5 reasons to get the kids outside - rain or shine

For our family, getting outside is always a welcome reset. Fresh air, change of scenery, movement and any kind of novelty factor can snap us all out of a winter funk.

When school holidays roll around, the middle-of-the-year ones in particular, outside adventures can feel like a bit of a mission – especially for the working parents among us. But with a little intention and planning, the rewards are more than worth it. Stepping outside into nature in winter shifts the mood and fills the tanks with fresh energy and ideas.

And here’s the thing: outdoor activities don’t have to take ages or play out as major events. Kids might not get super inspired by sprawling panoramas or three-day hikes (though if that’s your family’s thing, by all means gear up and go for it). Good news - there are plenty of simple, low-cost adventures available on our back-doorsteps. Ask the kids what they’d enjoy doing and who they’d like to bring along. Mates are great motivators. Snacks are also handy in that regard.

Bundle up or throw on a raincoat and head out for a walk, scooter or bike ride if you’re able; kick a soccer ball around on a patch of grass after work; find a spot by your local beach, lake or bay to gaze at the open water (bonus if there are kite-surfers out foiling in the surf); explore the maunga in your area over a weekend or two; or barrel down some sand dunes on boogie boards.

Adventure with the kids to a new spot outside of your local area; potter through the bush and talk about things like kauri dieback and or the medicinal properties of koromiko; check out what’s in season in your community garden; or just leave the car at home and walk to the bakery for a savoury at lunchtime.

In case you need it, here are a few reminders about why getting outside every day will invariably do wonders for the kids – and you:

Outdoor play naturally encourages kids to push their physical limits and try new things, if they’re able. Climbing trees, hiking to the top of a hill, navigating uneven paths, or hot footing it across rocky ground, our kids gain a sense of achievement from doing hard things. Every little risk and challenge helps to build their self-belief.

Kids are naturally curious, and the outdoors is full of opportunities to learn. Whether they’re testing the depth of a muddy puddle, deciphering cloud formations or spotting kawakawa leaves, children soak up knowledge from the world around them. Sticks, rocks, leaves, water – all these natural materials offer sensory and developmental benefits that help to grow and flex developing young minds.

Physical exercise just feels great, right?! And when the kids are outside, they can move freely without being told to use their inside voices, or to stop leaping off the furniture. Top tip – get out early! After all that energy is burned off, everyone tends to be more settled and mellow for the rest of the day. Just in time for an afternoon of movies and popcorn.

Outside, children naturally invent their own games and adventures, especially when they have friends around. The simplest materials become props in the most creative of stories. Nature offers an ever-changing, open-ended playground that can’t be replicated indoors – not without a huge mess to clean up anyway.

Have you ever noticed how often you pull out your phone and snap a pic when the kids are outside? Our beautiful country provides endless backdrops for family photos, meaning the more time you spend outside, the bigger your archive of beautiful photos and stories will become. Future you will be grateful for the special family mems!