Get the Kids Outdoors

Every Tuesday is Finance & Family Day at Zen Habits.

Do your kids spend a lot of time in front of the TV or video game system? Are they on the internet a lot? If they are like most kids (in America at least), most of their free time is taken up by the TV or other electronic entertainment. In fact, after school, television is the second source of education for our kids. Parents come in third.

My kids are no different, but as a dad I try to limit this kind of passive entertainment. And when I can, I encourage them to read or go outside.

Every Sunday is Family Day for my family, and one of our favorite activities is playing soccer in our front yard as a family. We put on our sneakers, set up orange cones to function as goals, choose teams and start having fun. Sometimes we like to play kickball instead.

When I started running, I started getting the kids running with me. They also like to ride their bikes in the park while I run.

However you do it, get your kids outside. They need to reconnect with the world. They are shut inside the house, insulated from the outside world. They become lazy and in bad shape. It’s unhealthy.

Playing outside gets kids in better physical shape, healthier, and forces them to use their imaginations rather than the imagination of some Hollywood executive.

Here are some ideas for things to do outside:

soccer
fly kites
explore the woods
treasure hunt
go to a playground
go to a swimming pool, beach or lake
play pirates, or make a pretend fort
go jogging
ride bikes
wash the car
rake the yard
water balloon fight
squirt gun fight
play tag
hide-n-seek
obstacle course race
just go for a walk, and talk
walk to a store for a treat

There are thousands of other things to do. Coming up with ideas can be a game in itself.

Get the Kids Outdoors

Every Tuesday is Finance & Family Day at Zen Habits.

My kids are no different, but as a dad I try to limit this kind of passive entertainment. And when I can, I encourage them to read or go outside.

When I started running, I started getting the kids running with me. They also like to ride their bikes in the park while I run.

However you do it, get your kids outside. They need to reconnect with the world. They are shut inside the house, insulated from the outside world. They become lazy and in bad shape. It’s unhealthy.

Playing outside gets kids in better physical shape, healthier, and forces them to use their imaginations rather than the imagination of some Hollywood executive.

Here are some ideas for things to do outside:

soccer
fly kites
explore the woods
treasure hunt
go to a playground
go to a swimming pool, beach or lake
play pirates, or make a pretend fort
go jogging
ride bikes
wash the car
rake the yard
water balloon fight
squirt gun fight
play tag
hide-n-seek
obstacle course race
just go for a walk, and talk
walk to a store for a treat

There are thousands of other things to do. Coming up with ideas can be a game in itself.

Brilliant comments (13)

craig Says:

February 25th, 2007, 23:12 pm

One thing parents may want to look into is geocaching. Essentially a high-tech treasure hunt using GPS, the entry costs are relatively low (< $100 for a basic handheld GPS receiver) and it's a great way to explore your local area and have fun in the process. See http://www.geocaching.com for more details and to get an idea of where geocaches are hidden in your area.

Leo Says:

February 25th, 2007, 23:17 pm

Thanks, Craig, for the cool suggestion.

Hugo Says:

June 8th, 2007, 23:30 pm

My favourite sport is rock climbing, and it keeps me fit. I don’t see why a family couldn’t go as a whole and enjoy a day climbing, even if it’s just an easy one { my parents can’t climb, but I think they’d manage something like a 5.7, so if I had the chance, I’d definetly take then climbing} It keeps you fit, and gets you even closer to nature! In my opinion, it’s also the most challenging sport I’ve ever done, and I love it!

:D:D:D

brent Says:

June 15th, 2007, 2:44 am

Hugo:

How old before kids can climb?

Mine are 3.5 and 2.

Brent

Marni Says:

July 26th, 2008, 21:52 pm

I live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon where it rains from October to May. Any tips on making getting outside in the winter easier with kids? Not sure if it is the motivation I am lacking or the ideas. ;)

Online essay Says:

March 19th, 2009, 8:47 am

This is amazing. Kids is all we have in our life.

bodybuilding Says:

April 8th, 2009, 16:03 pm

I’ve always been into bodybuilding, so my family likes to go to the gym with me and do cardio or lift weights too. You don’t have to go outdoors to get your family to excercise.