5 Ways To Get Your Kids Outdoors This Summer!

Summer is a glorious time of year in Australia. Whether you enjoy heading to the beach, having a BBQ or just spending time with family, getting kids outdoors in the warmer months is quintessentially Australian. However, as many parents will know, it can be a challenge to keep kids away from screens and electronic devices during the summer holidays.

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Kids Outdoors

Sometimes, it takes a little extra imagination and encouragement to ensure your family can make the most of our great outdoors. Here are our 5 favourite ways to get your kids off the couch, outside and enjoying the beautiful Australian summer:

Bushwalking Adventures

One of the best things about Australia is our vast network of national parks and bushland areas. Unlike a lot of countries around the world, we are lucky enough to have access to thousands of planned trails and hikes right at our doorstep.

Bushwalking is a healthy way for your kids to enjoy some exercise, whilst learning about the world around us. All children are fascinated with our natural wildlife and will relish the opportunity to get outside and discover it for themselves. Your family might even be lucky enough to spot one of our famous and unique native animals – like a koala, kangaroo or the elusive platypus!

Invest in Outdoor Equipment

Outdoor play equipment is perfect for those days when your kids are at home this summer. Having the right equipment in your backyard will provide endless hours of outdoor fun and physical exercise for your kids.

Our favourite supplier of outdoor equipment is Vuly Play, which offers a comprehensive range of outdoor play equipment to meet your family’s budget and special interests. Some versatile pieces of outdoor play equipment include:

Swing sets and cubbies – Design your own playground with swings, rings and everything in between!
Kids Trampoline – Trampolining provides endless hours of safe outdoor fun for kids, along with a whole-body workout. Get the neighbourhood kids together, and jump around for hours!
Climbing Frames – Bring home your very own adventure park with monkey bars, jungle ropes, flying foxes and even gym equipment for the adults.
Basketball hoops – Shooting hoops is a great way to strengthen muscles and enhance hand-eye coordination – all whilst having fun!

You can also look for some playgrounds that contain outdoor gym equipment if you want to get the kids out of the house.

Keep Cool with Water Play

As any parent knows, there are few things kids love more than playing with water. Whether they are diving in a pool, swimming at the beach, shooting water guns, jumping over the sprinkler or simply playing with the garden house – water makes everything more fun!

Water play is also a great way to stay cool and refreshed in the hot Australian summer. Many local councils run fantastic swimming pools that are available for public use. Most of these facilities are tailored towards children – with slides, playgrounds and family-friendly activities on offer.

Kick It Old-School

Retro-inspired games such as hopscotch, jump rope, hoola hoops and marbles can provide your family with hours of endless amusement! Even building an outdoor tent (using a couple of bed sheets and the clothesline) can foster a whole new world of imagination and creativity.

You don’t need much equipment or large backyard space to try these beloved pastimes from yesteryear. Plus, your kids are bound to marvel at your tales of a time before smartphones even existed!

Grow Your Garden

Gardening offers more valuable opportunities for your kids to get outside, and stay in touch with nature. Kids have an innate curiosity about nature and will love the opportunity to grow their own plants, learn the names of flowers and bushes, or watch birds and bugs in their environment. This is a practical way for kids to learn about caring for the natural world.

Although it may seem like a laidback activity, gardening can also offer a decent source of exercise for growing bodies. Digging holes, pushing a wheelbarrow and raking leaves will all provide forms of incidental movement and exercise.

So what are you waiting for? The weather is heating up – rediscover the great outdoors today!