Do you feel like your kids are more connected with a “screen” than anything else these days? For us, it’s gotten so much worse since COVID. Sports were canceled, School was online, and playdates were next to impossible. To make them feel a little better, screen times were extended, and a year and a half later, we have kids addicted to phones and iPads. They binge-watch videos and honestly have a false sense of what’s real instead of allowing curiosity and adventure to capture their spirits and connect with nature.

So now what? It’s time to get our kids back in the fresh air! The weather is great, and deep down, our kids want to have adventures and make memories (even if they don’t know it right now, lol). And you don’t need a big farm to get your kids outdoors.

Here are 4 ideas to help your children connect with Mother Nature

1- Grow a Garden

I vividly remember growing a garden with my mom when I was 7 or 8 years old. It was so exciting to watch the plants grow and to harvest veggies throughout the summer. Gardening doesn’t have to be some huge ordeal if you don’t want it to be. You can use raised beds or pots if you don’t want to till up a plot of land in your backyard. Pick a few veggies that your kids enjoy and let them take part in their own food system.

2- Have a “Pick Up” Ball Game in Your Neighborhood

Chances are, your kids aren’t the only ones that need to get outside a little more. Find some friends on your street or neighborhood and strike up a ball game. Baseball, soccer, basketball, dodgeball… Anything that gets kids running and playing outside. Don’t have any other kids nearby? That just means you need to join in the fun with your kids. You could probably use the fresh air too!

3- Plan a Picnic

What a wonderful way to enjoy a meal with your family. Load up a basket of fruits, veggies and your favorite handhelds and head to a park or scenic spot in your area for lunch. Pro Tip: bring a blanket and sit on the ground. Picnic tables are great, but nothing beats the view of having your family sprawled out on the ground enjoying nature together.

4- Send Them to Farm Camp

You send your kids to camps to learn sports, computer coding, and all sorts of hobbies, so why not send them to a camp to learn more about how to grow their own food, respectfully interact with animals, and take care of the one Earth that we have? It’s a great way to connect with nature and learn fun and valuable skills. At What The Farm, our campers are learning how to grow a garden, make bread and pickles, and how to do little things to help improve the food they eat, as well as play with tons of animals. Enter your name and email below to learn more about our Kids Camp!

Getting kids outdoors has never been so important and there are so many ways to encourage your kids to connect with nature, inspire curiosity and exploration, and get those hands dirty!

No Experience Necessary,
Kelly