This is a post by guest blogger Joyce Wilson of https://teacherspark.org/.

There has never been a more critical time for kids to experience the outdoors. After a year and a half of unpredictable routines and limited outdoor play, Nature Deficit Disorder is in full swing. If you’re looking for practical ideas for activities your child can engage in outside the house, then you’ve come to the right place. Danielle Rivenbark has listed some simple yet significant tips for getting your child the safe, fun, and healthy activity they need!

Prep your backyard

There are tons of activities you can do in the backyard with your kids. But you must make sure your backyard accommodates such activities, and you must ensure that it is safe.

Along with establishing firm safety rules and supervising your children at all times, evaluate your yard for potential hazards. For instance, fallen tree limbs, thorns, garden tools, hoses, chemicals, and poisonous plants can all cause harm to your child.

Another way to boost safety is to put a fence around your property. This is something you want to be done professionally. Research online to find a local fence company that can install a quality fence. If possible, find a few different companies, compare online reviews, and only consider contractors who are licensed and insured. Concerning costs, look for fence companies that are offering credits or deals on current projects.

Start a garden

There are a plethora of benefits to starting a garden with your kids. Along with helping them feel included in your family’s meal plans, it encourages them to eat healthfully, reduces stress, and enhances concentration and memory. It also provides physical activity, helps them build self-confidence, and much more.

Choose the types of plants you and your kids want in your garden and determine the best site in your yard for growing those plants. You’re planting a garden with children, so leave plenty of room for mistakes! And remember to have fun while you are hard at work.

Bring out the water

Whenever there is fun in the sun, water is often involved. And that's because there is no shortage of water activities that can be done in the backyard.

You can put out a slip ‘n slide, set up a human car wash, or put down slash pads. You can invest in a blow-up pool or even install an above-ground pool if you want to go to the next level. Or you can keep it simple by allowing your kids to run through the sprinklers!

Try a recreational sport

As long as you have the space for it, your backyard can be turned into a recreational sports field. Does your child like playing soccer, volleyball, badminton, t-ball, wiffle ball, dodgeball, or any other types of common backyard sports? A few minutes of online research will teach you everything you need to know about the equipment you need and how to create the appropriate space for your sport.

Assign art projects

 Art can yield significant perks to your child’s development. But let’s be honest, an art project can get pretty messy inside the house!

Enter outdoor art. Think of ways to engage your child’s creative senses outside. Assign them a natural art project that consists of collecting flowers, leaves, sticks, and pine cones to create a masterpiece. Set up an easel in your backyard and let your child paint what they observe from the natural surroundings. Or set up a Play-Doh picnic for your children to make pretend food.

Kids need to spend time outdoors. It’s vital to their health, well-being, and development. Parents face unique challenges in this day and age that need to be counteracted with safe and healthy activities. Consider the outdoor activities above that can keep your child entertained and engaged at home, and keep looking for other ideas to incorporate into your daily routine. In no time, you’ll be armed with tons of ideas that can benefit the whole family!

 If you found this article helpful, you can read much more kid-focused content on daniellerivenbark.com!