Ideas for Outdoor Activities with Kids!
With Spring right around the corner, I’m sharing some fun outdoor activities to help you and your kids have fun in the fresh air and sunshine!
*Thank you to buybuyBABY for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own!
Pre-Covid we enjoyed exploring the outdoors but we didn’t make it a priority. Once COVID hit we were no longer (here in California) allowed to go to parks, malls, or Disneyland (still recovering from this blow). It kind of forced us to get outside with our littles and explore more of nature! We were CRAVING fresh air and sunshine only after a couple weeks of being on lockdown. It was my goal once I started seeing some cabin fever effects on my children that we needed to get outside at least once a day! I started following a fantastic Instagram account called 1,000 Hours Outside and it’s been so motivating seeing the positive affects the outdoors have not only as us parents but children too!
There is also significant research backing the health benefits of frequent outdoor sunlight exposure, “The body is a biological light receptor. Routine exposure to sunlight reduces resting heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, while increasing energy, strength, endurance, stress tolerance, and the ability of the blood to absorb and carry oxygen.” – Jacob Liberman, Ph.D.
The bonding that happens between parent and child as well is a strengthening factor and as your family unit as a whole. Getting outside and hiking, going to the beach, and riding bikes are some of our favorite bonding activities. Overall we are all in a better mood and SO happy after we spend time outside getting fresh air and exploring! Some outdoor gear we invested in made doing these things SO much easier with little ones and allowed us to stay outside longer!
I started coming up with fun ideas that Alex and I can can do with the kids outside! We got electric bikes for Christmas and this child seat attachment from buybuyBABY. They are my go-to place for anything I need for my children!! They have a variety of baby necessities, toys, diapers, clothes, furniture, and even outdoor equipment. Everything from child bike seats and bike trailers, baby carriers, and jogging strollers. They also have a wide variety of outdoor play items and toys that are great for your yard such as water tables, sand boxes, and little kid bikes!
Right now when you do contactless pick-up, you can get 20% OFF your entire order! Also, today is the last day to get these savings:
- $50 OFF in My Funds rewards when you spend $200
- $100 when you spend $400
- $150 when you spend $600!
OUTDOOR GEAR FOR LITTLES WE LOVE FROM BUY BUY BABY:
This Chicco SmartSupport Backpack Baby Carrier was one of the best outdoor items we got for our little ones! Dane is able to go on hikes with us for a lot longer (even Kennedy begs to go in it when she gets tired!). It is super supportive and easy on the back. If you have a smaller baby, a baby carrier is a great option- especially for babies under one years old. I found Dane napped really well in the carrier, and he loved the bouncing from when I would walk.
Here’s some features that we love about it:
- Includes infant insert
- Adjustable seat height supports child’s growth
- Energy-absorbing lumbar padding helps reduce the strain on your back
- Generously padded shoulder straps
- Adjustable belt straps
- Self-standing for easy loading and unloading of baby
- Frame design allows airflow to keep you cool and dry
- Folds flat for storage
- Lightweight and durable aluminum frame
THULE YEPP CHILD BIKE SEAT:
The next outdoor item we invested in was the Thule Yepp Maxi Frame Mount Rear Child’s Bike Seat. This was a definite must have for a comfortable ride for Dane! We LOVE to go on bike rides as a family now that Kennedy can finally ride her own bike now! This is one of Dane’s favorite things to do and usually asks for “Bike!” many times a day! You can also find Alex taking Kennedy and having Dane ride with him on the bike while I prep and cook dinner in peace!
Here are some features we enjoy about the Thule Yepp:
- Suitable for ages 9 months -6 years old and up to 40 lb.
- Designed to be mounted on bike’s rear frame
- Adjustable padded 5-point harness delivers maximum comfort and safety
- Affixes to a bicycle’s seat tube with a sturdy adapter that secures with a 4-bolt clamp
- Conveniently slides onto the seat tube adapter and clicks into place and secured with an integrated lock
- Ensures a perfect fit as your child grows thanks to adjustable footrests and foot strap
- Aluminum construction
This i play.® by green sprouts® Breathable Bucket Sun Protection Hat for both Kennedy and Dane are definite MUST haves to make sure their sensitive skin stays burn free and healthy while exploring outside- especially in the summer months! It comes in three different colors, dries fast and offers SPF 50+ protection.
Another outdoor must have for hiking, biking and beach days are these super adorable and stylish Babiator sunglasses! Dane thinks he is SO cool and just like daddy when he is wearing them! It’s so cute seeing him in these and looking like such a stud! They offer durable, flexible rubber frames, shatter-resistant lenses and 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays! Dane’s eyes are a really light blue, so he is more sensitive to outdoor sunlight. I keep these I keep in my diaper bag at all times!
Lastly, this Baby Bum SPF 50 Fragrance-Free Mineral Lotion Sunscreen we never leave the house without! Sometimes we’ll make pit stops at the beach and I never let them stay out in the sun for too long without this on any skin exposed to the sun for more than 15 minutes! It also does not irritate my children’s eyes which is a big deal when choosing a sunscreen!
Even just getting outside on a walk around the neighborhood is such a great thing to do! I notice a big difference in my mood and even the kid’s moods when we get sunlight and get our bodies moving. I love walks with the kids and Poppy, especially since it has been getting warmer here in Southern California late. Some other great ideas is setting up a water table in your yard, or if it’s still too cold where you live, you can turn the water table into a sensory table! I love filling ours up with water beads or beans and colored rice, and putting small animals and scoopers!
Giveaway:
I hope these products make exploring the outdoors with your little ones less intimidating and more motivating! I want to see your pics of you outside exploring nature and the outdoors with your little ones! Tag me @katelynpjones and @buybuyBABY in an Instagram Post or on your stories! I’ll choose one lucky winner to get a $50 buybuyBABY Gift Card! Giveaway ends 3/6 and the winner will be announced 3/7!
Giveaway is closed! Winner announced on stories***
