How to Create Meaningful Family Moments Through Outdoor Activities

The fast-paced modern world often makes it difficult to spend quality time with our loved ones. Family time is precious, but when life gets busy, it becomes challenging to set time aside for the people we cherish the most. But occasionally, the obstacle isn’t just time. We live in a world that can often be confined to gadgets, which in the majority of cases, rob time that could be spent talking to each other, playing and establishing deeper connections. 

The recent Covid-19 outbreak has meant that the majority of working adults are having to work from home, while others have been forced to take annual leave days and kids are schooling from home. The current situation of social distancing and self-isolation has inevitably led some families to spend a significant amount of time in the house. While the current circumstances aren’t favourable to us as individuals, it’s fair to say that in many cases it has become a great opportunity to spend quality time with our loved ones.

Experts have suggested that during this time of self-isolating due to the coronavirus outbreak, it's vital to protect our mental wellbeing by engaging in outdoor activities. Whether that’s a walk through your favourite park or a home-made volleyball tournament hosted in your back garden, it’s extremely important to take a break from all digital gadgets, in order to reduce screen times and to get fresh air where possible.

Quality Family Time

For parents, spending quality time with their children is beneficial on many levels. Firstly, in terms of communication. Spending time together as a family encourages healthy communication between parents and children, as well as among the children themselves. As a result, children feel comfortable to talk about anything that may be going through their minds. Good communication simply sets the best atmosphere in your home when nothing is secretive. Plus, family group activities can help build children’s self-esteem. The time spent together helps the children feel valued, and it consequently generates a deep sense of self-worth.

Are you looking for alternative ways to make the most of the time you have by investing in quality time with your entire family? Read on to find out some great outdoor family activities you could get involved in! 

Green Finger Gardening

Whether you choose to plant some tomatoes and peppers to harvest, or you and your family are more into flowers, gardening is a fun activity that entertains both adults and children. It helps to make the most of your time together and makes everyone learn a new hobby while getting some fresh air outside. What's not to love?

Adventurous Cycling

Cycling is a great activity for those looking to stay in good shape while spending time with their families. There are many family friendly cycling routes across the UK, which makes it easy to plan an adventurous trip. All you’ll need to do is to search for your nearest route, grab your mountain bikes and helmets, and get ready to set off. 

Just remember it's advised to follow the social distancing rules when practising physical activities in public spaces. In addition, before you choose your route, ensure you and your family have the right bicycle that will be safe to ride.

Picnic: Home Edition

A family feast is always a good idea! If you have young children, getting them involved in the food preparation is also an important step, as it helps build a genuine connection. Prepare some sandwiches, salads and of course, sweet treats! Then, pull out your picnic blankets and get ready to enjoy some quality time with your family. With spring approaching, it will also be great to soak up some sun while enjoying each other’s company.

Get the Tent Out 

If you have an outdoor space at home, you should definitely try camping in your garden at least once in a lifetime!

Camping at home could become the new staycation, where you get to spend time with your family while keeping the costs low. What do you need for a family camping at home? Well, prepare your tent first and ensure that it’s big enough to fit each member of the family. You could even get your children to help decorate the interior and make it cosy. After all, it's going to be your home for a few hours or maybe even an entire night!

Generally, kids love camping. They'll be thrilled by the idea of spending time away from their usual environment and have the unique ability to see adventure in everything. Whether it’s pitching the tent, helping the grown-ups to make the fire, or simply toasting marshmallows, they'll love the excitement!

So, some great ideas have come up in this article. As individuals, now's the time to consider how we spend our free time and evaluate whether or not your family needs to spend more quality time together. Every family is different, but we’re sure that with a little bit of patience and determination, every household will be able to find the activities that best helps them evade the everyday routine. 

Guest post written in collaboration with Leisure Lakes Bikes - 2nd April 2020.