Over recent years, our move into the digital era has resulted in many changes to our daily routines. Many of us will remember being kids and spending lots of time playing outdoors with our friends. However, this appears to have been lost amongst the kids of today because most of them are glued to their computer screens or smart devices playing games, going on social media, and getting involved in other online activities.

While there is nothing wrong with kids spending some time online providing they are child-friendly sites, many spend the majority of their spare time holed up in their rooms, which can be a real worry for parents. Not only is this pretty anti-social but it also means that your child does not get the fresh and air and exercise that they should.

Getting your kids to enjoy the outdoors

The good news is that as a parent you can find ways to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors. This can help to address problems like childhood obesity by ensuring they get more exercise as well as enabling them to enjoy fresh air, spending time with friends and family, and just being kids rather than tech wizards. Many children can go online and find everything from phone number lookup services through to the latest movies but when it comes to outdoor activities they have no clue where to start.

One of the ways in which you can encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors is to arrange regular family mornings or afternoons out. This could be something as simple as a picnic at the park or a day at the beach once a week. This is a great way to not only get your kids outdoors but also spend quality time together as a family. Go online and check the best places to go locally – there should be plenty of options no matter what the ages of your kids.

Another option is to head out to walking trails in and around your area. While the kids may moan about this at first, the chances are that once you head out they will actually enjoy exploring and taking in the new surroundings. In addition, this will provide them with exercise as well as fresh air, which has become increasingly important given the obesity issues facing many kids today. You can even invest in bicycles for the family so that you can all head out on your bikes for a day outdoors.

You can even use your own garden to get your kids to spend more time outdoors. Encourage them to invite friends around rather than just talking to them on social media. Arrange a finger buffet with music outside in the garden for them during the warmer days. If you have a pool, you can even arrange a pool party every so often, which is something that most kids will love.

Sometimes, parents have to think outside the box when it comes to getting their kids out and about rather than being cooped up in their bedrooms. However, once they get a feel for the great outdoors you will find that many actually like it.