Get Outside!

With the exception of the smoke in the air, there is very little stopping us from getting the kids outside right now. If there’s a way to make that part of your daily plan with your kids, make it happen.

Don’t just send them out there, join them. Set a timer and go. It doesn’t have to be active, although it often feels easier to move when we are outside. Here are a few ideas of things to do - please send me some of yours as well.

• Listen - Count 5 different sounds you can hear
• Look - What shape are the clouds? How many crawlers can you see?
• Smell - Find 3 things with unique smells
• Feel - Grass in bare feet, standing on one foot in the mulch, fingers in the dirt
• Taste - Ice-cream truck? Walk to the store for a slushie? Pick some herbs or rhubarb.

Collect bits of nature for a collage, read a book in the shade, make an activity path with coloured chalk, walk around the block, play freeze-tag in the backyard. Have the kids make you an outside scavenger hunt. Ask your kids for ideas too:

How will you get outside every day this summer?