If you are looking for some fun things to do with your family this summer, this list of best outdoor family bonding activities is exactly what you need!
Summer days are long and hot, and they can be filled with quality family time that will make wonderful memories.
There are many fun family activities that can help foster connection among family members without needing a lot of effort or planning.
Why You Should Bond With Your Family And Kids More
Spending quality time outside has numerous advantages.
Several studies have suggested that spending more time outdoors can help lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Other studies have connected outdoor activities to increased cognitive ability and, even more, have indicated that spending time outside can help youngsters avoid short-sightedness.
Spending time as a family outside provides a whole new set of rewards, including the benefits of bonding and making lifetime memories.
Check out this list of ideas if you’re seeking inventive ways to spend time outside as a family this summer.
Fun Outdoor Family Bonding Activities Everyone Will Enjoy
If you are looking for some ideas to have fun in the summer with your family, this article is packed with wonderful activities that are sure to keep you and your family entertained throughout the summer!
Let’s dive into these fun activities to do with kids!
1. Set Up A Family Garden
There are few things more rewarding than seeing a garden come to life!
Choose a range of plants as a family, then work together to till an area of soil (or use an elevated bed) and plant your harvest.
Gardening is also a fantastic method to impart responsibility to children of all ages, and you may work on the project for months or years. Just being able to recognize different plants is a life skill that will benefit anyone for the rest of life.
2. Go On A Hike
Choose a local route and go for a stroll based on your children’s hiking ability.
If you want to keep things simple, go for level ground and a short distance. Increase the duration and elevation for a greater challenge.
Make sure to pack lots of water as well as healthful snacks.
3. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of 15-25 natural items you’re likely to locate in your local environment, such as acorns, a worm, specific types of leaves, a butterfly, a spiderweb, a pinecone, a feather, a rock, and so on. The options are limitless!
Once your list is done, head outside with your family to tick as many off your list as possible.
4. Friendly Family Competitions
Make a day of it with a day of fun family outdoor competition.
Split your family in half, and then begin the games. A hula hoop-off, an obstacle course, a basketball free-throw tournament, tug-of-war, and rapid sprints are a few examples.
This is an excellent way to promote physical exercise.
5. Have A Picnic
Sharing nice food with your family on a warm summer’s day is a foolproof way to have a fantastic day!
Shop ahead of time as a family to select mess-free fruits, veggies, and other nutritious snacks. You might also make some simple sandwiches for the entire squad.
You can pick any location, such as a neighborhood park or by the lake, but even a piece of grass in the backyard can suffice.
Something about the novelty of dining outside will pique your children’s interest in spending time together as a family.
You could invite your friends to join you; the more the merrier!
6. Stargazing
Organize an out-of-this-world experience for your family by inviting them to observe the stars.
If the night is clear, take the entire family to an area with next to no light pollution. Take some blankets and lie on your backs to count the stars, point out major stars and constellations (there are several wonderful phone applications to aid with this), and even attempt to spot some comets speeding across the sky. If you want to increase your chances of success, do it during a meteor shower, such as the Perseids or the Leonids.
7. Camping
Camping is great fun for the whole family! You can stay at a nearby campsite or simply put a tent up in your backyard.
Building a campfire and huddling around it as a family is a fantastic experience. You will be able to immerse yourself in nature and gaze up at the stars while toasting marshmallows over the campfire.
Prepare some entertaining tales to share over the campfire. Spooky ghost stories are obviously a classic choice, but make sure they are not too scary for the youngest ones in the audience!
8. Water Fight
Nothing feels quite as pleasant in the sweltering summer heat as splashing about with some water.
Add some water balloons and spray guns to the mix to amp up the fun. Fill up as many balloons as you can as a family, and then go at it! Alternatively, get a few super soakers and race around the yard.
You may even split into two groups (kids versus parents is always a fun one).
9. Water Activities
There’s a lot of fun to be had at a nearby pond, river, or lake. Younger children in your family can enjoy catch-and-release fishing or wander around the edge. You could rent canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards and go exploring the area together.
If the body of water near you is safe and approved for swimming, your summer is sorted! Bring beach blankets, an inflatable, a beach ball, and whatever beach accessories you want, and spend the day as if you were on a tropical holiday.
What’s better than relaxing by the water, sunbathing, reading a book, and having lots of fun in the water?
If I had to choose just one item from this list of outdoor family bonding activities, it would be this one!
10. Glow-In-The-Dark Games
Don’t hesitate to spend your evenings outside!
Glow-in-the-dark bowling, flashlight tag, and “Ghost in the Graveyard” (one person, the “ghost,” closes their eyes and counts to ten while everybody else tries to hide; once the ghost finds one person, they yell “ghost in the graveyard,” and everybody tries to run back to home base before being tagged) are all fun nighttime activities.
