This past weekend was absolutely beautiful in my area, and I spent every second possible enjoying the outdoors with my kids. We spent Saturday afternoon at the park with their cousins, and when we got back from outings on Sunday, our two little girls dragged their folding chairs out to the front lawn, put on flip flops and parked themselves as if they were already teenagers catching some rays.
Kids simply adore the outdoors, and the dirt, bugs and mess involved. Fortunately, when my father babysits he loves to take them tromping through the woods and muddy streams, so they get their fix of earthy fun with him. When our middle girl has a day off school next week, they are planning to catch pollywogs and create a habitat where they can observe the transition from tadpole to frog. (And then release them once they're grown.)
As for me, with the days lengthening and the weather warming, I'm more inclined to let the girls play outdoors for a few minutes after getting home from daycare. It's so good for them to have unstructured play time with their neighborhood friends, rather than going from group care to homework to dinner to bath and bed without a single break. Maybe I should set up a desk on the porch so they can get fresh air while working on math problems.
How do you enjoy the outdoors with your kids? Are you gearing up for some Earth Day fun?
This blog post is part of the About.com Parenting Channel blog carnival on outdoor fun, hosted by Jennifer O'Donnell, the About.com Guide to Tween Parenting. Check back on April 3 to see the full blog carnival!
Photo credit: Rob VanPetten/Getty Images
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My children are grown now, but they were so much more contented out of doors that I did all kinds of things outside. I lugged my typewriter (non-electric) to the park to do my college assignments. I piled the playpen full of clothes to fold. I shelled beans, peeled peaches, etc., out on the patio. Childhood is such a magical time. It’s a shame to spend it in the house.