15 Ways to Get Outside for 10 Minutes This Winter

OutGrown Blog 15 Ways to Get Outside for 10 Minutes This Winter
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Katie Fox

Jan 25, 2022

Hike it Baby’s Winter Walk with Wox is in full swing!

The challenge is for everyone to spend 10 minutes walking outside every day for the month of February. You can find more information here. And while this list isn’t limited to walking-specific activities, almost all of them include some element of moving your body for 10 minutes outside. The best part is that getting outside for 10 minutes every day is really easy to do! You don’t even need to leave your neighborhood or even your backyard. Plus, getting outside 10 minutes a day is such a great way to begin forming healthy habits for yourself and your children! There are so many ways to complete this challenge, but to help you out here are 15 ways to get outside for 10 minutes.

GO FOR A WALK AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

This is an easy one to do in 10 minutes! Simply meander around your neighborhood and take in all the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of the nature around you. Weeds growing through sidewalk cracks, clouds, falling snow, and potted plants absolutely count.

ADD IN SOME WHEELS

While walking is always a good time, change it up by taking the same route on wheels. Ride bikes, scooters, or skateboards around your neighborhood (or chase your children while they ride), and bust out the stroller and take your littlest out for a ride too.

BLOW BUBBLES

Getting outside doesn’t mean you have to leave your yard or even your patio. Spend 10 minutes blowing bubbles together and enjoy the time connecting with your children.

GO TO A PLAYGROUND

Do your kids have a favorite playground? Stop on the way home from school and spend 10 minutes getting some of that pent-up school energy! Or if you don’t have a favorite, try a new to you playground!

PLAY FOLLOW THE LEADERS

This is a game that is silly and fun for all ages. It also will help warm up those bodies on a cold day and help make those 10 minutes outside fly by.

DO A SCAVENGER HUNT

Need to add a little fun to your neighborhood walks or backyard play? There are a ton of free nature scavenger hunts available online, but it is also super simple to just draw/write a list of 5-10 items you know your children will find in your backyard or neighborhood. Have them take this list outside and let them enjoy the hunt!

GO FOR A TRASH WALK

Spending 10 minutes cleaning up your neighborhood or local park is an amazing way to give back. If you did this once a week, imagine how much trash you will pick up and how grateful mother nature and the wildlife that call the area home will be!

HIKE A TRAIL

Ok, hiking almost always takes longer than 10 minutes (especially when you add in travel time). But maybe there is a super short trail you’ve never done because it seemed too short (think 1/4 mile or less) or maybe you want to spend more than 10 minutes outside. Going for a short hike is a great way to spend time outside and this list wouldn’t be complete without a hiking suggestion.

READ A BOOK TOGETHER

Here is another quick and easy way to get outside without even leaving your yard or patio. Lay down a blanket and enjoy a short story or two together. If it is really cold, pile on the blankets, read a book about summer and imagine it is hot out. You could also read the book while moving your bodies.

HAVE A MEAL OR SNACK OUTSIDE

Even in the cold winter weather, eating outside can be fun! If it is really cold bring soup or hot chocolate to enjoy together.

PLAY A GAME TOGETHER

Getting outside when it is cold is hard. To help you keep warm, consider playing a quick game of tag, Simon Says, catch, red light green light, or any other game where your bodies are moving and having fun.

GET ARTSY

There are so many ways to create art outside. Spend 10 minutes painting rocks, drawing with sidewalk chalk, painting snow, or using nature items to create pictures.

LOOK TO THE SKY

Sit in chairs or lie on your backs and stare at the sky. Watch the clouds pass by and see if you can find any images in them. Can’t get outside until later in the day? No worries, one of the best things about Winter is that it gets dark earlier and even young children can enjoy searching the night sky for constellations.

ENJOY THE WORLD AT AFTER DARK

Speaking of getting dark earlier, take this opportunity to explore your neighborhood at night. Bring flashlights and simply walk around your block enjoying the way the houses, cars, trees, etc. look different once the sun goes down.

GO FOR A NATURE HEART WALK

Hearts are literally all over the place in nature. Once you start looking you will see them everywhere. Spend 10 minutes in your neighborhood or local park hunting for nature hearts! Common nature hearts can be found in leaf shapes, tree bark, lichen, clouds, rocks, sidewalk cracks, city art (both commissioned and otherwise), and so much more

“NATURE IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US. WHEN WE’RE EXPOSED TO TREES AND OTHER NATURAL SETTINGS – EVEN WITHIN THE CITY, IT FOSTERS CREATIVITY.” – DAVID LIVERMORE

ABOUT OUTGROWN

OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org

EDITORS NOTE:

We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.

