Here are a few easy and fun outdoor activities to try out to help your child seize the day.
It’s about halfway through summer, which means that there is no time to waste in getting your kids off of the couch to enjoy some fresh air. But it can be hard to know what to do that will be fun and safe, especially if your child has a special need. Here are a few easy and fun outdoor activities to try out to help your child seize the day.
Games and Toys
The great thing about many games is that you can use them to help your child develop important skills in a fun, no-pressure environment. If your child struggles with balance or coordination, then you can play with hula hoops, jump rope, limbo, and hopscotch to help them practice. And outdoor scavenger hunts are a terrific way to give your child critical thinking challenges that they can solve while having an adventure. The best part is that when it’s your game then you get to make the rules. You can make it as difficult or as easy as you need to. For example, if some coordination games like jumping rope sounds like it would be too unsafe for your child then you can make an easy version by laying out pool noodles in the grass for them to jump over instead.
Outdoor Art
Another way to take advantage of the outdoors is that you can plan activities that are usually pretty messy. Sidewalk chalk is a timeless favorite, and many children can spend hours drawing on the driveway outside, with adult supervision of course. You can also put a table outside to set up a fingerpainting station. It’s important to remember that if your child will be sitting outside for a while that they have proper sun protection, like sunscreen or a big tent or umbrella if you have one. Activities like painting and sidewalk chalk are another great opportunity to incorporate learning. You can even try solving math problems together.
Go to a Park
If you don’t have much room in your own backyard, then there are plenty of places where you can take your child to a park for the day. They can play on the playground and get plenty of exercise. Or, if they prefer a more calming activity, then you can easily find an inexpensive kite and teach them how to build and fly it. Spending a day at the park is a great way to have a mini summer vacation and make lots of memories.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.