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15 Fun and Interesting Outdoor Activities for Kids
Do you remember your childhood? The way you used to play outside all the time and your mom would keep telling you to come inside or to come home when it gets dark! Now you see your kids, spending most of their time indoors, watching TV, playing video games or engrossed with some other electronic gadgets. You may feel that they are losing out on their quality time with nature.
If you want your kids to step out of the house all you need to do is plan and encourage your child to engage in some fun outdoor activities. The outdoor activities are not only helpful for your kid’s physical health but also for the mental wellbeing of your child.
List of 15 Exciting Kids Outdoor Activities
Here we have some exciting and fun outdoor activities for children that they will enjoy to the fullest:
1. Gardening
Gardening is an interesting outdoor activity that helps your kids learn about various plants and flowers. The best way to help your kids start this activity is by giving them a plant to grow on their own. You may guide them on when to water the plant or do the weeding.
When they see the plant growing, they will surely love the experience. If you have a kitchen garden of your own where you grow vegetables or fruits, then you may also take your kid for the vegetable picking. The child will surely find this activity very interesting.
2. Find the Ball
This activity with a ball will make your kids have loads of fun. All you need for this outdoor activity is a ping-pong ball or any small ball which cannot be easily spotted. You may tell your kids to call their friends also. One player is chosen as a captain and is entrusted with the task of hiding the ball and returning to the same spot. The others have to find the hidden ball.
As they get closer to the ball the captain has to shout ‘HOT’ and as they move away, the captain has to shout ‘COLD’. The player, who finds the ball, gets to hide it next.
3. Bike Ride
Encourage your kids to ride their bikes often as it is not only a great way of keeping them healthy but it is also a lot of fun. The best option is to opt to go on bikes to all the nearby places such as a library, supermarket or even to a friend’s house. Riding a bike is the best way to enjoy the warm weather and stock up on some vitamin D while you do so.
You may even plan family bike riding tours and explore new places or neighbourhood together. Bike riding is a great way of getting your kid out of the house and venturing around. Riding a bike also gives them a feeling of freedom and self-confidence.
4. Passing the Ball
This is another fun activity with a ball. This outdoor activity would be more fun if there are a number of children. Tell all the children to form a circle and then play some music. While the music plays, the kids must keep passing the ball and as the music stops, the kid holding the ball gets out. The game continues till a single kid remains and is declared the winner of the game. You may use any big ball, such as basketball, baseball or football for this activity.
5. Swimming
All kids love to have some water fun and the best way to have some is by swimming. You may take your child to the swimming pool for some splashing around. This activity is especially suitable for the summer holidays.
Swimming is not only a great outdoor activity but it is a life skill everyone must learn. It is also a great way to be healthy and fit and your kid may maintain this fitness regime, later in life too.
6. Tug of War
Tug of war is a fun group activity for your kids. Divide the kids in two equal groups and make them stand in two lines, facing each other. Draw a vertical line between the members of both the teams. Take a long rope or cloth and let all the group members hold it firmly.
You may act as a referee and after you hint them to start, both the teams can start pulling the rope towards them. The team that makes the other team cross the vertical line wins.
7. The handkerchief Game
Make the kids sit in a circle and one of them will be standing holding the handkerchief. The kid would start moving around the kids who are sitting and will drop the hanky behind any one of them, quietly.
The kid will need to take a full circle and come back to the same position, where the hanky was dropped. If the kid gets caught, he/she must try again and if not then the kid behind whom the handkerchief was dropped gets a chance.
8. Tail Tag
This is another exciting activity with handkerchiefs. Tell all the kids to tuck a hanky to their belts or pockets like tails. The main aim is to collect maximum tails and save your own tail. The kid who is able to collect maximum tails wins the game.
9. Treasure Hunt
Kids love it whenever there is a change from the mundane day to day activities and treasure hunt is one such outdoor activity that gives your kids a feel of real adventure.
This activity requires you to plan in advance. You have to make clues and hide them in your garden or backyard. Let your kids be on their own and become little explorers and find the treasure. This activity is also good for developing problem-solving skills in kids.
10. Hopscotch
This activity is all about jumping and hopping. You may use coloured chalks to make hopscotch board on a hard surface or concrete. You may make the hopscotch board look more attractive by decorating it.
11. Find Your Friend
This is an interesting outdoor activity which involves blindfolding. One kid is blindfolded and is made to roam around to tag the friends.The tagged friend will join and link arms and find other friends.
