A few useful tips on how to raise outdoors loving kids!

I'm thrilled to announce that we have a guest blogger Zara Lewis sharing some amazing parenting tips with us:

Image source: Flickr

As an active and outdoorsy person, you realize all the benefits that your way of life has to offer. You have probably explored your surrounding with keen eyes and hungry mind, and enjoyed the feeling of freedom when you’re doing something you love. Of course you would want to show your children how good this kind of life is and you can’t wait to go on an adventure together, as a family. However, you don’t want to force them to do anything they don’t want or it will backfire and they will hate it. How to raise outdoors loving kids? It’s not very difficult…

Spark their interest

What makes your children tick? Do they love fairy tales or are they more of insects-and-dinosaur kind of kids? Do they love hearing stories about magical forest creatures or are they interested in learning about how things work? Show them how nature awakens, tell them about butterflies and bees and how flowers and fruits need their help to grow. Collect insects and dried leaves and try to identify them when you get home. This will make them love hiking and they will always connect long walks with their parents with a chance to learn something new.

Have patience

If you love sports you will naturally want your children to share your passion. Sadly, not all kids are as open as you might have been, and you will soon discover that patience is golden. The good thing is: if they see you do it, they will want to try it out sooner or later. With surfing, swimming, or windsurfing, take any chance you get to show them a few tips and tricks. Make sure you have the right equipment for them: stand up paddleboards for kids, swimsuits, goggles, and windsurfing boards. If you are patient and calm you will have a child keen on practicing who will be by your side at the beach sooner than you think.

 Image source: Flickr

Make the choice easier

It will not be easy to persuade them to go outside with you on their day off, because there will be a good movie or a carton on TV or they will want to play video games instead. You have to be strict and limit their time with electronics: summer is for outside, rainy days are for staying home. If they cannot play games on their tablets or watch TV, they can go to the park with their friends and siblings, hiking with you, or to the beach or swimming pool instead. A chance to have fun with their friends and family will make them go out of their rooms, and later on they will see that this is so much better than being bored at home.

Give them something just for them

This can be as easy as having them plant a tomato in a pot and help it grow on your front porch. On the other hand, if you have a garden you can give them a small parcel and help them grow anything they want: flowers, herbs, or vegetables. The sense of ownership and responsibility for their own plants will make them want to go out and check up on it more often, thus making them spend time doing something useful. What is more, fresh air and a bit of a physical work will do them good and make them healthier.

 Image source: Flickr

It doesn’t matter if your child is outdoorsy or not, as a parent you should always emphasize how happy you are and how proud you are of them and their achievements. Support their choices and hobbies, and help them become confident and happy in their own skin. After all, isn’t the happiness of a child the most important things for a parent?

Thank you Zara, for the amazing tips! You guys can follow her on Twitter or wait for her next article!