Apple Blossom & Lime Zest - Go out and play
When it's cold and grey it's tempting to stay indoors and stay cosy. But there's nothing like fresh air and outdoor activity to help the family feel invigorated and uplifted. To help you get them out more we've got some great ideas for outdoor activities!
Free outdoor activities (for under 12s)
Game: Chain Hide and Seek
You will need: nothing
What to do: Select one of the children to start by being "it" – he or she covers their eyes, count to 50 out loud whilst everyone else hides. The "it" starts searching once they have counted to 50. When the first child is found, he takes "its" hand and goes with him to find the others. Each child joins the chain as he is found.
Game: Sardines - a variation on hide and seek
"It "hides while all the other children count to 50. Everyone looks for "It", but each quietly hides with "It" when they find him. Soon, those who are left realize that they are looking for a hiding place with lots of people in it.
Take your children to the park
Don't just sit on a bench and leave them to it, join in where possible (at least until they have got the idea) and devise different activities and games for them. Kids love it when the adults join in and it will help you keep warm and fit.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
You will need: a list of nature items (rock, leaf, pine cone, twig, something red, yellow, orange, or other colour etc) for the hunt; a location such as your local woods or park, can be gathered.
What to do: Give players or teams the printed list of nature items to find. The first player or team to report back with all of their items is the winner.
Football
You will need: sticks or anything lying around to make 2 goals, a football
What to do: organise the children into 2 teams, more or less equal in ability and they will do the rest! You will need to be the referee on occasions and rule whether things were foul or out. Children are well able to play this without you but they will enjoy your involvement. If there is more than one adult you can of course join in as well!
Game: Piggy in the Middle
You will need: A ball or bean bags, an orange – in fact an easy to throw and catch item
What to do: Organise the children into a circle with the "piggy" in the middle. The item gets thrown to anyone at a different point in the circle – the aim is for the piggy to catch the item. When it is caught, the thrower then goes into the middle and the game restarts.
Game: The Chain
What to do: Two people start the game. They hold hands and chase people; the person they catch joins the chain by linking hands. When another person is caught they can stay together or spilt 2 and 2 they must split in even numbers and can link together at will. This game is played till all are caught.
