Mumsnet user share how they get their family to explore the outdoors with HONEST® Kids drinks

[EllieMumsnet]

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With modern day technology making up a fairly large part of most families lives nowadays, it can be difficult to find ways to spend quality time together in the great outdoors. HONEST® Kids would love you to share your top tips for getting your family to put the technology down and get out and about.

Here’s what HONEST® Kids have to say: “We all love the great outdoors but sometimes it can feel a little daunting thinking of ways to make the most of what is on the doorstep whilst being suitable for the whole family to enjoy together. Our great-tasting, organic drinks combine organic fruit juices, water and natural flavourings to provide simple drinks that your kids will love and in the same way we want to encourage simple, organic family time together.

Giving mums and dads peace of mind, the HONEST® Kids range contains no added sugar, is low-calorie and sweetened only with fruit juice. Keeping children’s playtime refreshing and fun, it is available from selected Tesco stores nationwide."

Do you schedule a walk with the family once a week to ensure you all get that bonding time outside? What about planning different games to play outside, in order to engage the young ones more? Perhaps you make the most of your garden by getting your DC’s playing outside, doing a bit of gardening or even just relaxing with a good book in the fresh air?

Whatever your tips are, share them on the thread below in order to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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My DS is never happier than when digging in the garden. No particular purpose to his digging, he just likes to dig! He's got his own corner of the garden now which is a mud patch- he makes lakes, buries things and occasionally plants things!

Our garden is primarily for DS aged 4 . I'm not precious about plants , it's a safe out side space for him to play. We have a patio and astro turf so I am not too concerned about him getting mud in the house !

I have a packet of thick chalks he can draw on the fence and patio , even the shed or the house - it's bound to rain and wash it all away.

Even on a chilly day he puts his coat on and plays outside . He has a wendy house , slide , bike and scooter. On warm days I give him a bucket of water and a paint brush and he 'paints' the fence - or a scrubbing brush and soapy water for him to wash all his toys.

It's nice for a play date as the garden opens from the lounge and the mums can enjoy a cuppa in peace while keeping an eye on the kids

We have certain periods of the day where we’re not allowed any technology - phones, tv, etc, and the kids get chucked outside come rain or shine. They love anything to do with water too, so in the summer if there’s a paddling pool and some water guns there’s no way of getting them back inside

My both kids like playing in the garden with sand, water and plants:)

In the Warmer months we make a picnic.
(Even a sandwich in the garden counts as a picnic as it's food eaten outside)
Wether on the beach or walking on hills kids will do it if rewarded with one ar the end.

My boys would far rather be outside in the fresh air than cooped up inside. With my youngest who is 2.5yrs we always go for walks most day,come rain or shine! When the weather is a bit warmer we have a sandpit and water table. We have a veggie patch which the kids love to dig in. They take their toys/animals outside and play with them amongst the plants/stones. Also we have chalks,bubbles and a slide. Last year we had artificial-grass installed which is perfect for kids and it means they can go on it any time of the year without muddy feet!!

We are lovers of the outdoors and spend time playing together gardening, washing the car, exploring the woods and going to outdoor attractions.

A weekly walk each Sunday, sometimes local, sometimes much further a field. They will always go joyously if a castle is involved. Does get a lot easier in summer of course, or when smowy.

we have an outdoor playhouse, so if it is raining there is a place to pay and keep dry having a tea party, also I have lots of outdoor ride on toys. So its hat and coat on, get the cars and cosy coupe out and riding up and down the garden is a great way to pass a morning. We also have for the summer paddling pool and a plastic croquet set which means outdoor play lasts all year long.

We do the school run on foot and scooter come rain or shine. At the weekend usually on a Sunday evening the whole family goes for a long walk. During summer every weekend is spent at the seafront or in the garden with the paddling pool up!

I take them up to my Friend's caravan in Scotland once a year. There's no internet, no phone signal, nothing but miles of beaches and views to make your jaw drop. They love it. Other than that? I'd have to prise their gadgets out of their cold, dead hands.

My little one loves being outside! I am currently making him a mud kitchen so he can get really messy with mud and water!

I waled every day whilst on mat leave and got into the habit. We live next to the sea so a long walk by the beach isn't out of the ordinary.
At least once a month we venture further in the car to a national forest or something similar and go walking, pointing out trees and animals. Its nice and works for us.

We as a family love spending time outdoors and I think it's a blessing that my three sons would rather be outside in the fresh air than stuck inside on games consoles or the TV. We love to spend time in the garden or going for long walks with our beloved Border Collie.

I try to get them involved with the gardening, planting, digging up the mud. We walk to preschool as it's just down the hill but it means we get some extra fresh air.

My DC are generally happier (& easier to deal with!!) when they are outside - whether that be a walk in the woods, trip to the park, or in the garden.
I think if they are appropriately dressed so they don't get too hot / cold / wet they'll usually have loads of fun!

My 2 year old has just discovered the joy of digging in the mud. We have several raised beds and are going to give him one of his own to plant/destroy as he likes. He has his own mini plastic tools and loves to copy us.

My daughter is quite reluctant to go outside at first but we often have a picnic or teddies/dollies tea party which she already enjoys doing insidde. Sometimes we read stories or play one of her board games outside. Once she gets into it she is quite happy digging or playing on her own in the garden. I'm looking forward now she is a bit older to doing treasure hunts or hide and seek.

Time outside is important to all of us so it naturally became part of our routine and now it's often our little one asking to go outside when we'd rather stay inside on a cold day! Whether that's a walk in the woods or just playing in the garden. Helping him learn about nature and exploring the changing seasons provides an ever changing set of things to do from planting seeds or bulbs, watching them grow, building a snowman, crunching autumn leaves, feeding the birds or getting out the paddling pool.

We send the kids out every day. We're pretty sporty as a family and so whatever the weather, we dress up in all in ones- if needs be, and go walking in the rain- like we did on Sunday afternoon- the kids were stomping around in the puddles (quite deep as we were on our local flood plain) and then we came home, lit a fire and all cuddled under a blanket in our undies!

Or we surf in turns, as the coast is 45 minutes away- we head off straight after work and take a picnic for the kids, OH surfs, then we swap. Put the kids on the boards and paddle them about a bit.

We love being outdoors.. and if the two y o is every grumpy, we let her play in the sandpit in the garden- it's right outside the kitchen window/patio door, and she is always SO happy!!
Plus, when we're outside, there's less mess indoors!! 😂😂

My DC love being outside so I don't have to make much effort to get them out there. In the warmer months, we do tend to go out for picnics at the weekend.

Recently, if it’s not too freezing, ive been taking my DD rock hunting. people paint stones/rocks/large pebbles with nice pictures and leave them around places like country parks. you can go looking for them, and leave your own in return. she absolutely loves searching for them and can walk for ages looking.

We go geocaching as a family every weekend, it's amazing how far children will walk to find a box of 'treasure'!

We have a trampoline, and, for the younger children, tech-time is bought by activity on the trampoline.

My DC love playing outside and live it most when they can Potter around the garden digging and watering everything within sight. They have a playhouse and enjoying playing together in there. We often go to the park for ice cream and play 'bear hunt' in the bushes and make dens.