Welcome back to The Cr8joi Summer Edition! In this post, we are talking about getting OUT the house with Outside Toys.
If you missed the first two posts in The Cr8joi Summer Edition blog series you can find them here.
C’mon Summer!
“We outside!” And so are these kids!!!
Let’s get ourselves set-up for success this Summer. It’s time to scrounge it up, round it up, or buy it up.
How To Keep The Children Outside
Getting ‘OUT’ the house can be a very expensive + arduous task. Sometimes you just need to get OUT the house without going anywhere. That’s what OUTSIDE the house is for, as in the backyard!
When we get ‘OUT there’ . . .
- They need water.
- There is a bug.
- There is nothing to do.
- The balls are deflated.
- The sky is falling.
- They want to come back inside.
Let’s stay one step ahead:
- School Water Bottles turn into Summer Water Bottles CHECK
- Non-Toxic Insect Repellent + Bug Bands ADDS TO CART
- Sunblock ADDS TO CART
- Honey can you pump up the balls + bike tires? CHECK
- Sunglasses for Mommy to Zone Out CHECK
Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to set some boundaries. Be clear about your outside expectations before you get out there. Make sure you are the ultimate hype-woman when chatting this up.
Here are some examples of things you might say to younger children:
- You are going outside to play for X amount of time. Tell me 3 things you are excited about playing. I’ll let you know when it’s time to switch so you can do them all. Yay!
- I know you will get thirsty playing basketball, let’s make an icy water bottle right after breakfast so it will be ready when we head out.
- It’s 11 am. We are going to be outside until lunch at 12. That means you can have 20 minutes to do your three things. Then we will come in and have lunch.
- Mommy is going to work while you play outside today. What fun things do you plan to get into?
Here are some examples of things you can say to older children:
- I know you are going to have fun playing outside with Sara this afternoon. You have a whole afternoon to chit chat and chill in the yard, from 2-4. Today is an outside only hang out which means do not ask if your friend can come inside. Please don’t ask. I don’t want to embarrass you by saying no. What kind of drinks and snacks would you like to prepare for you and your friend’s outside hang out?
- The crew is coming over to ball today right? I know you will enjoy that. I’m going to bring some Lemonade out when I get off my work call. Lemonade will be our secret cue that game time has come to an end. When everyone is finished drinking tell them to help you tidy up the porch. Put all the trash in grocery bag in the trash can. If it goes well we can do it again next week.
- How cool is it that you and your friends decided go for a daily walk around the neighborhood?! Remember to walk on the sidewalk. You have permission to walk the neighborhood with your friends. You do not have permission to go inside of anyone’s house. Is your phone charged up? Turn up the ringer volume and vibration so you can hear me calling if it gets loud. If you need me just call or text, I’ll be here. I’m thinking you will be back home in about an hour? Does that sound like a plan?
Nothing I’m saying here is new to you. The point here is to remind you that boundaries and expectations are your parenting friend. Set the tone. Hype it up!
Not all kids want to stay outside long.
Some children never want to come inside.
Whatever child you are dealing with (maybe both types), setting clear boundaries and exceptions will make getting outside and back inside a lil’ easier.
Things To Do Outside With Kids
Outdoor toys are a great way to encourage active and cr8tive play.
It’s easy to have simple backyard fun with kids when you have a stash of outdoor toys on hand. Here are some outdoor toys that are sure to #cr8joi all summer long.
Click here for your printable Outdoor Toys list or take a screenshot for when you head to the store. 🙂
Nearly every retailer has outdoor toys on sale at some point during May + June. Keep you eyes peeled to add to your outdoor toy collection.
Want Extra Credit?
Within 24 hours of reading this blog post, grab a bin for the outside toys. Write a list of any outdoor toys you would like to add to the collection this Summer.
Are you ready to get the kids OUTSIDE this Summer? Let’s gooooo!
