9 Unique Gifts that Encourage Kids to Play Outside!

Encouraging children to play outdoors year round is a wonderful way to foster their imagination, physical development, and love for nature. This can be tricky to do though with all of the technology and games inside. To help, we’ve created this list of unique gifts that can entice kids to step outside and play together. Active play as a family or with friends can create lasting memories, reduce stress by being outdoors, and lead to a life long love of physical activity.

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Lawn Games for the Win!

This sounds like something my parents would have said but its true! Lawn games provide a fun outdoor activity that can teach healthy competition with a game like Ladder Ball or croquet. It is amazing how one family playing outside can lead to a whole bunch of neighbors bringing out their games and soon you’ll be in a fun-filled block party!

Rollin’ With My Homies

I don’t know what the reason, but almost every kid on the block wanted roller blades this year. Great exercise, something new to try, just don’t forget those elbow and knee pads!

Light Up the Night

How excited are your kids when they get handed a flashlight?! Mine think they’re the greatest things ever! Whether it be a scavenger hunt by flashlight in your backyard or a wild game of laser tag among friends, kids will love the excitement of playing in the dark.

Do You See What I See?

Have you taken your kids on hikes or nature walks? Make them more exciting by getting them their own binoculars and teaching them how to search for animals and birds in the distance. You could pair it with a coloring book or activity book about nature so they have something to do in the car too!

Freedom and Independence

There are some days where your kiddo just needs to feel a sense of freedom and independence. They might want to take a walk with friends, head out on their bike, or zoom along the path on an electric scooter. They can explore the neighborhood and experience the joy of an outdoor adventure.

Balance While Zipping Along

I told many people that I would never buy a hoverboard….until that was the only thing on my daughter’s wishlist! I was amazed at the instant skill of the kids that tried it and how, in such a short time, they knew how to maneuver around the playground and roll up curbs. Now, one of our favorite activities is to take our dog for a walk while my daughter zooms nearby!

Climb + Swing + Play

During summer vacations, we are constantly out at playgrounds, but when it is chilly, we like to stay closer to home. My friend’s have had one of these geometric domes in their backyard for years and love it! This is perfect for climbing, swinging, obstacles and more.

Track That Activity!

There is something so satisfying about seeing the number of steps you took during an active day. Kids love that too! My daughter has been so happy with her Fitbit because it not only keeps track of her steps, it can set timers, different activities, and even was waterproof for time spent at the pool. Make it a family goal to stay active while inventing obstacle courses and taking walks together.

Create Memories

A great idea for the holidays is giving “experience gifts” and visiting new places in your community. I love taking along this Outdoor Adventures Journal & Sketchbook so that the kids can document their day! Whether you meet friends to play at a new playground, try out a hike nearby or stop at the pop up carnival, kids will be able to write about who they were with, where they went and draw pictures of what they want to remember. This will become a beautiful memory book for the whole family!

And one for inside…

This playground building STEM set is perfect for your little park fans! They receive cards showing how to build playground elements and then are asked questions to get them thinking and designing. My daughter loves it!

Thank you for joining us at Slides and Sunshine. Now it’s time to get out there and play!

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