You can understand why families tend to spend the bulk of their time inside. Some 85% of the UK live in urban areas, and in that environment, it’s just natural that we’re more likely to find ourselves in our living rooms than outside. Throw in the fact that the UK receives more than its fair share of rainfall, plus the fact that we’re all slightly — or very — addicted our smartphones, and it becomes even more understandable.
Still, there’s a lot of value in making an extra effort to get into nature. It’s great for the family’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, after all. Plus, the younger a child learns to love nature, the more likely it is that it’ll become a long-term part of their identity.
And though it’s unlikely that you’ll have a lush, enchanting forest right outside your front door, spending time in nature is more straightforward than you might think. In this post, we’ll run through some handy tips that’ll ensure you and your family spend more time than ever enjoying the UK’s great outdoors.
Make It a Priority
We’re all busier than ever before, and the fact is, if you’re simply waiting for inspiration and opportunity to strike before you and your family head outdoors, then you’ll likely be waiting a while. Optimal conditions come around only once in a blue moon.
Instead, look at treating spending time in nature as a priority. It’s best to go into the endeavour with intention — say, spending four hours outdoors each week — rather than just hoping it happens. In doing so, you’ll ensure that it becomes a routine part of your schedule. Remember: the more you put in, the more you’ll get out. Go each week, and you’ll notice the benefits!
Find Local Areas
It would be nice, sure, to go on long hikes in, say, the Swiss mountains, or through the Canadian Rockies.
That’s an easy sell for the family. It’s also not realistic. While you might, from time to time, make a special trip to spend time in a truly breathtaking environment, the weekly outings will have to be somewhere slightly less grand. Regardless of where you live, you’ll have picturesque areas close to your home. Figure out where they are, and start going. You’ll be more likely to spend time outdoors if you know you can do so without having to travel very far.
Get Some Bikes
Looking for an easy, fun, and fitness-boosting way to spend more time outside as a family? Then look at investing in some bikes.
Most of us pile our families into the car when we need to go somewhere. Yet, while there’ll be times when you have to get behind the wheel, there’ll also be others when travelling by bike would be more fun and enjoyable. Going to see your sister, who lives 10 minutes away? Strap on your helmets, get on two wheels, and take a nice family bike ride.
Not that you necessarily need to be going somewhere in particular. On warm summer nights, it’s enjoyable to take bike rides just for the fun of it.
Invest in Your Yard
Spending time in your garden is an easy way to spend time outdoors, though you might need to work a little to get it into shape. You’ll be more likely to have a picnic in the garden if you’ve invested a little in the landscaping, have a perfectly manicured lawn, and have a birdfeeder that attracts local wildlife.
Want to encourage your children to spend even more time in the yard, and less time playing video games? Make your garden truly inviting. A hammock, comfortable chairs, and some lawn games can help turn your garden into the place to be.
Get Weather-Ready
In truth, most families have no hesitations about spending a great day outdoors when the sun is shining and the temperatures are warm. The problem? In the UK, those days are few and far between. Even the summer months can bring a fair amount of rain.
You’ll be much more likely to spend time outdoors if you and your family are ready for whatever the weather will bring. With the right clothing, you’ll find that not only can you spend time in nature when it’s raining, but that it’s even fun. Buying some adult and childrens waterproofs will ensure that a little bit of wet weather doesn’t prevent you and your family from having a fun day out. It’s also recommended to invest in some thermal clothing so that you can go out in the winter months, too. While it can be tempting to stay inside when the weather is cold, there really is something special about taking a walk on a freezing cold day, provided you’re all fully wrapped up.
Buy Camping Gear
Going camping will get you and your family into the great outdoors, can help strengthen family relationships, and can develop your child’s practical skills (it’s useful to know how to put up a tent or start a fire, after all).
Plus, the UK is jam-packed with amazing campsites that are as good as anything you’ll find abroad, so if you’re looking for a fun and memorable summer holiday, then pack your camping gear and set off for a few nights under the stars.
Start a Vegetable Garden
Starting a vegetable garden offers so many benefits. For one thing, it’s a lot easier to get one started than you might think. It’ll also help your children develop an appreciation for the natural world, and in the end, you’ll have some tasty vegetables to use in your dishes. They don’™ require much work and have a lot of educational value, all the while ensuring that you can spend some quality time outside.
Adventures With Friends
Some children have a natural love for the outdoors, and won’t need much convincing to go on a walk through the woods. But others might need a bit of encouragement, especially when the weather isn’t looking too appealing and they’ve just downloaded a new video game.
One way to get your child enthusiastic about going into nature is to allow them to bring a friend (or two). It’s easy to get kids on board when they have a friend by their side. And while this might mean that you have to work a little harder when you’re on your outdoor adventure, at least it’ll be easier to convince your child to put down their device without having a tantrum.
Watch Nature-Infused Shows
Another smart way to inspire your children to become curious about the outside world — and to increase the chances they’ll want to go on an outside adventure — is to watch nature TV shows and documentaries together. This article lists some of the best nature TV shows for families, so the next time you’re wondering what to watch, consider one of those. You’ll have fun watching them, and it might just inspire your children to ask you if you can take a family trip into the great outdoors.
Make It Fun
Finally, perhaps the most important tip of all: make sure that your family outings into the outdoors are fun! After all, it’s unlikely that your children will be too enthusiastic about taking another trip if things have been overly serious. Provided it’s safe to do so, let your children explore and have their own version of fun. Ultimately, they’ll be much more likely to form an appreciation of the great outdoors if they’re able to experience it in their own special way.
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This is a contributed post.
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