Affordable Outdoor Family Friendly Activities

 In a world awash with technology, it can be hard to find activities for kids that involve putting down the iPADs and getting outside. One of the best ways to encourage your children to embrace the outdoors is to take them some place new and exciting. This will break the monotonous routine and ultimately allow more acceptance of a new adventure.
  It’s unfortunate, but to a child, being sent outside can sometimes feel like a punishment or a burden. (Some children are sent outside as a consequence of making a nuisance of themselves indoors.) Parents need to lead by example. Get out there and get active. Let your inner child come out and play, gain some fresh air, exercise and reconnect with life’s simpler pleasures.
  Some days, my son's main interaction with nature consists of playing Angry Birds, and I know I have a a problem! Exploring and ruining 'a muck' outdoors is a chance to be kids and explore, without any kind of restrictions or limitations as long as they remain safe, and allow their creativity to explore and their imaginations to blossom.
 Winter is finally over, and those of us who have been stuck in the house due to cold weather can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It's time to venture out for some fresh air, vitamin D, and exercise. Outdoor activities need to be a regular occurrence, so variety is a must.  Need some ideas for outdoor activities? Here are some low-cost or free timeless ideas for encouraging creative and independent play:


Visit KaBOOM
This interactive map lists different playgrounds, fields, pools and other play spaces in your area. Visitors can add playgrounds to the user-generated map, upload pictures and rate them. 

Chalk Adventure
Sidewalk chalk is one of the most fun and affordable outdoor activities for kids. Set your family’s imagination loose and hit the pavement to create a family art gallery. Every family member can draw their picture on their own section of sidewalk.

Plant a Garden
By planting a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes with caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life first hand. Gardening can also bring environmental awareness to kids at an earlier age. 

Play the Backyard Matching Game
Go outside with your kids and have them close their eyes, as you fill a paper bag with items from the backyard. Gather pine cones, leaves, rocks, pebbles, flowers, etc. Have your children reach in the bag, pull out an object and hunt for a similar one in your yard. Continue until each item from the bag has a match. 

Create a Backyard Scavenger Hunt
Make your own scavenger hunt handout or find one online at Go Explore Nature. See how many things you and your children can find. 

Make a Nature Notebook
A nature notebook can help your kids keep track of their observations. Spend thirty minutes a day finding interesting things to put in their notebook. They can draw pictures of what they see or take notes. 

Conduct a Bug Hunt
Turn over a rock or look under a flower pot for some creepy crawlers. Using a bug container will allow your kids to look closely at different worms and insects without getting too grossed out -- just make sure to put the bugs back where you found them.  

Camp-out
Have a camp out in your backyard. A campfire is a great idea, as long as you check it with your local fire departments. You may need a permit, or your area may not allow campfires.

Go on Day Trips
Whether it's a trip to a park, museum or field, going on a day trip is a fun way for you and your kids to get out of the house and learn more about nature. 


Tennis Anyone?
The portability of tennis rackets and balls is a gift. It's a blast.

Go Fishing
A fairly decent fishing pole can be purchased at a store for as little as $12 - $15. A family can make a whole day out of fishing (leisurely of course). It's simple. Pack the car with a couple of fishing poles a bucket and bait.

Outdoor Movie Night
Thanks to our outdoor plugs, when the weather permits we play a movie via the laptop in the back yard. We view on blankets under starry skies (it's really fun!). It's a great time to make Smores too.

Explore a Rotten Log
That dead tree or stump can be a great science lesson. Kids can investigate and note everything they see: what's on the surface, moss, holes bored into the log, bugs and more. Ask your child questions about what bugs they saw and what they think they were doing there -- like finding shelter or gathering food. 

Bubbles
Bubbles are a timeless kid favorite. Let them blow the bubbles - they will be so proud of their accomplishment! Or you blow the bubbles and they can run around the yard trying to pop them. You can buy bubbles at the dollar store or other discount outlets for cheap, or you can look up online how to make them at home using dish soap.


Build a Bird Feeder
Get a bird feeder or make one yourself using a pinecone and peanut butter, and put it outside near a window. Kids can look out the window whenever they please and it's an easy and simple way to keep kids connected with nature. 

Head Out on a Nature Walk
Whether you live in a city, a suburb or a rural area, a nature walk is a simple way to get your kids outside. Even just walking around your block, kids can observe trees, bugs and birds they see along the way. 

Scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are a great way to keep kids busy. Make a list of everyday items they can find in the yard. For younger kids who can't read, you can use pictures. For example, your list could include a pinecone, a green leaf, a smooth stone, a stick, and so on. The kids will love exploring the backyard and competing to see who can complete their list first.


Geocaching
Technology is not commonly associated with getting outside however, but geocaching is an easy way to combine the two. It's is a high-tech treasure hunt, where users search for treasures or "caches" using a GPS device to pinpoint the correct location. 

Take a Penny Walk
To make a walk with your kids a little more interesting, let a penny lead the way! When you come to a road, turn or intersection, flip a penny. If it lands on heads, go right and if it lands on tails, turn left. 

Waterway Stay-cation
Instead a day at the lake, blow up an inflatable pool, make frozen juice pops, break out the suntan lotion and spend the day at your own private beach.


 Bike Riding
Our city boasts plenty of canal paths and trails designated for bikers. The internet and local town recreation offices will typically provide access to biking trails in your town.

How do you get outside with your kids?