But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach

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The holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes family traditions. Between baking cookies, decorating the house and classic holiday movies to watch, we tend to spend a lot of time indoors. Itching to get outside and connect with your family in nature? Here's a list of ten fun outdoor holiday traditions to enjoy the beauty that nature brings to the holiday season. 1. Turkey Trot Many cities across the United States hold a race or fun run around Thanksgiving. These fun events usually include something for the whole family, with options for runners, walkers and even kid races! Costumes are encouraged (who doesn’t want to dress their kids up as turkeys?!), and prizes are often given throughout the event for finishers and best costumes. Some families have also created their own “turkey trot” traditions closer to home or on a favorite trail. We love doing a "turkey trot" (an organized run or just our family trotting around the neighborhood) the morning of Thanksgiving. – Christina from the Snohomish, WA, Branch 2. Outdoor Family Game Time Growing up, my mother would always kick the kids (and my father if he was trying to “taste-test” the pies) outside while the turkey or ham was cooking on Thanksgiving and other holidays. We played soccer or touch football, or we'd have snowball fights if there was snow on the ground (I grew up in Colorado, so the weather was always unpredictable!). As I grew older, I always looked forward to these family “mini-tournaments,” and it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when we go home for the holidays. 3. #OptOutside for Black Friday The #OptOutside movement was started by REI in 2015 as a way to move away from the crazy commercialism that occurs on the busiest shopping day of the year, and move toward finding the immense value of spending time outdoors. REI (along with a growing number of businesses) shut their doors on Black Friday and encourage their employees and customers to enjoy the outdoors as opposed to spending their day inside, waiting in lines or rushing from store to store. This mindset has grown into a tradition that many families have adopted, including many of our Hike it Baby families. The last couple years, we chose to #optoutside for #greenfriday (Black Friday). We love this tradition so much and it's a great way to burn off all those mashed potatoes and pie! – Vanessa from the San Diego Branch Opting Outside on Black Friday in Upstate New York 4. Outdoor Holiday Festivities Holiday festivals and outdoor events seem to happen in abundance in the months of November and December. Many downtown areas hold “Festival of Lights” parades in which the holiday lights are illuminated for the first time during a big celebration. Many zoos have light shows as well, from the “Wildlights” festival at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA to the “Zoolights” Illumination at the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida. Checking your local newspaper or social media outlets can keep you up-to-date on all the outdoor holiday festivities happening in your area. Our local botanical garden does a million bulb walk every year that's always a hit. Once December rolls around, the lights are drive-through only, but we love to get out in November when you can still walk them! – Melissa from the Hampton Roads, VA, Branch 5. Themed Hike Themed hikes are fun to do with your local Hike it Baby Branch or with your own family! Here are a few ideas we have done in my branch: Jingle Bell Hike – Attach bells to the shoes and wrists of children (and yourself!), and parade up and down the trail, making a joyful sound as you go! Candy Cane Hunt – Have someone hang candy canes on low-lying tree branches for kids to find as they walk along the trail (just make sure you adhere to the principles of “leave no trace” and remove any extra candy canes or trash before you head out!). Hot Chocolate Urban Stroll – Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? Stop by your favorite coffee shop for some hot chocolate/cider (or bring some along in a thermos), and walk around, enjoying the holiday decorations and lights in a downtown area near you. 6. Neighborhood Light Walk What is one thing the holiday season tends to bring out in abundance (besides cheer, of course)? Lights! Taking a walk through your neighborhood or downtown area after sunset to enjoy the colorful and creative light displays is a tradition that many families share. Worried about bringing the kids out in the chilly night air? Dressing in layers and bringing along a favorite warm drink can keep the chill at bay. Hot cocoa/cider, anyone? 7. Stargazing Walk/Hike Have you ever wondered why the sky appears clearer during colder months? Cold air holds less moisture, which is also why the air is much drier in the winter. Air that is dry is much less hazy compared to moist air, making it the optimal time to stargaze! The best days to stargaze are when the moon is new (totally dark), which will fall on November 23 and December 23 this year. You can bring along a star chart and see how many constellations you can spot along the way! 8. Winter Solstice Hike The Winter Solstice marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest period of night. It falls on December 21 if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, which also marks the first day of winter. What better way to celebrate the start of a new season than to get outside and experience it firsthand? Check out this article for other fun ways to celebrate the winter solstice along with some craft and book options. 9. Holiday Walk/Hike Did you know that there are extra health benefits to walking before and/or after a big meal? Walking before a big meal can increase your metabolism and decreases the amount of fats and sugars that accumulate in the blood after a hefty meal. It can also decrease appetite, making you feel full faster, resulting in smaller portions of that yummy turkey, stuffing and pie consumed (and more leftover turkey sandwiches!). Light or moderate walking following a large meal also increases your metabolism, helping you burn off those mashed potato and pie calories more quickly. You may want to hold off on the marathon right after a large meal though; your body is already exerting a lot of energy trying to digest the colossal mass of food you just consumed! Last year we worked off our holiday dinner by doing an evening glow-stick walk/hike. It was super fun! –Melissa from the Capital Region Branch 10. New Year’s Day Hike Many families opt for a hike or other outdoor activity (such as skiing or snowshoeing) on the first day of the year as a way to start the year off right. Growing up, my family would take long walks/hikes on January 1, planning out our “New Year’s Resolutions” and discussing how we plan to make the year a great one. What a wonderful way to kick-start the year! We have celebrated New Year's with a "First Day Hike" for the last couple years. I look forward to it immensely! – Ryan from the Central Florida Branch First Day Hike in the Adirondack Mountains Read More: Creative Ideas for Celebrating the Winter Solstice with Young Children 8 Unique Ways to Take Advantage of the Long Nights of Winter ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

