With summer break just around the corner and spring in full bloom, it’s time to get outdoors! Yesterday was Earth Day, which serves as a great reminder of how important it is for children to spend time outside with nature. Spending screen-free quality time together is one of the best ways to create #intentionalmemories as a family. While Texas weather can be quite unpredictable, we always try to incorporate outdoor family activities throughout the week. Outdoor play is especially important when it comes to teaching young kids healthy habits, so we’re sharing a handful of activities and ideas to inspire your outdoor family fun:
Plant a Garden
We recently planted some Texas Wildflower seeds with the boys, which was a fun hands-on activity that they now get to watch grow and blossom each day! I’ll be sure to share more pictures once they bloom!
Another gardening activity that is easy for children to enjoy is planting Veggie Pops by Bloomer’s Island! Bloomers Backyard is a line of family garden products designed to appeal to you and your kids at home, whether you have a backyard garden or a few pots on a window sill. Not only are these an easy and mess-free way for kids to participate in gardening, but it encourages them to eat their vegetables! We got the tomato, cucumber and sunflower varieties for our littles this year. Get a watering can for your kids and add watering these plants to your children’s weekly chores!
Pool Party Refresh
Lolli’s pool is one of our family’s favorite spots to be in the summer (It’s best to be near water in the Texas heat!), and there are so many fun games and activities for the kids to play in and around the pool. Get ready for summer by refreshing your collection of pool toys and floats. We’ve found some good deals on pool floats and water toys for kids of all ages, on sale for up to 55% off (ending soon)!
Play Lawn Games
Games like corn hole, giant Jenga and ring toss are all great outdoor activities for families and can be played right in your backyard. Take the family game night (or day!) outside with over 100 top lawn games, all currently on sale for up to 60% off!
Pick Your Own Strawberries
We’re officially in strawberry-picking season, which is another fun outdoor activity you can do as a family! This page lists U-Pick farms and orchards where you can pick your own fruits or vegetables with your family in the Dallas, Texas area. Not based in Texas? Find pick-your-own farms in every state!
Hit the Trails
Finding a nearby trail or bike path is a great way to be with your family outdoors, while enjoying the beautiful weather and views. Walk, bike, skate or scooter (my boys’ favorite!) as a family at the Katy Trail here in Dallas!
This is also the perfect time of year for kids to try a new sport, whether just kicking around a soccer ball in the backyard, or practicing your swing at TopGolf. Make it a game by playing parents vs. kids or boys vs. girls for a competitive edge and good time.
Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market or Botanical Gardens
Two of our family’s favorite outdoor activities to do here in Dallas are visiting the Dallas Farmer’s Market on the weekend and the Dallas Arboretum’s Children’s Adventure Garden any day of the week!
The farmer’s market is a great place to educate the family on fruits, veggies, and other items for sale. This is where my boys learned from a vendor about how pickles are made! Plus, you can eat lunch and pick up your groceries for the week while you’re there.
Plan a family day trip to the Dallas Arboretum (They usually have rotating exhibits throughout the year.) and enjoy some fresh air in the gardens or stay late for one of their Summer Concert Series events! They also host cooking demos and interactive classes–fun for all ages!
Go to the Park
All kids love playing at the park, and a trip to the neighborhood park makes for an in-expensive, outdoor activity for the whole family! Pack up a picnic and bring your own toys to keep the little ones entertained (You can get Green Toys on sale now for up to 45% off, which are safe for kids and the environment!).
It’s always fun to find a new park that you’ve never been to, and Dallas has some great options! Load up for food trucks and fun at Klyde Warren Park where they can play, create and use their imagination at the Imagination Playground! Looking for something a little more adventurous? Trinity Forest Adventure Park offers fun for the whole family, including multiple climbing trees for those who can’t get enough of heights, and even a “littles course” for participants ages 4 and up.
Visit the Local Zoo
The zoo is always a big hit with young kids, and now is the perfect time to go while it’s still nice and cool outside! If you visit the Dallas Zoo, don’t miss the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo and Travis & Zach’s Birds Landing where the kids can hand-feed colorful cockatiels!
Or look for other alternatives to a typical zoo in your area. Nature preserves, centers and wildlife sanctuaries are all great options for kids to interact with nature.
Shop some more outdoor family fun ideas:
What are your favorite outdoor activities as a family? Let us know if you try out any of these ideas by tagging @Lolliandme in your posts on Facebook and Instagram!
Featured photo by iStock|ArtMarie
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