“Yay! We get to eat breakfast outside!” chirps Kid 2, and he flits to the back door. His verbalized desire is music to my ears. In the last few months, b
oth boys have increasingly either asked to go out or agreed cheerfully when I tell them to. There are still other times that they complain or refuse. They also complain about eating pizza or getting ready for a birthday party or anything else that interferes with their Lego playtime. So, the absence of complaint means a lot to this nature-loving mom.
Timing Matters
The times my kids and I spend outside depend in part on the season. In summer, we go out first thing in the day, when the air is still cool-ish and we haven’t gotten wrapped up in other activities. It was about three years ago I figured this out, and now outside breakfast is routine. 
Then along comes the school year. Much as I miss our leisurely mornings, we shift to getting ready inside first thing and instead get our outside time by walking to school. Requiring and sticking to the routine is what helps. Chores help too. Sure, my kids can argue about chores like the best of them. But Kid 1 warmed up to the job of taking out trash while noticing the current affairs of the environment – dust devils above the wash, cloud banks on the horizon, rainbows above the neighborhood, or chatting with the neighbor next door. I love that making outdoor discoveries after supper has become expected.
Legos and Other Tools
It’s true, my kids are stuck on Legos. Constructive, creative, screen-free, and even mostly contained 
to the playroom, Lego play is usually encouraged. Legos outside? That’s taken some creative thinking by my husband and me. The current answer is “Yes, if you can carry it, and don’t complain if it gets lost.” With permission for Legos outside, my boys more readily agree to coming outside too. Spaceships zoom, phasers fire, crystals get stolen by bad guys – and both Kid 1 and Kid 2 run and shout as well as pause to water real sunflowers or search for real crickets. Some other toys live outside in the “toy shed”: light sabers, fort-building supplies, and the puzzle that only Kid 2 remembered as “the one we did when it was raining.” While my tools on the back patio include trowels and trash bags, the kids’ toys are also my tools: means to the end of agreeing to go out. 
We do go beyond our yard and school for time in nature. Check out the blog posts Looking Bright, Finding Water, and Pine Trees and Sticks for some of our family’s past travels. This past weekend’s goal: provide legitimate labor on a Watershed Management Group planting project while modeling to our kids the satisfaction of volunteering. 
Secondary goal: not get too cranky! The tool I packed for encouraging the kids was a pair of spray bottles. It was truly beautiful watching Kid 2 wander around to all the plants to “water” them with a gentle spritz. After he got tired (and gorged on snacks I had also brought), he invented a new project of digging and filling with water a small river and lake in the dust. Happy kid, happy mom, happy plants.
Mix it up
Family walks benefit from both timing 
and tools. After supper in the hot months, or after getting ready for the day in the cool months, the right time of day helps us all be more comfortable and willing to cover some distance. Elsa and Anna capes, toy cars, and other accessories help as well. Kid 1 often takes pride in holding the dog’s leash. That responsibility is both a motivational tool and a real help. Bikes help sometimes but lead to arguments other times… sometimes we just go out all grumpy anyway and still manage to feel better by the time we get home.
What’s in your toolbox?
Each parent has a unique bag of tricks, both physical tools and clever ideas. I’ve developed mine by accepting my kids’ interests, respecting the reality of different seasons, joining forces with my husband, and employing a try, try, try again attitude. Would you like to share your favorite tricks for helping your kids willingly go out the front or back door? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!