Active Kids | Fatherhood Factor

In our modern world full of impressive technology, it can be tempting to set your kids up in front of a movie or allow them to get lost for hours in an iPad game. It’s great because you barely ever hear a peep out of them since they’re captivated by the virtual world of action figures. These are the best moments of peace to catch up on housework or social media yourself, but deep down you know you should be doing more to increase your father-kid bonding time. There are endless creative activities and adventures you can embark on together where both you and your child will both have a ton of fun!

Build a Treehouse

Every childhood experience should include a tree house moment. So many amazing memories can be created by such a simple timber setup, perched high upon the treetops. There are endless tutorials online for making basic treehouses. It can be an inexpensive project if you have some old timber offcuts lying around to get started. Once you finish your masterpiece, you can celebrate by having a sleepover together in the treehouse, or dress up for a grand tea party with their favorite soft toys!

Explore a Nearby Forest

If you can cast your mind way back to when you were knee high to a grasshopper, you can probably remember that even the smallest area of trees served as the most expansive and captivating world that you had ever laid eyes on. You could easily get lost there for half the day, only returning to the house when you could smell mom’s freshly baked banana bread. Exposing your kids to the real world of nature (outside of video games) is vital for creating a connection and understanding about all living things. So pack a lunch, arm your kid with their mini-backpack, and get exploring!

Cook Their Favorite Meal Together

Cooking isn’t just reserved for moms! Kids simply love getting involved in mealtime especially if they get to play with all the different textured ingredients by hand. If they’ve always been served their favorite dish, without experiencing how the meal actually got on the table, then now is a great time to show them! Do your grocery shopping at a trustworthy distributor like Zen Spirit, then clear an area on the kitchen bench where they can make as big a mess as they like by allowing them to squeeze slippery eggs in the hands, finger paint through dry flour, and taste test ingredients along the way. It’s all about creating a hands-on learning experience full of fun.

Play an Active Video Game

If you have to revert to electronics, try to play a game that involves moving about! Choose a dance game on your Wii while playing dress up, let your kids teach you their best moves as it’s likely they will find yours to be a little outdated! This is a great rainy day activity where you may not be able to go out and finish that treehouse. Also, if you live in a colder climate, it’ll provide the perfect workout full of endless laughs. However, be warned: kids seem to be naturally talented at these types of games, so be prepared to lose against them! If the thought of dancing makes you cringe, try the many other sports games available like tennis or soccer. Any game that makes you both laugh makes for the best bonding activity!

Go on a Road Trip

You can pack so many adventures into a road trip through the unexplored countryside. Throw in some fishing rods and surfboards and head for the beach. You can make little pit stops along the way to check out small towns or grab an ice cream at a corner store along with some fishing bait. Kids love exploring new places, and it will feel great to break free of your everyday routine. Anything can happen along the way, so make sure to bring a camera to capture the best moments together. Photos are the next best thing to living in the moment of exhilarating adventure.

You see, it’s not necessarily about spending a fortune at the local shopping center. Sure, kids love shiny new toys, but they only last for so long. Memories spent together bonding with your kids, however, can last a lifetime. Before you know it, you’ll be driving them to school where they won’t want to hold daddy’s hand in front of all their friends. Make the most of their early childhood and nurture that very important father-kid bond.

Do you want to keep your kids active while also challenging them mentally? Outside games are a great way to accomplish both. If you are tired of the traditional hopscotch and games of “horse” around the basketball hoop, here are some unique and creative options to try:

1. Traffic Cop

Grab all of the bikes and scooters in your garage and invite some neighbors. Then, practice playing traffic cop, having the children ride as quickly as they can and stop when you blow a whistle or put up a “stop” sign with your hand.

2. Lawn Twister

Do you have an open space that you can use for a game? Spray paint a Twister board onto it, and play the classic game outdoors. You can use this idea in the winter, too — simply spray paint the snow and pile on the warm outdoor clothing.

3. Frozen T-Shirt Race

Is it hot where you live? Soak some old t-shirts and put them in the freezer overnight. Then, have the kids race to see who can un-thaw their shirt and put it on first. They will get cool fast!

4. Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling

Take the kids outside after dark, and place some glow sticks in 10 bottles of water. Line them up like bowling pins, and give the kids a ball to try to knock them down. Simple, but the glow-in-the-dark twist makes it incredibly fun.

5. Spud

If you can get a group of kids together, play spud. This classic childhood game is sure to bring a lot of laughter as kids try to keep from collecting letters or becoming “it.”

6. Watch Your Step

Tie a balloon to your kids’ ankles. Run around the yard, trying to stop on the other players’ balloons. The last one with a balloon intact wins.

7. Four Square

Teach your kids the classic game of four square. You will be able to introduce them to something you likely did during childhood, and they will always have something to do if they are bored.

8. Tag

Don’t underestimate the amount of fun you can have playing tag, particularly if dad participates. Add variations, like freeze tag or TV tag, to engage the mind and body.

9. Monkey in the Middle

Grab a Frisbee or playground ball and place yourself in between two of your kids. Have them try to throw the ball over your head while you try to catch it.

10. Simon Says

If you need a break from running, take on the role of Simon in this classic game. As an added bonus, your kids will get some practice with paying attention and following directions.

11. Find the Snow Flag

If you have a good covering of snow, tie a white cloth to a stick and hide it in the yard. Have your kids search for it. The one who finds it first gets to hide it next. It’s harder than you might think.

12. Tug of War

This is a great game because you can play it in any weather. Make sure you have an even number of players, including the adults, and get started. In the snow, it becomes even more entertaining as you slip and slide over the ground.

13. Rainbow Tag

Take some Popsicle sticks and coat the ends with face-paint crayons in the colors of the rainbow. Hide them around the yard for the kids to find and paint their faces. The first one with all colors is the winner.

14. Snow Hurdles

Snow along with snow gear make jumping challenging. Make “hurdles” by lining up some snowballs and have the kids jump over them. You will get a good laugh by watching one another fall in the snow.

15. Freeze Dance

Get a little crazy with your kids. Grab your phone and put on some tunes, dancing your heart out in the backyard until the music stops and everyone freezes. Dance resumes when the music does.

Remember, it doesn’t take expensive toys or even a lot of prep work to make memories with your kids. Head outside and spend a little bit of time on some of these games, and start making memories, today.

5 Fun Father-Kid Bonding Activities

15 Games to Play with Your Kids Outside