Tell Arla Big Milk about your plans for getting out into the fresh air - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Over the past few wintry months you'd be forgiven for feeling like the icy starts and shorter days were never going to end. However, now that the days are drawing out and it’s light into the evenings, it’s great to be able to start spending more time outdoors, getting some fresh air. Arla Big Milk would like to hear about your plans to spend more time outside and ensure your children get the fresh air they need and some much-needed Vitamin D, now that spring is here.

Here’s what Arla Big Milk have to say: “We know it's important your little ones get the nutrients they need to fuel their amazing growth and development. Arla Big Milk is fresh cow's milk enriched with Vitamin D, A and Iron so you can be sure they are getting what they need when consumed as part of a balanced diet.”

Maybe you’re looking forward to getting the barbecue out without there being a downpour. Or you might be planning longer family walks with your dog or perhaps you’re looking forward to spending time in the park so your toddler can use up their excess energy? If you expect resistance from the kids, what might be your cunning plans be to persuade them to join you outdoors? Share your plans for being out in the fresh air with Arla Big Milk below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher.

Thanks, and good luck!

MNHQ

Another geocaching family here. We also started a bit of foraging last year - the DCs loved picking nettles (carefully!) for soups, dandelion leaves for salad, wild strawberries / blackberries for their cereal etc. Last year we stuck with quite basic things that I knew from my own childhood but this year we're planning to go on a foraging course to learn about less familiar plants. Safety comes first obviously!
In the winter they enjoy "midnight" (8pm) walks in the woods with a torch - just scary enough to be fun :)

We still try to get out in the winter months, just wrap up warm and in waterproofs

In dry weather and now we have lighter evenings, we like to stop off at the playground on the way back from school and have our evening meal outside as a picnic

I'm so happy it's light in the evenings. I'm looking forward to

Bike rides
BBQs
Sitting in the garden with a glass of wine
Long walks around our local NT estate and farm
Generally just not getting soaked or frozen

I take mine out bus spotting and pokemon hunting. The winter weather didn't curtail our activities all that much, to be honest, unless it was absolutely filthy. We have warm, waterproof coats and sturdy footwear and, as my mum often says, we're not made of rice paper.

Looking forward to nicer weather, I plan to get us all out DH/DD (17)/DS (10) with the dog for loads of picnics this year, and we love going to devon to do fossil hunting and coastal walks! Also, we are off to a beautiful loch in western scotland for a lovely holiday later in the year, we cannot wait!

We live close to a lovely walking area which is surrounded by trees and near a small lake with ducks. I love to take dd down there, to feed the ducks or pick up exciting things (leaves, twigs) to put in her bucket. I can't wait for more drier weather so we can take her trike to ride, or her pushchair with us so she can take dolly for a walk, without them getting all muddy. She is getting a scooter this summer too. I also got a small remote controlled car to play with on the path - she'd seen somebody else's and loved it! We already have lots of outdoor toys to encourage her to play outside - chalk, balls, inflatable things, a paddling pool. Even water balloons and a water gun. (I personally think I'm living out my own childhood dreams here.)

We live opposite a park and she's pretty bored with that one now as we go all the time so we are going to hunt down another.

I just wish we lived closer to the coast as she loves the beach and paddling in the sea!

Picnics whenever we can, lunch eaten in the garden on a picnic blanket.
Cleaned the trampoline and slide and we are ready for summer!!

We have just bought a season ticket for a local attraction.

We need to go to it three times in a year, and we will have made our money back, so we are planning a trip for the easter holidays - they are putting on activities like an egg hunt and easter crafts.

But a far more important purchase that I made yesterday was a lightweight waterproof coat for DD2. Now I just need to buy wellies for DD1 and we will be ready for braving the great outdoors!

Tbh, I struggle to get the DC to come INside! They go out no matter what the weather; so long as they're wearing appropriate clothing, I'm happy about it :)

We go to the beach. My husband is South African, and he loves the sea, so any moment we have spare, even if the weather isn't fine, we pack up the car with surf boards, wind breakers, food, pram, bikes, and head to the beach. We play on the beach, and then if the weather is bad me and the kids sit in the cafe while my OH surfs, then we swap!

Getting out to the coast for a run up and down the beach, great even in grotty weather.

We are going on more walks. Joining national trust has been helpful as lots of fun outside space to run about. Tempted by geocaching.

National Trust's 50 things have been great for us to try new things and explore outdoors

Not much persuasion needed here - both DC love being outside! Something we've always encouraged. Even if just a quick ride around the block on bikes or a walk to the shops - a dose of daily fresh air & exercise is a must for us all!

Favourites include going to the park to play on the playground / feed the ducks / scramble over rocks; walk in the woods to look for wildlife / climb trees / paddle in streams; and playing in the garden looking for worms / watering plants / playing in the sand pit.

And if the weather is not great, just dress appropriately and carry on regardless!!

We've just got historic Scotland membership- hoping for lots of picnics and trips round old fallen down castles in the holidays

Currently staying in a lodge and enjoying some fresh spring air! Bbq is out for lunch, we visited an Arla dairy farm yesterday!

DS (9) needs no persuasion to go out and play in the garden, he's out as much as he can practicing football and Swingball.
He sometimes needs persuading to leave the house but we're still playing Pokemon Go which works wonders for getting him to walk! There's a local competition amongst schools too where the children get keyfobs to "check in" to various places around town. This is always extremely popular and gets us both walking a bit further.

DC don't need to be told twice to get outside and the longer evenings means more time in the garden and more time on the trampoline. We've got lots of seeds to plant so every weekend is spent outside - let's hope the warm weather is here to stay

My son walks to school and back every day and plays out whenever possible.

For me my plan is to support my sister who is overweight and wants to lose the first stone by going for lots of walks - she doesn't want to go to the gym or swimming till that first stone is gone. She's asked me if I'll go with her on long walks and encourage her and I have agreed.

It's less about weight for me than the fact that I have felt my mood and my energy levels slipping a bit lately and some brisk country walks and fresh air and light will do me the world of good.

Life always feels better when you're getting out in the fresh air more.

I've just set up a sand and water table for my 14 month old son. He loves it! I've also bought him a watering can and he has been helping to water the flowers. He loves being outside and goes and waits by the door until I open it. So happy that summer is on it's way!

My daughter loves playing outside, so I usually have to motivate myself to go out in the crummy weather. Being properly dressed for the conditions helps, as does setting a time limit when it's really bad.

make it part of life. don't give the kids another thing they think they need to think of 'to do' good bad etc. just make outdoors life,fun.
picnics on the lawn.
what birds can they hear I nthe morning.
what wildlife is in garden
leaf rubbing
walks/
pick flowers for grannie.draw.play.
make outdoors done as often as they like and if they cant go out for whatever reason.could they write a story.or play outside eyespy.

little salad or veggie pots.plant some flower.
make it the norm for go for a walk."lets go kids"done
walk to library or shops.
plan a menu and go buy it via walking
lots of free beautiful gardens and houses with field to play,water to cross,playng rounder with a picnic.many have cycle routes.

We love being outdoors so I don't have any problems getting my family out. I love the lighter nights as we can get out on our bikes and go for walks in the evening.

Up to Yorkshire for Easter, lots of fresh air, walking, picnics, visiting Thirsk and surrounding area for a week, we can't wait. It's a change of air and we will be champing at the bit until we can head off. Some walking in the North Yorks moors will be right up our street too. Bring it on!