Celebrate “Take a Child Outside” Week - Here Are a Few Ideas

First posted on 09-23-2008

Tomorrow marks the start of “Take a Child Outside” week, a nationwide effort to get kids away from the television, Internet and video games and out into nature. Prompted by concerns over rising obesity rates among children and less time being spent on physical recreation activities, parents are being urged to introduce or re-introduce children to outdoor fun.

“Take a Child Outside” week runs from September 24 through September 30 this year, plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors with your children. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions for inexpensive, fun outdoor activities:

Take them fishing

Farm ponds as well as Ozarks creeks, streams and rivers offer plenty of fishing opportunities for rock bass, blue gill, smallmouth bass and catfish. Use light tackle and bait instead of lures so children catch more and work at it less. Public fishing areas are numerous throughout the Ozarks, but make sure you have permission to fish on private land.

Visit a Nature Center

Most of the larger cities in the Ozarks, including Tulsa, Springfield, Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City, have nature centers where children can learn about wildlife, ecosystems and natural wonders. Most have short hiking trails where children can also experience some of what they’ve learned.

Visit a Fish Hatchery

Neosho, Missouri, Norfolk, Arkansas, Mammoth Spring, Missouri and Roaring River, Missouri all have hatcheries and a tour can be educational as well as a pure delight. We fed the fish and discovered how fish are hatched as well as learned the part hatcheries play in conservation while visiting the Neosho hatchery. Check out this article for more: Raising Some Fun at the Oldest Fish Hatchery.

Arm Children with Disposable Cameras and Head for a Nearby State Park

Disposable cameras are cheap and easy to find so it won’t matter if they get damaged along the way. The key thing is to let children decide what they want to capture. State parks are almost always close at hand and provide ample opportunities to experience nature. As the weather cools, deer tend to be on the move so spotting white tails is a bonus in state parks.

Take Them Camping

An overnight camping trip can be a wonderful way to experience the outdoors. Most camping areas charge a very modest fee and provide fresh water as well as pits for camp fires. Tell stories, make s’mores, have a cookout. If you are not up to a big adventure, just pitch a tent in the backyard.

Star Gaze

September is considered one of the best months for star-gazing because the skies are clearer than summer months while the weather is mild compared to late autumn and winter. For a few ideas on what to look for, read 5 Things To Do With Your Children on a Clear Night.

Hike a Trail

The key is to take the trail at a child’s pace. Let them explore, look for things they do not normally find in their own backyards. Remember, it is neither a race nor a competition. If you only venture a hundred yards down the trail, who cares as long as you and the children enjoyed the excursion.

Fly a Kite

Why wait until Spring? Early fall usually brings gentle breezes that are ideal for flying kites. It’s an activity enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Spend the Day in a Park

If a state park is too far away, check out another park, maybe one in your own town. Pack a picnic lunch, play on the swings and slides, shoot hoops or toss around a softball.

These are just a few suggestions, and you can probably think of many more. Just remember to leave the electronics at home - video games, cell phones, laptops. Make it a day, an overnight or even a week to celebrate the outdoors.