Play Outside Day

Play Outside Day is the first Saturday in April

The first Saturday of April is Play Outside day! This is an annual event to encourage children and parents to step away from the screen and go enjoy some time outside. Play Outside Day was first celebrated on April 2, 2011 and has been a massive success since. Playing outside has an amazing amount of benefits for children and adults. Going outside can allow children to discover new things and enjoy the beauty of nature. Allowing children to have fun outside creates a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors which can lead to children joining nature conservation groups or engaging in environmentally friendly activities such as recycling. There are a wide variety of reasons why people have stopped going outside despite these amazing benefits. Television and video games are a main contributor as to why children prefer staying inside these days. Parents often don’t encourage going outside due to media coverage making the outside world seem unsafe. Today is a day to change all of this and realize that being outside isn’t a bad thing, it may be one of the most fun things your child has done in a long time.

4 Ways to Celebrate Play Outside Day

There are a wide variety of ways to enjoy being outside, here’s a few to get you started.

1. Hiking

Hiking doesn’t have to be climbing up the tallest mountain. It can be a nice relaxing walk along a nature trail or maybe you make your own trail. Hiking is one of the many activities you can tailor to your own comfort level. Hikes are great for your overall health and are great at reducing stress. This activity is the ultimate way to unplug from your screens and take in some beautiful scenery. 

2. Dog Park

Dogs like being outside too! You and your dog need exercise and time outside and a dog park is a good way to combine both these things. Going to the park also allows you and your dog to get some face to face interaction with other people away from a screen. If you don’t have a dog you can always volunteer to be a walker at a local shelter and maybe even find one of your own to adopt. 

3. State Park

National and State Parks are a great way to get outside and often for free! Depending on the park there are a multitude of activities you can do while you’re there. Most national parks have very detailed websites so you can easily plan your day around whatever park you decide to go to. Some activities you can do at a national park include swimming, kayaking, hiking, and boating. 

4. Geocaching

Geocaching is the easiest way to treasure hunt in the modern age! All you need is a GPS and a location and you can find a wide variety of prizes. Geocaching can take place in cities or in the middle of nowhere as well. Some geocaching combines hiking as well as walking to find your treasure. This fun way of exercise allows you to think and see beautiful scenery as you look for your treasure. 

Whether you love to be outside or would rather stay inside, today is a day to embrace the beauty of nature by being outside. With such a wide variety of activities to do, you may just find something that keeps you going outside again and again.