With summer on the way, longer days and warmer weather give families more opportunities to enjoy being outside.
But getting kids outdoors doesn't have to mean planning big adventures or convincing them to go for a walk. Small, enjoyable moments outside count too.
Research consistently links time in nature with benefits for children's physical activity and wellbeing. But children experience the outdoors differently, so there isn't one “right” way to spend time outside.
Here are a few simple ideas to try this summer.
Have afternoon tea outside. Read a book under a tree. Water the garden. Draw with chalk on the driveway. Sit together and watch the clouds.
You don't need to spend hours outside for it to be worthwhile. Making outdoor time easy and accessible can help it become a natural part of family life.
If your child loves dinosaurs, look for fossils (or pretend ones!) in the garden. If they love water, set up a bucket and some cups. If they love collecting things, go on a nature treasure hunt.
The activity doesn't really matter. Their curiosity does.
Grass, sand, insects, bright sunlight and unexpected noises can be wonderful for some children and really uncomfortable for others.
Offer choices where you can:
“Would you like to sit on the grass or the blanket?”
“Do you want to be in the sun or the shade?”
“Would you like to explore or just sit together?”
A child wearing headphones, staying in the shade or choosing not to touch the grass is still participating.
.jpg)
Children don't always need an activity organised for them. A bucket of water, some cardboard boxes, sticks, stones or a patch of dirt can be enough.
Unstructured outdoor environments give children opportunities to choose what interests them, move at their own pace and create their own games. Research into outdoor play supports the value of these opportunities for children's play and development.
You might enjoy tramping and camping as a family. Or you might not. Instead you might go for a walk around the block after dinner, eat breakfast outside on weekend mornings, or spend half an hour in the garden after school.
It doesn't need to be elaborate. The best outdoor activity is the one your family will actually enjoy doing.
Some children will happily spend hours outside. Others may need more support, predictability or sensory adjustments. Some days you'll have a family adventure; other days you'll sit in the shade for ten minutes.
That's all okay.
A neuroaffirming approach means making space for different ways of experiencing the world rather than expecting every child to enjoy it in the same way.
This summer, perhaps the goal isn't to get our children to spend more time outside.
Maybe it's simply to make being outside a little easier, more enjoyable and more accessible for everyone.
