PRACTICAL PARENTING â—½ HOME
Outside Fun
by Marcy Lytle
It’s that time of year, maybe a small or large window, where we all are thankful for sunshine and warmth, and the invitation to go outside with the kiddos, to the park…or just in our backyards. There’s a lot of fun to be enjoyed just in the backyard, with the family, without leaving your space.
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Things to buy:
​Maybe your little kids would love one of these items for play this spring:
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A tree swing – There are a couple of cool ones that also look so colorful in the yard. One is a flat disc, great for swinging, sitting, just a quiet and cool retreat for those spring days. The other is rope type swing with little discs for climbing and enjoying.
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Push mowers with bubbles – You’ve seen these, I bet. There are so many options, with the simplest ones for barely
walking babies, to more sophisticated mowers for the older toddlers. They make noise, they blow bubbles, and they’re fun. The perfect outdoor toy.
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A water table – One particular water table from Target is a favorite, because it has so many cool features. And a plug for draining easily. This is sure to entertain the little kids for hours, and you too, while you sit nearby and watch.
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A sensory table – Oh my goodness, the hours and the creativity that can emerge from this toy. Just visit the dollar store often for replenishing the bins with pompoms, wigglies, sand, felt, anything that feels good to the touch and fun to play with.
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A big blanket – for sitting, listening to the birds, enjoying a snack, and feeling the warmth…
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Things to learn:
Consider planting an herb garden with the kids. You don’t need a fancy herb box, even just about three pots will do. You’ll need: pots, soil, your herbs of choice and some little hands that are eager to plant. You can provide them with garden gloves and tiny shovels if you wish!
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Think about perhaps three herbs you use a lot, and take the kids shopping to purchase them. Let them smell the herbs, too! A good choice where we live is rosemary, basil, mint, parsley, and cilantro (before it gets too hot).
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Figure out a good spot for the plants to thrive and start filling the pots with your soil. Let the little hands help with a scoop!
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Show them how to wiggle the herbs from their tiny pots and place them into the big ones. The basil will grow a big plant, so give it the biggest pot. Mint will spread and take over, so be sure it has its own pot, too.
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Once it’s all planted, use your watering can or the hose, to give each plant a drink.
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Clean up, and plan a schedule to check the herbs, water them, snip them and enjoy them!
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Things to create:
Sometimes, you just need a big tub of all sorts of things that the kids can dig into and use to create, as the perfect weather allows.
Sponge paintbrushes and water buckets – they can then paint the sidewalk or the brick with water!
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Balls of all sizes – to throw and kick – and create games with!
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Pool noodles – not for swimming, but for placing and creating obstacle courses.
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Dollar store fun items – bug catchers, ball tosses with gloves, picnic items to play and set the table, anything you shop and see that can create games or interactive play time.
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Sketch books and crayons – for drawing what they see on a spring day!
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Cups and spoons – for digging and filling and making gardens and creating mud pies.
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It’s the best time of the year for getting outside with the kiddos, young to old. Maybe the teens will play and create with the littles. Or maybe your littles will play for hours, while you relax and smile as they do. The daylight is now longer, and the warmer breezes are coming…isn’t outside fun the best?