11. Backyard Movie Night
By hanging up an old sheet and a projector, you can make a movie night in your own backyard. This will allow the entire family to be outdoors and enjoy a nice movie together.
No movie experience is complete without snacks, so serve popcorn and chocolates to make it seem more like a proper theater experience.
12. Birdwatching
Birdwatching is an excellent way to get the entire family outside and engaged.
Purchase a field diary to aid with bird identification, and maintain a family track of all the birds you see. You may also take photographs or draw sketches and create a family birding album with photos.
13. Visit A Wild Animal Rescue Center
Many localities have some kind of animal rescue center, whether it’s a sanctuary for wild cats, birds, or perhaps even equines.
Going to a facility like this not only gets your family outside but also provides an educational opportunity to learn about the animals being rescued.
14. Go On A Bike Ride
Bicycling is not only a convenient form of transportation, but it is also an enjoyable outdoor activity for the entire family.
Explore your neighborhood’s peaceful streets, cycle through local parks, or ask around to discover a family-friendly bike route.
15. Outside Art
Take your art tools outside to conduct some outdoor arts and crafts.
A folding table, picnic table, easel, clipboard, or park bench may all serve as a great place to explore with pens, pencils, paints, scissors, glue, and other art supplies.
Creativity produces enthusiasm, which frequently leads to motion. Inspire your children’s art activities to become more active by having them go around looking for a nice drawing place or looking for objects to put into their work (such as moss or leaves). You can also suggest that they move around between drawings. Doing cartwheels, skipping, or hopping on one foot are some examples.
16. Throw A Garden Party
Throw a simple party in your garden with some music, barbeque, and games.
Party games are popular with groups of youngsters, whether you have a specific occasion to celebrate or simply make one up.
Most of them may be played outside and can be altered for children of various ages and abilities. Some entertaining activities to attempt are potato sack races, one-legged races, and water balloon throwing.
Before hosting any outdoor activity, it’s important that the outside of your home is in top shape. Start by tidying up the garden, mowing the lawn and trimming any overgrown bushes or trees. A well-kept outdoor space not only ensures safety and welcomingness for family gatherings but also brings added fun.
Your roof, windows and doors should also be checked to make sure they can withstand unexpected kids games or weather changes. Clear Amber Shop polycarbonate roofing sheets offer durable weather resistance with natural lighting while offering UV protection.
17. Build a Bird Feeder Or A Fairy House
Spending time with your children working on a small project like a bird feeder or fairy house will get everyone involved and leave lasting memories. You can decorate and personalize it any way you want, making it special and unique.
Check out these 15 DIY Birdhouse Plans and Ideas and DIY Fairy House Tutorial.
18. Visit A Country Fair
Country fairs are frequent during the summer, and they are amazing, fun-filled days out that make special memories.
They usually have rides, petting zoos, face painting, and of course, lots of different food for everyone to enjoy. It’s a fantastic day out for the whole family.
19. Slip ‘N Slide
This is the best way to cool off on those hot summer days!
Using a plastic sheet and some duct tape you can create a large slip ‘n slide in your own backyard.
By adding a garden hose, you will have a constant flow of water to help you slide and cool you down. You could also add a bubble bath product to make it extra slippery.
Your kids will have the time of their lives!
Check out this detailed DIY slip ‘n slide tutorial.
20. Rent An RV
Renting an RV means one thing – an adventure!
Road trips are super exciting because you get to discover places you have never been to.
The beauty of a road trip is that you can take your time, and it’s more about the journey itself than reaching your destination. You can stop along the way, taking in the sights, trying local restaurants, and visiting local tourist attractions.
21. Visit A Pick-Your-Own Farm
Picking your own fruit and vegetables is a fun and satisfying experience, especially when you do it as a family.
Find a local pick-your-own-farm and enjoy the taste of fresh fruit and vegetables straight from the source.
This activity can turn into a healthy competition, and your kids will have a great time! It’s also a good way to show the younger children where the food they eat comes from.
Final Thoughts About The Best Outdoor Family Bonding Activities
I hope this article has helped you come up with some ideas for your summer family adventures, and you will bond with your kids over these fun games and activities to create memories that last a lifetime.
Spending time with your family and friends is what summer is all about!
There are numerous strategies to get your children involved in active, outside play.
Use this list of outdoor family bonding activities as a jumping-off point to get children interested in participating in active fun and games outside. You may also challenge children to create their own outside activities.
If you are planning a family cabin getaway, make sure to check out these cabin activities.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great summer!
Magda
xoxo
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