A young boy stands in a grassy field at sunset, holding a toy camera and wearing a backpack.

Try These Outdoor Hobbies to Inspire a Love for Nature in Your Kids

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How much time do you and your family spend close to nature? For many modern families, being one with one’s surroundings has become challenging.

Busy lifestyles leave little time to venture to a park or a green space, and whatever time remains for leisure is often taken up by screens.

Developing an outdoor hobby can help remedy this situation. Psychology Today observes that being close to nature can improve mental health in youngsters and sensitize them to environmental sustainability.

When kids participate in an outdoor pursuit, chances are they will be more resilient, curious, and creative.

Here are three ideas to help kids spend time outdoors and nurture a love for nature. These hobbies can also help kids who are disinclined toward sports and gravitate toward indoor activities only.

Smiling boy holding a fish he caught on a sunny day by the lake in Terra Rica, Brazil.

#1 Nature Photography 

Photography is an age-old hobby that offers multiple developmental benefits for children. When you add nature to the mix, it also encourages physical movement and growing sensitivity to the world around you. 

The Conversation has some brilliant case studies on the benefits of nature photography for children. For example, it helped kids in São Paulo, Brazil, notice urban nature they otherwise always overlooked.

Some global projects encourage children to go outdoors and capture nature photographs they can later manipulate creatively. 

Developing this hobby can also help you spend more time communicating meaningfully with your kids. You can take them out birdwatching or let them click pictures of butterflies in gardens. 

Kids’ screen obsession has become a pain point for many parents worldwide. A Frontiers study found that excessive screen time can lead to language problems in children.

We may think that learning videos or e-books have educational benefits. However, nothing replaces one-on-one parent interaction—something you can encourage during an outdoor hobby like photography. 

Another advantage of this pastime is its subtle nod to science. From identifying bird calls to enlisting types of rocks, nature photography has immense potential for curious minds.

Kids can see it as a constructive way to use a “screen” for all-round development. 

#2 Lounging and Fishing 

This hobby can be relaxing and rejuvenating for those with waterfront homes. Many kids are naturally drawn to water, whether it is a love of splashing about in a bathtub or swimming in a pool.

You can use your proximity to a lake or another water body as an avenue to develop little fishing and lounging enthusiasts. 

Some prominent fishing camps for kids note that the pursuit exposes children to the need to conserve our fisheries. It also teaches them the need for balance in the environment. The hobby is excellent for gaining problem-solving skills and patience.

Moreover, since fishing requires long hours of quietude, it helps children feel the joy of being in the moment.

If you have installed dock nets, the whole family can lounge and fish together, feeling one with the great outdoors. The children can also read a book or nap when they wish to take a break. 

This hobby usually appeals to kids and adults alike. Pets also appreciate the bonus outdoor time. A durable lounging net or hammock can be a rewarding investment for nautically inclined families.

According to Sunrise Yacht Products, you should prioritize the material’s durability and UV protection to keep children and pets comfortable.

#3 Outdoor Scavenger Hunt 

Many children derive great joy from finding things in surprising places. A scavenger hunt is a terrific way to give them hours of enjoyment while spending time outdoors. You needn’t restrict this to a special occasion like Easter or Halloween.

For example, parents can set a weekly theme for the scavenger hunt. It could be as simple as color. Ask children to find “red” things in the neighborhood: a red stone, flower petals, or a red ladybug.

Hunting for things sharpens curiosity and observational skills. It can also improve focus and attention since they must stick to the task for the ultimate reward.

Scavenger hunts can be tricky to organize if you live in a crowded neighborhood without access to green spaces. Indeed, road safety worries keep parents from allowing children to venture outdoors.

Vox reports a stark decrease in kids’ unstructured playtime due to rising traffic accidents and crime. 

The solution may lie in finding more time to be outdoors with children and advocating for safe playgrounds in the neighborhood. More parents now schedule playdates with people they can trust and ensure that these occasions involve outdoor playtime. 

Scavenger hunts are easy to integrate into these opportunities since they require very little equipment. Pen and paper will suffice for the clues. All they need is an interested and engaged moderator to oversee the proceedings and keep the kids safe as they hunt.

Outdoor hobbies are excellent for both physical and mental stimulation. In this age of ubiquitous screens and constant anxieties, being one with nature for a few hours daily can be therapeutic. 

Plus, nature hobbies present fabulous bonding opportunities for parents and kids. Staring at a screen cannot compare with feeling the sea breeze together and having heart-to-heart conversations.