Adult supervision may be required to play this game as children may topple or fall down and get hurt, in unattended.
12. Play with Mud and Sand
Kids love to get dirty and what better than giving them some mud and sand to play with. You may make a play corner in your lawn or garden and put some sand and mud there. Give your kids some kid-friendly tools and let them dig, shovel or do other stuff. It is also been proven that playing in the dirt and exposing your kids to various bacteria and viruses help them strengthen their immune systems.
13. Help your Kids Organize a Dog Show
If you have a pet dog, you may encourage your kid to have a Dog Show, by inviting all the neighbourhood dogs. You may have some interesting competitions for the dogs, such as the best-groomed dog, the fastest dog or the most obedient dog and select the winners based on the competitions.
You may appoint few children as the panel of judges to help assess the best dog. Small gifts for the owner and the dog can be arranged by asking everyone to contribute.
14. The Water Balloon Game
The water balloon game is a very exciting summer outdoor activities for kids. All you need for this activity is big balloons and some sticks or baseball bats. Fill 10-15 balloons with water and tie all of them to a stick and place the stick horizontally anywhere in your lawn or backyard.
Blindfold one kid at a time and give them a stick to target the balloon. The sudden splash of water is thrilling for the kids and the kid bursting the maximum number of balloons wins. You may supervise this activity to avoid any accidents from happening.
15. The Cleaning Activity
Anything that includes fiddling with water excites every kid. You may give a small bucket full of water, some shampoo and old rags to your kids for cleaning.
Task them to clean their bikes, scooters or even their toys. This activity also helps them to learn how to take care of their belongings. You may help your kid showcase their newly cleaned bikes and toys by moving around in the neighbourhood.
The above-mentioned activities can be enjoyed by your kids and their friends. It does not matter what or which outdoor activity your kids prefer, but what matters is that they do not confine themselves to the four walls of their rooms and come outdoors to have fun. The outdoor activities boost your kids’ mental, physical and emotional health. Though summer is a good time to get your children to have some outdoor fun, it will be a good idea to make time for such activities on day to day basis.
Also Read: 15 Innovative and Fun Brain Games for Kids Read more
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4 Skin Problems Babies Risk Facing in Winter - and The One Solution That Tackles Them All
Sunlit afternoons, hot chocolate and comfy bedding – there is so much magic that winter brings along. If you are a mother, you can’t stop gushing over how rosy-red your baby’s cheeks are and how adorable he looks in his winter-wear. However, for your little one, winter can also lead to something that’s not at all pleasant: skin problems! The likelihood of skin-related problems increases during winter and our sensitive babies are often the most common target.
In the winter season, the natural moisture content of the air is very low. This means that the air is drier than usual. While adults can handle this change fairly well, our babies have extremely delicate skin. In fact, a baby’s skin loses moisture up to five times faster than an adult’s skin So when the surrounding air is dry, their likelihood of moisture-loss also increases substantially. This is especially so during and after bath-time, when they are particularly vulnerable to losing essential moisture and nutrients and thereby facing dryness in skin
Here are the four most common skin problems babies face in winter, and why
1. Overall dryness
That feeling we get of skin being easily scratched and stretched to touch – imagine what it can do to our babies! When our skin gets exposed to the merciless winter air, it tends to lose its natural moisture and starts drying out. This results in a feeling of overall dryness that’s more pronounced in the facial region, knees and feet. It can even lead to rashes in babies.
2. Chapping – of the cheeks and lips
This problem doesn’t spare anyone – indeed, many of us end up licking our lips to stop them from feeling dry in the winter. Chapping occurs when the skin is intensely dried out, so much that it starts peeling. This usually occurs in the cheeks and lips and can become really painful if not treated. Chapped skin can even start oozing blood.
3. Eczema
This is a condition that looks like an itchy rash and can lead to dry, red and inflamed skin. While eczema often runs in the family, it can flare up during the winter months. Sometimes, if your baby has been unwell or been exposed to a sudden change in temperature, this too can bring on an attack of eczema. Goes without saying, this is very uncomfortable and even painful for your child.
4. Flakiness in the scalp
It’s not just adults who struggle with a flaky and crusty scalp in the winter months; babies can have it worse! The dryness can also aggravate cradle cap, in case your baby is already suffering from it. This condition leads to a greasy scalp and flakes. While this is not harmful to your baby and usually goes away on its own, the winter air can delay things.
