You want your kids to get outside and play, even in the winter. How do you get them to enjoy the great — but chilly — outdoors?
Parent advice
When the days start getting darker in the fall/winter, we let the boys take flashlights and go for a walk around the block. The novelty of using the flashlights is fun for the boys and it is a good excuse to get outside and beat cabin fever.
— Lorraine Kollman
Go on a scavenger hunt where you look for items that have survived the winter (like the prettiest leaf or a bird feather). Play "I Spy" outdoors while on a walk. Get scraps of lumber and let them build something in the garage.
— Paula Glenn
Ask them to go outside and count the number of different birds they see in your backyard. Have hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows waiting for them (extra marshmallows for the one who counts the most birds).
— Marie Grass Amenta
(Give them) spray bottles filled with colored water to "paint" the snow.
— Jennifer Polizzi
Expert advice
It's tempting to hibernate indoors until spring, but getting outside — even in cold weather — is a much healthier option. The National Wildlife Federation says the average American kid spends just four to seven minutes outdoors each day — and that's year-round. The group recently launched an initiative called Be Out There (beoutthere.org) to encourage people to spend more time outdoors in 2010.
We consulted Becky Garland, executive director of the NWF's Connecting People with Nature program, for some ideas on getting kids to jump on the bandwagon:
•Be a spy. Winter months are a great time to play "I spy" for animal homes, such as nests, tree hollows, holes in the ground. With little vegetation blocking your view, it's so much easier to see them. Check out nwf.org/wildlifewatch to find animals that might live in your neighborhood.
•Tag, you're it. Get your heart pounding with flashlight tag using trees or existing structures in a park or backyard. Whoever is "it" waits at home base with a flashlight and counts to 20 and sets out hunting for the others with the light. "It" tags a player by shining the light and identifying him/her. Once "tagged," players return to the starting point until all are caught.
•Adopt a tree. Find a favorite tree in your yard or a nearby park and help native wildlife thrive. Fill the tree with things that creatures like to eat, such as acorns, berries, bird seed and other yummy food for your feathered and furry friends.
•Keep a moon journal. The sun doesn't stick around very long on winter days, so use this month to observe the moon in all its phases.
•Go geocaching. A high-tech version of letter boxing, geocaching is a great way to use a GPS receiver (many cell phones will work) to track down boxes hidden outside and filled with treasures. You then share the experience online. Sign your family up for a free account at geocaching.com and find a list of caches near you.
"Some say it takes a village to raise a child," Garland adds. "The Be Out There team says it takes a backyard, a playground, a park. Studies show outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression and boosts classroom performance."
Compiled by Heidi Stevens,
Tribune Newspapers
Join the discussion
Find "The Parent 'Hood" page on Facebook, where you can post your parenting questions and offer tips and solutions for others to try.
