Get Kids Off the Couch and Outdoors

What the heck happened to childhood? Kids used to explore nature and exercise their creativity. The outdoors fun we all grew up has been being subjugated and replaced by technology. Smartphones, iPads, and Xbox. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I am worried that people are losing touch with reality and humanity and opting for the convenience of technology.

Fifa has replaced soccer, Angry Birds defeated archery, and Facebook has replaced friendships. The best and happiest experiences of my life and childhood happened outside. Many parents today struggle with getting their children outside and having them truly appreciate and understand nature.

If you need any fun outdoor activities to do with your family this year, here are some of my favourites.

1) Camping

If your family has any propensity towards nature and outdoorsiness, then you should try out camping. Camping is an amazing, inexpensive family vacation. Growing up we went camping for weekends in our pop up camper several times a year. Whether you take a camper or bring a tent, camping is great for building fires, hiking, fishing, and off course making EPIC SMORES. I would highly recommend bringing cards and board games in case weather is rough so that you can spend hours of fun family time playing games.

2) Biking

Biking is a great hobby for people of all ages. Biking is excellent exercise and great for exploring. Whether you decide to mountain bike or road bike you can see tons of nature and your surroundings by cruising. I loved biking with my mom when I was younger. We bonded while racing with each other once a week around our little town in New York.

3) Photography

Selfies do not count. Photography is an awesome hobby. Getting out in nature and exploring is a great way to spend time. Taking photos helps to preserve nature and is a great way to express creativity and art. If you want to get your children into a great hobby for their future, photography is a solid bet. Learning the ins and outs of photography can lead to a promising and fulfilling profession in the future.

4) Paintball

Costwise this is hard to recommend but it is such a fun activity. That being said paintball is one of the most fun things you will ever do. Whether in the woods or at an airfield, paintball is a great outdoor hobby and super workout. Prepare to experience an adrenaline rush of battle as you chase down your friends and family, blasting them with high velocity paintballs until they surrender.

5) RC Boating

I personally love boating. As a kid I loved all RC toys. My dad and I would buy, hack and race them all the time. Working on them helped me with my mechanical skills and were a big part of me studying engineering in college. I even started my own RC Boats business because I enjoy boating so much.

RC Boats were perfect as a kid because they are safe and difficult to crash. I smashed my RC plane all the time because flying it was hard. I would recommend cars or boats for children for these exact reasons.

6) Hide n Seek

Everyone know hide n seek. That doesn’t mean it isn’t perfect. Every kid loves playing hiding games. If you want another variation of the game try Sardines. With Sardines, unlike Hide n Seek, only one person hides. The seekers must then rush to find the sole hider on their own. When you find the Sardine you must join them in hiding in their spot. The last person to find the group loses.

7) Sports

Everyone loves sports. Not everyone finds a sport they love but there is a generally a sport for everyone. Whether you love running, soccer, basketball, or swimming, sports is a great hobby and helps keep kids in shape and leading healthy lives.

As a kid I played soccer and basketball all the time. My dad coached me in soccer for years. We got to bond and spend tons of quality time together and he helped instill leadership and motivation. We still love sports today, though we watch more than we play together unfortunately.

8) Fishing

Well not really fishing. Fishing is great for many families but it is a bit slow and boring for me. If you really want to have fun. Try to catch frogs. As a kid we lived by a small pond and we spent tons of time there. I learned to catch frogs with my bare hands and being a boy I was absolutely hooked. In addition to chasing frogs, I highly recommend fishing with a net. Net fishing is more exciting. To be a true hero fisherman you must run and sneak around, chasing unsuspecting prey until you have time to pounce.

About the Author

Hey guys my name is Matt Ward. I hope you guys enjoyed the post and that you find something fun to do with your kids. I’m a 23 year old guy who loves nature, sports, reading, and working out.Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about me or RC Boating you can Email me orvisit my site.