In case you work long hours every day, it can be hard to find some time to properly bond with your children. That is why you must make the most of the weekends when you don’t have to go to the office. Sure, there are plenty of things you can do indoors but why not show your kids all the beauty that the great outdoors have to offer?
They might be a bit on the fence about it at first and ask you to just play video games instead. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about the many benefits of playing outdoors, from respecting nature and getting enough sunlight to sleeping better and developing their athletic abilities.
Teach them to ride a bike
If your child is still pretty young, maybe you didn’t get a chance to teach them how to ride a bike yet. This is a great bonding activity and will provide them with a skill they can use for the rest of their life. Find a place without traffic, get them some protective gear, such as helmets and pads, and slowly teach them the basics. Explain to them that falling is not the end of the world and they should just get up and try again. Plus, make sure they know you are always there for them.
On the other hand, if your whole family already knows how to ride a bike, you can go on adventures together. For instance, you can pack a bag and have a picnic at your favourite location.
Throw a costume party
Who says that it has to be Halloween in order to dress up as your most beloved characters? You can do it whenever you want, whether it’s for a birthday or, you know, a random weekend when you just want to have fun with your kids. Decide on the theme of the party and visit a reliable online costume shop to find the perfect attire. There are so many options you can go for – for example, you can simply organize a party and get some of your kid’s friends to come along as well. You can re-enact the movie they love the most or bring their fave book to life.
Go camping
If you have the entire weekend off, you can pack your car and go camping. Find a good location nearby, set up a tent and get close to nature. Depending on how old your kids are, you can teach them to start a fire or catch fish from a stream. You can walk around and do some bird watching. Learn about different types of plants and figure out which ones are poisonous and which ones are edible. At night, you can stargaze and try to see various constellations.
On the other hand, if there are no local camping sites or you don’t have that much time, you can also do it in your own backyard if it’s family-friendly. Pretend you’re far away in the woods and don’t use tech or go inside unless it’s very important.
Organize a scavenger hunt
A treasure hunt is something that can take you a day or even a weekend, depending on how complicated you make it. You can do it strictly in your backyard or include some neighbourhood places. Pick a theme you know your kids will like, whether it’s pirates, carnival, archaeology or something related to their favourite TV show. Plan out your clues, put them in the right places and let your children play. Younger kids can even practice reading this way as well as getting around the area you live in.
There are so many other activities you can do with your children, from gardening and getting a pet to play with outside to doing some exercises in the fresh air. Whatever you decide to do, your kids will enjoy this quality time you spend together, especially if you don’t get to see each other that much during the week. Have fun!
