It’s almost mitten season and kids are in indoor play mode so let’s talk about How to Get Your Kids Outside in November!
It’s almost mitten season and kids are in indoor play mode so let’s talk about How to Get Your Kids Outside in November!
The temperature is dropping, it’s wet, frost is in the air or on your car, the leaves have fallen to the ground and your kids just want to stay inside to play.
The thought of putting on a sweater, mittens and maybe just maybe even a hat isn’t appealing because there is no white stuff on the ground to play with.
Read on – this is how to get your kids outside in November!
We all still need fresh air.
It’s good for our lungs, our mind, our body. It can be hard leaving the warmth of your house to go play outside with your children.
The best way to get your kids outside is to go with them (role model), even for 30 minutes.
Three quick tips to get your kids outside:
- Dress them in layers: no one wants to wear bulky jackets just yet. Once you start moving around they will get warm and can take a layer off as they need to.
- Be prepared to get wet and dirty: don’t wear your favorite clothing.
- Clean up the yard together. Who doesn’t want to jump in a leaf pile?
Activities to try….together:
- Create a family Scavenger Hunt.
- Collect a few paint chip cards, take them outside try to find the colors in nature and then make an art collage.
- Do a cookout lunch. Build a fire and learn how to make orange brownies, banana boats and hot cocoa over the fire. Bring other food to eat while these special treats bake.
- Photo shoot! Grab your camera and head to your family’s favorite summer spot (beach, trails etc) and take some family/individual photo’s. Try this each season to see how different the place looks.
- Night hike! Dress the kids up warm and head out when it’s DARK! There is so much to explore at night, especially when there is a full moon.
Don’t be afraid of the cold weather, if your children see that you don’t like it they will have a harder time enjoying it too.
If you and your children are prepared for the weather there is lots of fun to have.
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I love these ideas, especially a scavenger hunt!!
Thanks! Hope you get out for a family scavenger hunt this November 🙂
Great tips! I know it’s hard to get outside when the weather is a bit colder, but it’s still so important!
It is hard to get outside when it’s colder…and when it’s darker earlier at night too!
This is difficult for me, I would rather stay in than go out side. But like you said if the kids see you don’t like it they won’t like it. These are some great tips!
Sometimes I find it difficult too but knowing that the fresh air awaits us is always a bonus. Even if we only get out for 15-20 minutes it’s better then staying in all day/night. Hope you get out this November!
I love getting my kids outside. We have a very small marsh/park near us. My youngest son and I took a walk over there last week. Along the way, we collected leaves and talked about the different colors. I know he’ll always remember the walk because while we were there, a chipmunk scared me and I screamed, um, a little loud. I need to bring my other kids over to the marsh.
Sounds like it was a LOT of fun!!! A marsh would be pretty cool to check out this time of year!
Sounds like it was a LOT of fun!!! A marsh would be pretty cool to check out this time of year!
I’m certainly more a fan of the Great Indoors, but I prefer cold weather when I do go out. Great ideas, especially the fire and night hike. Do you have recipes for orange brownies and banana boats?
Hi Jennie,
I love night hikes, being outside at night is so different and fun! The recipes you asked for (off the top of my head).
Banana boats – Cut banana from top to bottom, place in chocolate chips, marsh mellows in banana. Wrap tin foil around banana, place in fire for 5 minutes or so. Take out of fire, open up tin foil and eat with a spoon. *parent/adult should assist*
Orange brownies: cut the top off an orange (kinda like a pumpkin) and dip most of the orange (you can eat it), then poor in brownie mix (might be easy to use brownie mix from a box), put orange piece you cut off back on top. Cover orange in tin foil, put in fire for 10-15 minutes. Take out of fire and check to see if it baked. If yes, let cool and enjoy with a spoon. If not baked but back in for another 5 minutes or so. *parent/adult should assist