We are all keen to find ways to ensure a little less screen time for our children or grandchildren so we‘ve put together some simple games to help get them, and you, out and exploring the local area.
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- Gentle intervals – race between lampposts or trees. Let them choose the start and finish lines.
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- Follow the Leader – a leader walks, and adds in any hops, stretches, turns or jumps they fancy. Everyone else copies and is ‘out’ when they don’t manage it. The last one in becomes the next leader.
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- Animal or just plain silly walks – get them to walk like a crocodile, a lion, a crab or even a kangaroo.
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- I spy – take it in turns to spot interesting things around you. Spying something “the colour” of as an alternative to letters is the perfect way to get younger ones involved, for older children adding spelling challenges can keep them part of the fun too!
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- Rhyming lines and Story telling – start with a sentence and take turns to add a rhyming line, or use your sentence as the start of a story.
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- Map your journey – Include parks, bridges, streams, cafes and other points of interest to your walking route. If you plan ahead you could create a simple map of the journey – allow your child to take charge as the map leader, or if you have several children in tow, assign them each a point of interest that they can mark off once you have reached it. They’ll love the sense of independence!
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- Include Nature – If your walk takes you off the main streets and through woods and parks encourage your children to count how many animals, insects and birds they find along the way. Collect any eye-catching leaves, sticks or cones and use them to create a picture of your walk once you get home.
Once you’ve got them moving, distraction is key, and we have found these to be great ways to keep little ones entertained. Walking is one of the easiest ways to be active and it’s a great way to spend quality time talking and spending time together. Using our tips it will encourage your children and grandchildren to explore their surroundings whilst giving them a sense of adventure and independence. Fingers crossed it will extend that outdoor fun that little bit longer! Enjoy!
