Source:verywellfamily.com

How To Keep Your Kids Occupied In The Yard

Kids love to spend most of their free time on phones and computers. But too much screen time creates a lot of problems, and you’re constantly looking for ways to keep them occupied with something else.

Well, there are a lot of things that you can do to turn their attention away from screens, and we have a huge article that will tell you how to it in the yard.

Source:strong4life.com

1. Start a “Game Box” Routine

A game box is an interesting concept that helps entertain your kids without needing YouTube to do it. To create a game box, you have to think long term. Namely, you fill the game box with things from your childhood. It could be toys, it could be gadgets, baseball cards, or anything else. Every time you decide your kids need to spend some time away from their computers, grab your game box and take it to the yard. The more you do it, the more your kids will accept it as part of a routine. But the most interesting thing is that they will be eager to know more about what you’ve owned when you were little.

2. Have Them Help You

Source:playgroundprofessionals.com

The yard is one of the busiest places around the home. There is always something you can do to improve the yard. Whether that be planting a cute apple tree or cutting the lawn. A fun and interesting, as well as a beneficial, way or keeping your kids occupied in the yard is to have them help you with work around it. Not only will they have their hands full and away from their keyboards and smartphones, but they will actually do something useful for a change.

3. Give Them a Really Important Task

When I was little, my parents would keep me busy by giving me an important task to do. That could be drawing a picture for dad because he is busy at work, or making a collage for a grandma because she misses you. But regardless of what the task is, you can make it that much more important if you specify it. Not only will your kids feel a strong obligation to do it, but they will also try and not let you down.

4. Come Up With New Ideas

So, your kids are bored and you have a brilliant yard that can be utilized to kill that boredom. Well, a fun way to come up with ways to keep them entertained is to have them come up with ideas for you. To do this, all you need is to grab a piece of paper, a pen, and summon your kids to brainstorm for fun ideas. Not only will they come up with things that they find interesting to do in the yard, but they will do the job for you.

5. Get a Trampoline

Source:andrealoewen.ca

It goes without saying that every kid wants a trampoline, and every single one of us wanted one when we were little. A trampoline is a fun way to keep your kids entertained for hours and hours. But you have to be careful with what you choose, as jumping on a trampoline could also be very dangerous. To put a lid on the safety concerns, make sure to get a trampoline that is enclosed with a net. Not only are these trampolines better and more durable, but they also protect your kids from falling to the ground.

To know more about the best-enclosed trampolines on the market, as well as, a guide where you can compare them, you can learn more here.

6. Do a Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts are brilliant ways to keep your kids occupied in the yard for hours. Treasure hunts are designed to last for hours while also provide a difficult challenge that will be rewarded at the end. Simply take an interesting item, perhaps an old coin, and hide it somewhere in the yard. Next, tell your kids about the whole thing and watch as they run around looking for it.

Source:totstoteens.co.nz

7. Have a Play Date

Socializing is one of the most effective ways to keep the kids away from their screens. To do this, have one of your kid’s friends come over for a play date. Hosting a play date also works for the other parents, as we’re sure they are having the same problem as you do.

8. Build a Tree House

Building a treehouse is one of the best ways to do something fun with your kids, and also build something that all of you will cherish. But to build a treehouse, you need to have a strong and tall tree in your backyard, so this one isn’t always possible. But if you do have the necessary tools to do it, then it might be the single most important thing to do. Not only does building a treehouse keeps the kids entertained for god knows how many hours, but they will be eager to spend even more time in it as soon as you build it.

9. Build a Yard Fort

Source:daniandcole.co

Same as a treehouse, but everyone can do it, a yard fort is yet another fun idea that will keep the kids busy for hours. Your options when it comes to yard forts are endless. You can do it with cardboard boxes, pillows, tents, even build a fully functional fort from wood. Not only will it keep them occupied during the building process, but it will also be the place where they will spend most of their time at.

10. Learn Archery

A large and spacious yard makes an amazing archery range. If you have safety concerns about it, don’t as you don’t have to go for a professional bow and arrow and could opt for something less dangerous. But you and your kids could embark on a journey that will be just as special for everyone involved. Learning archery is not only fun, but it puts you in an exclusive circle of people who actually know how to do it. And by having an exclusive talent, you can always brag to your friend about it.

 

Peter is a freelance writer with more than eight years of experience covering topics in politics. He was one of the guys that were here when the foreignspolicyi.org started.