Did you know that 3 out of 4 children don’t even get an hour of exercise each day? That means that almost 75% of kids aren’t exercising enough according to the guidelines set forth by the governing boards. That is just unacceptable. We owe it to our children to help them be the healthiest they can be and summertime is the best time to do this. I remember summertime as being non-stop outside fun when I was a kid. That being said, things were just different back then. There was no such thing as tablets, and phones and the internet and countless TV channels to keep us stuck indoors. Life these days is different, which is great for several reasons, but it is also part of what is preventing our kids from getting enough exercise. I say it’s time to change this! Let’s get these kids moving and having their best summer ever!

What have you been doing to encourage your children to get outside this summer? Or, have you been silently watching while they spend their entire summer in the house, stuck to a screen? Hey...no judgement here, I know we all need some peace and quiet sometimes. That being said, I am a big supporter of getting our kids outside and active whenever the weather is nice enough to do so! If you like to do the same and you are looking for some tips on doing it, here are my 5 tips for getting your kids outside this summer!

1. Join in. Seriously. If you want your kids to enjoy an active, outdoor life, set a good example for them and join in the fun. I don’t think anyone has ever said “I wish I would have spent less time with my kids” at the end of their lives, do you? Get out and play ball, or splash in the water or whatever! Just get out there with them!
2. Make it fun. Don’t just say “go outside.” Give them ideas of what they can do. If being outdoors and active is new for them, they likely won’t even know what to do so give them some pointers.
3. Invite friends. Let your kids invite their friends over for playtime in the backyard or on a trip to the park or whatever your outdoor activity of the day is. Oftentimes kids will motivate each other to be more active.
4. Create experiences. I would bet that near you are some great locations that you didn’t even know existed. Think waterfalls, lakes, beaches, etc. Create activities around these places so that your children have fun experiences to look back on. It’ll be fun for you too!
5. Get some fun outdoor toys. If your kids had some fun outdoor toys to play with, I bet they would be more likely to head outside and play with them! We here at Sassafrass have some super fun toys that are great for getting the kids outside. Here are some of my favorites:

• leaf tree swing - create an instant playground in your backyard! tie our leaf swing onto a sturdy tree limb or overhead rafter, sit on the seat and swing away!
• Ladybug tree swing - our ladybug swing swings not only forward, but lets kids turn around, too! includes one rope handle ladybug ball and a carabiner hook to wrap around a tree branch or rafter. we recommend that you hang the swing no higher than 2 feet from the ground. the swing can handle up to 100 pounds in weight.
• frog rolling stilts - kids will have tons of fun with these old-fashioned rolling stilts.
• Butterfly net - gently capture all sorts of flying wonders and delight in nature's beauty before setting it free.
• Bug hotel - think of your bug hotel as a rest -stop for the ladybugs, lightning bugs, and caterpillars that you find during the day
• owl bowling pin set - line up the pins on a hard floor or tabletop. then roll the ball, aiming at the front pin, to try and knock all the pins over. move the ball further and further away to make the game more challenging. keep score by the number of pins each person knocks over.
• Frog bowling pin set - line up the pins on a hard floor or tabletop. then roll the ball, aiming at the front pin, to try and knock all the pins over. move the ball further and further away to make the game more challenging. keep score by the number of pins each person knocks over.
  • These bowling pin sets would also work well on a paved driveway or deck.

So moms and dads, try these out and see if these tips will help get your kids moving and outside.  Good luck to you all, I hope you all have an amazing summer!