sitting on a bench to read is a great way to get fresh air while enjoying a good story. Wherever your children get their education, taking learning outside can also be a lot of fun! From hands-on science discovery, to activities that connect concepts in an interesting way, getting outside to learn shakes things up and may provide a new perspective.

4. AR Video Games

Pokémon Go and other apps interact with the world using augmented reality (AR) and can be fun for technology lovers and gamers. You can also use AR for fitness and set goals together. Some families fight to put away electronics and take part in specific activities while outside, but making outside time full of rules will only cause more reluctance. It is healthy to take screen breaks and do different activities, but that doesn’t mean video games and nature time have to be separate.

5. Challenge Your Family

Build something or do something physically challenging as a family. Landscaping, gardening, planting trees, or putting together a building project as a family can be rewarding. Giving everyone a chance to help and feel the satisfaction of completing a job often becomes a memory they will share for years. Watching a tree grow that you planted, or making use of a garden shed you put together as a family makes outside time that much more personal.

Bonus tip: The best way to get reluctant children outside is to find what weather they thrive in and make that part of your family plan. Some kids don’t like intense heat, so mornings or evenings are more comfortable. Everyone has a different comfort level, so find that sweet spot for the members of your family.

Don’t force them. Most of the time, if you try to force children into something, they will just resist even more. If you make it a fight, then they’ll hate it! There is always a way to get them outside by drawing on their current interests. Just because you enjoy hiking, biking, or bird watching doesn’t mean they’ll find enjoyment in those activities. In fact, dragging them outside to partake in activities they don’t enjoy usually has a negative effect and makes them resent going outside. You don’t want that!

Some people need more encouragement to experience the outdoors. For health reasons alone, it’s worthwhile to get outside for 30 minutes every day and to find activities that are engaging for every member of your family. Finally, lead by example. The more time you spend outside, the more likely it is your family will join you.