The one solution for your baby’s skin problems in winter
When trying to figure out how to protect our baby from these problems, it is important that we look at the main cause: the lack of moisture. How many times have you observed your baby’s skin after a bath, or before bed-time, and found it dry? It must have made you question the necessity of baths in the first place, and long for something that could return all the lost hydration. The good news is that herein lies the solution to all winter skin-problems: moisturisation. You simply need to moisturise with a nourishing cream more often, and at the right time, to keep these problems away!
That said, it is important to choose suitable skincare products that can deliver this extra care. The natural hydration levels of your baby’s skin are low now, and depleting every moment, so you need something that can keep it locked through the day. Baby Dove is a good option to consider for this, with its range of gentle and moisturising products for little ones. Dermatologist and paediatrician tested, the products have been formulated to replenish essential nutrients and moisture lost during bathing. All Baby Dove products are also hypoallergenic and pH neutral to suit all baby skin types. This means you can look after your baby in the best way possible – just the way you want.
Keep in mind the following guidelines for your baby’s winter-care routine
Use a nourishing soap for your baby’s bath. Try the Baby Dove Rich Moisture Bar which is infused with 1/4th moisturising cream that leaves delicate baby skin soft, and nourished. It is a good bet for maintaining the pH balance of the skin. If your baby has ultra-sensitive skin or suffers from eczema, you should opt for the Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Bar that has been specially developed for babies with sensitive skin.The bar is hypoallergenic so as to minimise allergy risks. This takes extra care to ensure that the bath is cleansing(bath is cleansing ?), without being at all harsh. Both these bars come with a mild and caring fragrance developed specifically for delicate baby skin
Follow up the bath by dabbing on lotion generously but gently. Use the Baby Dove Rich Moisture Nourishing Baby Lotion that gently moisturises baby’s skin for 24 hours leaving it supple throughout the day. The lotion soothes dry skin from the first use itself and also has a very delicate scent.
Try and maintain a comfortable level of humidity as well as temperature indoors. You can get a humidifier for your baby’s room to make sure that the air is not excessively dry
Keep your baby well-covered especially when venturing out in order to limit his exposure to the dry winds. However, make sure you don’t overheat him by piling on too many layers
To prevent the occurrence of diaper rash, keep the area clean and fresh by changing diapers often. This is critical even if your baby doesn’t pee much in the winter. Follow this up with the Baby Dove Rich Moisture Diaper Rash Cream to avoid any redness or itching. The cream neutralises skin’s pH level in seconds, provides instant comfort from the first use and immediately protects from diaper rash. I have also noticed that the diaper rash cream by Baby Dove is easier to clean and spread compared to the others I’ve used
Extend the extra nourishment to your baby’s scalp too, by massaging it with oil more frequently, and keeping it clean using a baby shampoo. This will reduce instances of flakiness
Come winter, and you instinctively become more cautious with everything related to your baby. You dress up your bundle of joy in warm and colourful winter clothes. You feed him foods to boost his immunity and keep a close track of his growth. You feel his soft cheeks and mentally pledge to not let anything – not even the winter winds – bring him any harm. Your instincts are spot on, mom. Little ones do require extra care in the winter months, and it is up to you to deliver this. As a mother, you have always wanted the gentlest care for your baby. This year, aside from gentleness, also give your baby added nourishment and help him have a beautiful, problem-free winter! Read more
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16 hours ago
Q. I am having pcod problem.
when should I take pregnancy test?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
14 hours ago
A. after missed your periods you can wait for one week more ,then you can do a urine pregnancy test to know about the pregnancy result and consult with your doctor according to the result for medication
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
16 hours ago
Q. I am having pcod problem.
but having regular cycles below 35 days. some time it will extended upto 40 days.
so when should I take pregnancy test at home?
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
14 hours ago
A. If you have missed your periods you can wait for one week more or else you can do a urine pregnancy test to know about the pregnancy result and consult with your doctor according to the result for medication.
The best treatment to have Regular periods is by having a healthy lifestyle with regular daily walking or jogging along with mild exercise and meditation whenever possible. as medications will only act till you are taking them
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
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Q. Done my first routine blood test ..it shows thyroid border line.its my 6 week running as per USG.
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is it something to worry.plz guide
Read moreDr Ghouse
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A. it is better to follow your doctors advice for treating the thyroid deficiency. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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Rashmi
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A. Toys which have light and also sounds so that is going to be a good option for you to use apart from the different kids have different interest some kids like to play with cars some like to play with something else so just have to try to figure out what your child likes to eat just check what your child is more inclined towards
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Dr Ghouse
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A. see. cc if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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