Let Them Be wild

Have you ever noticed how different your kids act after spending a few hours outside? The whining quiets down. The energy evens out. Their faces look calmer, fuller, lighter. It’s not just in your head—science backs it up. Being outside is one of the most powerful and simple things we can give our kids. And honestly? It’s good for us too.

🌿 Why It Matters (According to Research)

Kids today spend an average of 4 to 7 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play… but over 7 hours a day in front of a screen. That shift is doing more than we realize.

Studies show that time outside:

• Reduces anxiety and depression in children

• Improves focus, especially in kids with ADHD

• Strengthens the immune system

• Encourages creativity, resilience, and independence

• Increases vitamin D levels, which helps with mood and bone health

Nature is God’s playground—and it’s healing, grounding, and joy-giving.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
—Psalm 19:1

🛝 Fun & Simple Outdoor Activities for Kids

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect plan. You just need to open the door. Try these ideas:

• Build a fort out of sticks or cardboard

• Ask a neighbor to play

• Make mud pies or fairy gardens

• Go on a scavenger hunt (find 3 green things, 2 bugs, something soft, something round…)

• Balls- do all the sports with whatever you have

• Ride bikes, rollerblades, or scooters

• Plant a few seeds and start a garden

• Draw with sidewalk chalk or make hopscotch challenges

Encourage them to get a little messy. Dirt washes off. Memories last.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ways to Get Outside as a Whole Family

The best way to raise outdoorsy kids? Be outdoorsy parents. You don’t have to hike a mountain—just be present outside together.

Try this as a family:

• After-dinner walks (even just around the block)

• Backyard bonfires with worship music and s’mores

• Saturday morning park or trail adventures

• Frisbee, tag, or catch after school

• Picnic dinners at the local playground

• Dance parties in the driveway

• Attend a local outdoor event (farmer’s market, concert, zoo, ballgame)

Even 20 minutes outside a day makes a difference.

We weren’t made to live life indoors. Let’s lead by example and show our kids that the best kind of play doesn’t come from a screen—it comes from God’s creation. Instead of having your kids watch a random youtuber live their life, let’s teach our kids how to live theirs. Let’s breathe in the fresh air, get a little sun on our cheeks, and let them be wild.

What are your family’s favorite ways to get outside? Let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram! 🌤️ @karimiller41