Table of Contents
1000 Hours Outside
The 1000 hours outside challenge was created by Ginny Yurich as a way to get kids outside more. It had been written that on average children spend 1200 hours a year on screens, so surely we should be able to match or even exceed the amount of hours outside?
You can also download and print trackers from the 100 Hours Outside website. Just colour in the small sections to mark how many hours you have spent outdoors throughout the year.
Winter Activities
Although most kids will be wishing for lots of snow throughout winter, it’s unlikely that we’ll get as much as they hope for! When it does snow it’s an easy time to get the kids outdoors for hours, sledging, skiing, building snowmen, making igloos and other snow sculptures. We always make the most of it and spend most the day outside.
Aside snow, if it’s cold enough it’s great to make ice sculptures. If it’s due to freeze, put containers of shallow water outside with different nature items in them, add string to the water so you can hang them once frozen. Icy walks are especially fun as the kids love cracking all the icy puddles or sliding across the thicker ice. You can even try a spot of ‘curling’ with stones or chunks of ice!
Having a roaring fire is perfect for keeping busy kids warm when they get cold. It’s also a good way to keep little ones outside longer. You can make so many delicious things on a fire, the obvious sausages and marshmallows of course, but also cakes baked in orange skins and baked potatoes! Definitely have a look online for good ideas on campfire cooking.
Winter is a good time for walks, especially in the countryside. Bracken has not started growing yet so it’s easier to walk certain routes and much better views when tall bracken doesn’t block smaller kids views of the surrounding area. It is also better for exploring off the track and through undergrowth, as ticks are not yet a problem!
Spring Activities
In springtime there are the obvious attractions of lambs to spot, new leaves sprouting and egg hunts! All great for getting kids outside, but what about something different? Grab some environmentally friendly air dry clay and try making clay faces on the trees in a familiar area of woodland. They are fun to make and can last a surprisingly long period of time!
Or make little twig and leaf boats to sail down a stream. Create dams on small streams to make a lake for the little boats (then destroy the dam to see what happens!!). It’s a lovely time of year to paint outside, give the kids some paper and paint (don’t forget your own too) and paint whatever they like. You can use paintbrushes or grab a leaf, twig or flower to do some mark making.
Journey sticks are a fun activity for walks with children. We thread string between a Y shape twig or branch, allowing the kids to weave nature items through the string. Creating an array of colour and texture. This can also be done by making bracelets with masking tape, the sticky side facing outwards. Children can stick small items onto the bracelet as they walk.
If you have children who like rocks then head somewhere that has plenty to look at. Pebble beaches are great or beaches full of fossils. We bought a small bag each for the children when the youngest kept asking us to carry more and more rocks for him as his pockets were full on our walks! Now he can collect as many as he likes, but they are all carried by him!
Summer Activities
In summer the best activities for my kids always involve water! Whether that is splashing about in the paddling pool in the garden or days out at the beach. Alternatives (for those of us who don’t live beside a beach!) are local rivers with calm pools to splash and swim in or even small streams where they can paddle and make boats to flow down.
In summer time we often bring paper and paints or pencils out on our outdoor adventures. Or sometimes the eldest has chosen to bring a book he’s particularly enjoying. At this time of the year with long daylight hours it’s easier to spend a lot more time outside than on shorter winter days.
If your children like science activities, it’s the perfect time to do some outdoor science. Try making volcanoes out of sand and use vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to make the volcano erupt. Or pond dipping at a local pond, many local wildlife trusts have pond dipping kits to borrow whilst visiting their sites.
We also love a bit of Andy Goldsworthy inspired art. Try some stacking of pebbles and see how tall you can make the towers, or even attempt a collaborative arch?
This is the best time of year for getting outdoors for meals in the garden, picnic dinners after a bike ride or late evening walks. You will certainly find it much easier to be outside all day than in winter time!
Of course this is also the perfect time for camping. Camping in a tent is most definitely outdoors, that thin layer of fabric is no different to covering yourself with a blanket outdoors in winter. So 2 days of camping is 48 hours outdoors!
Autumn Activities
In autumn it’s normally still warm enough for the kids to play in the water for the first month or so. We still tend to do beach trips and wear wetsuits to let the kids stay in longer. It’s also a good time for weekend camping when it’s quieter but still warm enough for plenty of hours outside.
