As your children get older, they will start to make their opinions known in more eloquent ways than when they were a toddler, but sometimes those opinions can be really sad for us as parents to come to terms with. Often, as children age, their interest in the great outdoors can wane. Puddle jumping loses its appeal, climbing trees becomes uncool and collecting stones is so last year. So how do we make sure that older children still spend time in nature? How do we ensure that nature has the opportunity to teach older children resilience, patience, and appreciation for the beauty around them?
Go into the great outdoors often
The more your older children hike and spend time in the fresh air, the more it becomes part of their routine. Moreover, parental involvement is crucial in nurturing a love for the outdoors. By setting an example through our own enthusiasm and exploration, we can inspire our older children to embrace nature. Taking family hikes (be sure to wrap yourself up warm, as well as the kids) or camping trips provide opportunities for bonding, creating lasting memories and instilling values of environmental stewardship.
Set screen limits for your older children
We love some screen time in this house, but we do enforce limits and encourage our children to play freely and ‘get bored’ for the majority of the time. Forays into the great outdoors are more likely to be met with positivity if you aren’t interrrupting a game or Minecraft build!
Use a step counter
Set daily or weekly goals. Our older children have Fitbits which encourage them to count their periods of activity. It doesn’t have to be an expensive piece of kit, a simple pedometer will do, or you can count steps on your phone.
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Get them involved in choosing their kit for the great outdoors
Research kit that has the features you know you’ll need and then let them choose from your pre approved list.
Discuss fabrics and technical features with them and talk about the reasons why these factors are important when venturing into the great outdoors.
Let your older children pick the destination
Do they have a favourite walk? Are there any woodlands that evoke fond memories for them? Sometimes a simple walk to the library or shops, instead of jumping in the car, can be enough.
Build in treats
Plot a route that incorporates their interests. Perhaps you have a foodie, if so a walk to your local ice cream refectory might do the trick. If you have an aspiring social media star, a super cool selfie spot could do the trick. Some older children will appreciate visiting animals that they can see or stroke and other my be thrilled by a landscape that they can draw or photograph.
By understanding their changing interests and motivations, we can tailor outdoor activities to suit their needs. Adventure sports, such as rock climbing or kayaking, engage their sense of thrill and challenge, while environmental volunteering projects allow them to make a tangible impact on conservation efforts. Incorporating technology, such as nature photography or geocaching, bridges the gap between the virtual and physical worlds, sparking their curiosity and exploration.
Break up the hike.
Plan for food and drink stops. If you’re hiking over a mealtime, be sure to pack a picnic including lots of favourite foods. When you’re plotting your route, try to include points of interest that invite play or discussion like streams, bridges, lakes, viewpoints or tree swings.
Ask them to set an example.
Older children can be great motivators for younger siblings or friends’ children. Ask them to help you sort out their outgrown hiking boots and waterproofs to pass down.
See if they can suggest or help you plan a route that will entertain little ones, you could even work together to make a scavenger hunt to keep the little ones amused.
It is important to respect their autonomy and provide them with opportunities to take leadership roles in outdoor activities. This allows them to develop their problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, and a sense of responsibility towards the natural world.
Remind them how far they’ve come.
Share photos of when they were smaller to remind them of all the epic adventures you had together. Talk about when your first started adventuring together and about how you slowly built up your distances and time spent outdoors as they grew and became stronger.
Inspire them with how far they could go.
Discuss some of the organisations they could join that will nurture their love of the great outdoors. Scouts, Cadets and Duke of Edinburgh are just some of the resources available to our older children.
When you travel, look at maps, atlases and travel websites together. Plan holidays as a family and discuss your dream destinations together. Always fancied Center Parcs? Looking to travel abroad for the first time? Explore the possibilities! Search for local activities and attractions to suit everyone’s interests and tastes. Some children may feel inspired to earn their Green Blue Peter badge, which encourages children to protect our planet and share their passion for nature and the environment.
In today’s fast-paced digital age, it is easy for older children to become disconnected from the wonders of the great outdoors. However, it is important for us to provide opportunities that keep them interested and engaged in nature. With a little creativity and flexibility, we can guide our older children towards a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
So, let us make a concerted effort to keep older children excited about the great outdoors. With our support and encouragement, they can continue to find joy, inspiration, and endless possibilities in the natural world. Together, let us ensure that our future generations grow up with a genuine connection to and love for the Earth.
If you’d like to read more about the physics of outdoor play, why not give this post a read. If you’re looking for ways to spend time outdoors at home, have a read about National Children’s Gardening Week.
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