Have a real adventure: games and activities to entice children outdoors
Absolutely not going out — and especially not in bad weather! With a boring walk or a sandbox, computer whizzes and bookworms will probably never be tempted outside. So for homebodies: be creative and come up with games and activities that aren't exactly ordinary.
Treasure hunt: Combine a walk with a treasure hunt! For this you could perhaps fill a small box with sweets or small toys and keep it in a safe place. Arrows on the street or small puzzles placed along the way will show your child the way.
Wildlife park/Zoo: Animals - and especially wild ones - are exciting for most children. A trip to the nearest wildlife park or zoo is therefore a welcome change from an animal book.
Make a campfire: Children usually don't have much to do with fire. Parents - rightly so - repeatedly warn about the dangers that come from flames. All the more exciting is a campfire that you can - depending on the possibility - make in your own garden in a fire bowl. Many grill huts also offer public areas for making a campfire. With tasty bread on a stick, even homebodies can surely be won over.
Geocaching: Walking aimlessly outdoors quickly becomes boring for many children. Much more exciting is geocaching, a kind of treasure hunt for older children and adults. Via GPS, caches must be found and puzzles solved - ideal for an outing with the whole family.
Dog-sitting: Most children want their own pet, but few parents can fulfill the wish for a dog. Homebodies who are reluctant to go outside might be thrilled if they are allowed to walk a neighbor's dog. And many animal shelters are also happy when someone regularly takes the four-legged friends out. The advantage of arrangements like these: you can set regular appointments that your child then has to stick to. This way they not only learn responsibility, but also get fresh air regularly.
Bike ride with ice cream: The prospect of a treat is an incentive for many homebodies to go out. Also, it's always sensible to have a destination when you're walking or cycling, because that motivates and makes questions like "When can we go home again" unnecessary.
Visit to the farm: Especially for city children it's a great experience to visit cows, pigs and chickens in the countryside. Some farms offer the opportunity to visit the stables at certain opening times and watch the cows being milked. But the friendly farmer in the nearest village probably has nothing against a visit with a child either - best to just ask.
Why doesn't my child want to go outside?
It's not always laziness when your child doesn't feel like going outside. Therefore you should refrain from accusations and assumptions.
Fear: Some children who are struggling at school, under great pressure to perform, or being bullied withdraw — and that's often best achieved within the four walls of home. A trusting relationship gives your child security.
Time for themselves: For some children, everyday life is more exhausting than for others. Maybe your child simply needs more time to relax and to process the many impressions of the day?
Homebodies — so what?
Playing in nature is great for body and mind. Running around wildly is usually not possible in the apartment — and often causes more stress than it helps burn off excess energy. Many children still prefer to spend their free time indoors. And that's not a problem as long as there's a good balance. Your child should spend about an hour a day in the fresh air — so it's perfectly fine if they then retreat with a book. It's more problematic if your child is constantly on their smartphone, watching TV or sitting at the computer. So agree on a limit for how long your child may consume these media each day. We've put together tips on media consumption for children here (Link) for you.