When the leaves start to fall start some leaf catching competitions with the kids. See who can catch the most leaves falling down, it’s surprisingly difficult! Use the various colours of autumn leaves to make art, simple patterns work well or try mosaic style pictures. Don’t do this on a windy day though!
Windy autumn days are perfect for kite flying though, check reviews of kites before you buy, some are just designed better!
The shorter days and clear nights make it a great time for stargazing. Cosy up outdoors with plenty of blankets away from lights to spot constellations and shooting stars. If you’re in the North then you may even be lucky enough to spot the aurora in late autumn!
Autumn’s earlier evenings are also a good time do a spot of bat watching. Buy or borrow a bat detector to tune into bats in the neighbourhood, then spot them flying past! You may even have some local bat workers who will lead bat walks at the beginning of autumn.
Keep Kids Busy When On A Walk
Keeping kids busy on walks is not always easy. With smaller people you have to start slow and build up their distances. Always try and aim for something fun on the walk, around about halfway is perfect. Anything such as an amazing view, a stream to dam, good trees to climb or a tearoom to visit. This will always get the kids to be more accepting of walking ‘just a bit further’.
Take paper and pencils for when you stop for a rest. Some kids like to sketch the view or a pretty beetle. Others prefer to make cartoons of their family members falling off a cliff and landing in a boat… But it keep them happy whatever!
Choose walks that appeal to the kids, not just you. If they are tired from lack of sleep or previous busy days, try to make the walk shorter or add in a playpark at the beginning or end. It’s important to think of your children’s needs and abilities each day. Energy levels can wain in adults and it’s just the same for kids.
Walks with friends are always a hit and it’s more likely that the kids will just chat the entire time taking their mind off any tedious sections of the walk.
Bribery, if also fails then bribe the kids with cake at that café at the end of the walk or stop off somewhere on the way home. Either way they will walk faster to get to somewhere with a tasty snack or drink!
Essentials For Outdoor Activities
Make sure you have plenty of snacks and water, I can’t emphasise this enough. Most kids we’ve seen having meltdowns is because of a lack of food or water when outdoors for extended periods of time. So we always take a lunch box of food each even if we’re not out at lunch time. Outdoors with kids mean they like to eat a LOT. Water is particularly important in warmer weather (but still required in winter!), so get the kids to take their own bottles, but make sure you pack extra in your bag just in case they run out. My kids started carrying their own 12L bags when the youngest was 5, at first they just had food and items such as a jumper/gloves and I carried the water. Now they are 10 and 8 they carry all their things, plus sometimes a book or paper and pencils etc. It’s perfect for them to put any nature finds in too.
In summer it’s much easier to get the kids out the door with just food, water and a jumper. But don’t forget to add suncream in your own bag and summer hats for you all (sunstroke is not fun!). Sunglasses are also good for those kids who are sensitive to bright sunlight (most blue eyed kids!).
In winter there are some crucial dressing tips to keep kids happy in the snow for long periods of time. Having more than one pair of gloves, so that when one is soaked through they can put on the next. A good hat that covers the ears (we like Little Hotdog Watson or balaclavas) and snow boots with winter socks. Not wellies, wellies are good for the wet, but feet freeze too quickly in them when it’s snowy! A snow suit or ski trousers and jacket are perfect, remember to put them on the radiator when you get home to dry them out quickly for another adventure.
Fun Extras For 1000 Hours Outside
If you’re looking for some fun ideas for getting the kids to enjoy staying outside longer then consider these items.
A torch for night walks each. Kids love torches, particularly head torches, and will normally enjoy going for walks together in the evening or when camping with their own torch to wield.
If you have a favourite spot in the woods to visit I suggest investing in a hammock. They are fairly cheap and great for kids to rest in, chat with friends or read a book. Get yourself one too!
Teach children to whittle with a child size knife or a fire starting kit to show them how to start their own campfire. Kids are actually pretty sensible with dangerous things if shown how to do it properly.
Binoculars are great for being nosy, but also good for wildlife lovers, Use them to spot birds over the hills or dolphins in the sea. A good pair of binoculars always can be used at some point when outdoors.
As mentioned previously paper and pens or water colours are great for children to get creative. It’s more likely they will use them if they see you doing the same. So get creative yourself and start painting what you see!
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