To say that I have busy toddler is an understatement. Once
he began crawling, the chase began. When he started walking and running, all
bets were off. I’m constantly having to come up with things to do to keep him
busy. In the summer, we try to go
outdoors as much as possible so he can run free! Here are 5 simple ways you can
enjoy the outdoors with your busy tot …
1. Let your toddler
explore. Whether at the playground or the local beach, allow kids to
explore their environment without help from an adult. My son loves looking for
shells and making things out of sand. I love watching his face when he builds
something all on his own. It’s amazing what a child can learn when they’re left
to play.
2. Hit the slides
– My little guy (like every other toddler in the universe) absolutely loves
sliding down slides. He can slide and slide and slide until he’s so tired he
can’t slide anymore, which pretty much makes this the perfect pre-naptime
activity out there.
3. Introduce your
toddler to nature. I’m teaching both of my children to appreciate nature
using gardening. My little guy is enjoying planting different flowers and
watching them grow. I like that he’s getting his hands dirty and learning the
science of how things work. Don’t have a place to garden? Try collecting
leaves, rocks or sticks on a nature walk or hike or feel the different textures
of bark on the trees. There are countless ways to share nature with a busy
toddler. In fact, toddlers are the best audience at this age when they are so
full of wonder.
4. Let them run free.
My kids love to run after each other. When we’re outside they’re free to chase
each other as much as they want. They giggle and have a blast, while getting
some great exercise.
5. Teach them to
value their imagination. I’m so thankful my kids enjoy playing together.
When we’re outside it seems like they’re in their own little world, using their
imagination in ways they can’t inside. I try to encourage this as much as
possible. It’s so important for kids to use their imagination and be free.