Outdoor Adventures Yield Learning Opportunities

We've been encouraging you to take advantage of the nice spring weather and engage your kids in outdoor activites (or indoor when it's raining!) Not only will this create fun memories for you and your kids, but getting outside together brings some great learning opportunities.  As you are spending time with your kids, wherever you are, look for the teachable moments - whether it's educational or character building.

Here's some "teachable tips" for outdoor activities for you to do with your kids as we wrap up April Adventures.

Teachable Tips for Outdoor Activities:

• Stargazing and Astronomy:  Grab jackets for everyone and a blanket to sit on and take the kids outside to enjoy the night sky.  This article has some great tips for stargazing with kids.  Get a star map and find constellations together.  Teach your kids about the phases of the moon, too.
  
  
• Horticulture and Gardening:  Help your kids learn about types of plants, how they grow, and how to care for them by planting a garden together.  If that's more than you want to take on, try some of these fun, easy, kid-friendly gardening projects suggested by Family Fun.  If you don't have a green thumb, a trip to a local garden will provide an educational fun outing.  Find one near you.
  
  
• Finances and Yard Sales:  Make spring cleaning fun by challenging your kids to choose a certain number of old clothes and toys they don't use to sell at a yard sale.  Let them keep the proceeds.  Having a yard sale is a great way to teach your kids about being grateful for what they have and some basic financial principles.
  
  
• Sportsmanship and Games:  As you're playing games with your kids, take advantage of the opportunity to teach them how to be a good sport.  Following the rules, taking turns, encouraging others, and not boasting when you win or pouting when you loose are all part of good sportsmanship.  Praise your kids when they exhibit good sportsmanship, and when they don't, talk about what they should do better next time.
  
  
• Hard Work and Projects:  As you work on projects in your yard or garden with your kids, help them understand how hard work, dilligence, and doing something to the best of their ability yields results later.
  
  
• Fitness and Fun: And of course, as you and your kids are having fun and playing outside together, there's the added benefit of fitness!  Being active is an important part of being healthy, and by encouraging your kids to get outside and play, you're helping them develop good fitness habits.