Some of the greatest moments of one’s life are those spent with family – making everlasting memories. Though seemingly ordinary at that time, these are the moments one longs for the most when it’s almost impossible to get everyone under the same roof again. Elizabeth Fraley believes outdoor family activities not only make your time memorable, but also boosts children’s cognitive and social skills. Partaking in outdoor activities is a great way for family members to bond and learn together.
Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley has compiled a list of potential outdoor activities you can do with your family that combines fun with learning.
- Reading Environmental Print
What is environmental print? Environmental prints are the logos, words or symbols found commonly in everyday life, be it a fast food franchise label or a stop sign on a road. Children, especially those with an avid interest in reading, learn the environmental prints early on in their lives. Helping kids identify words or letters and link them to their meanings, boosts confidence as well as early literacy. This fun game also develops much-needed observational skills in children, and promotes learning and reading.
- Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunt refers to a game where kids search for specific items or things, using a list given to them. The hunt for specific items helps kids work in teams and enhances their problem-solving skills. Scavenger hunt can be something as simple as finding themes of a specific colour (say yellow), or something more elaborate where each clue leads to the next one. In any case, as per Elizabeth Fraley, scavenger hunts make children more observant of their surroundings, while ensuring they have a fun time together.
- Cloud Watching and Storytelling
In the World of iPads and tablets, connecting with nature is extremely crucial. Children of today spend the better of their day glued to phones. Cloud watching entails seeing the sky and identifying any cloud shaped like an object like a football or a dragon. Children can then weave a tale and tell a story linking the objects found in the sky, boosting their creativity and imagination.
- Rock Painting
Another fun outdoor activity by Elizabeth Fraley is rock painting. Children can collect small rocks, preferably flat and then paint numbers, sceneries or innovative patterns on them.
- Backyard Camping
If you don’t have time for an elaborate camping trip, no worries! Children get happy if you do anything slightly out of the usual and on the fun side. Gather a few blankets and pillows and spend the evening in your backyard telling stories. This bonding experience will encourage your kids to be more vocal about their imagination and if your daily routine becomes monotonous, this will definitely add a spark!
For more ways to keep children entertained without using any screens, click here.
Outdoor activities have the potential to turn ordinary moments into magical memories, filled with fun and learning. Games like the ones mentioned above by Elizabeth Fraley nurture problem-solving skills, creativity, confidence, all while having great fun.
Next time you’re running an errand with your children in the car, engage them in a meaningful game of environmental prints!
For further details on Kinder Ready’s programs, visit their website: https://www.kinderready.com/.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethFraleyKinderReady
