Children and the Outdoors

by Kailyn Murphy

Itchy, sneezy, wet, buggy, dirty, too hot, too cold…these are the words we adults often use to describe being outside, or rather why we don’t want to be. But for kids (or at least my toddler), the word to describe being outside is: fun. 

At the beginning of this year I was 6 months pregnant with my second and was tiredly running after my toddler, but I set a goal to get outside with my son at least one hour each day. Rain or shine, hot or cold. (I based this off of the 10,000 Hours Outside challenge…check it out if you haven’t heard of it). I was thankful for the mild winter we had, because we went out everyday. Playing in the sandbox in mittens, attempting to dig the rock hard ground, filling the bird feeders and watching the birds. We explored puddles when it rained and on the few days it snowed we built snowman after snowman.

When my daughter was born it got a little more complicated to go out on rainy days and hot days, but we got out as much as we could. Through the past 9 months of this “experiment,” I noticed some things. First, the days we play outside, my son is happier, more easy going, and just all around more chill. It’s not surprising since I also noticed that the days (especially those short winter days) outside helped my mood too! My daughter also was content to be carried around and watch the sights and sounds. And just the other day, she rolled off the blanket I had laid in the grass and got dirty for the first time. Clawing at the grass and dirt like a cat kneading your lap. She loved it! Stared and felt it for what, for a baby, was hours (sweet quiet moments for us parents.) She didn’t think the grass was dirty or itchy or buggy. She was simply fascinated by the newness of it all. 

As he approaches three, my son is a bit more opinionated about the bugs and the rain. But he is happy to play with the garage bays open and run in and out as he pleases. I do my best to be positive about the rain, even going out in a downpour from time to time, to show him, it can be fun! As of the writing of this, my son has spent 403.5 hours outside. Or an average of an hour and a half every day. We haven’t been perfect about it, but seeing the wonder in his eyes, or the excitement as he exclaims “Picking up sticks is fun!” Reassures me that indeed, the outdoors is a good thing. In fact, on the tough days, the best way to change the day is for us to head outside. 

So, to all you parents out there, here is your encouragement to put aside your own negative thoughts about the weather and the bugs and take your kids out there! Observe what differences it makes in your kids and in you! Maybe start by hiking once a month. Some of my JT favorites with my toddler are Löf, Bradley-Buchanan, Allanach-Wolf, and Hubbard. (Bradley and Hubbard both end at playgrounds!) I hope to see you out there!