Creative Ideas to Celebrate the Winter Solstice with Young Children

What is the Winter Solstice? It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter in many places across the United States. The temperatures are dropping and the landscape has transformed into dull greens and browns as the deciduous trees are now mostly bare. Probably most noticeable of all are the short days and long nights. We are approaching the winter solstice (also known as Yule for some cultures). On this day we have the shortest day and the longest night of the year as one of the earth’s poles (the north pole for those of us in the northern hemisphere) tilts furthest away from the sun at 23.44 degrees. It also marks the first day of winter—December 21 in the northern hemisphere. Celebrating Winter and the Return of Light Celebrations of the winter solstice date back to ancient times. From Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona to Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” in China, people around the world observe the solstice in unique and special ways. Although it's the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, this important astrological occurrence is viewed by many cultures as the return of the sun. After all, the days grow in length and light starting on December 22. We think this transition from fall to winter on the longest night of the year is worth a celebration! Check out these activities, crafts and book recommendations to help your family celebrate the winter solstice. Activities Night Walks and Hikes: Nature transforms at night with different sights and sounds to experience. Winter offers the unique opportunity to partake in night events without having to throw the kiddos routine out the window. Check out this list for ideas on how to take advantage of the long nights of winter. Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Welcome winter with each of the five senses. Review this printable checklist or create your own based on your region. Create a winter nature table: Creating a space where your kids can place items that remind them of winter is a great way to kick off the season! It can be as small or big as you want, and the items that you place on it can vary widely. You can include pine cones, pine needles, twigs, winter crafts (see below), etc. Or better yet, following principles of “leave no trace”, you can take photos of these items in nature to include on your table. Read this article for more creative ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this winter. Craft Ideas Stick Art: Sticks and pinecones are plentiful this time of year. Here are 4 easy winter crafts to make using materials you can find in your own backyard. Craft or Bake a Yule Log: The Yule Log tradition started as a medieval Nordic tradition. The yule log was lit as a symbol to entice the sun to return and lengthen the days again. Check out this article for a fun Yule Log craft. Looking to add some baking into your winter solstice celebration? Check out this recipe for a yummy Yule Log cake! Winter Solstice Lanterns: Bring light to the longest night of the year by creating a nature-inspired lantern. Books to Read As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” These beautifully illustrated books help children of all ages understand what happens as fall turns to winter — starting with the shortest day of the year. Birth - 3 Years Winter in the Forest By Rusty Finch - Follow two little raccoons as they learn about winter in the forest. Even the littlest kiddos will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover hidden surprises in the snowy landscape. Winter Board Book By Gerda Muller - This chunky board book shows the joys of winter through beautiful illustrations. This book is part of a four-part, no-text series on the seasons. One Short Day in December By Lilith Rogers - This fun book follows a deer family of two moms and their baby deer as they celebrate the Winter Solstice. 4 Years and Up The First Day of Winter By Denise Fleming - Follow a little boy as he discovers all the trimmings needed to make a perfect snowman. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along to the tune of “Twelve Days of Christmas” starting with the first day of winter. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter By Kenard Pak - Join a sister and brother as they greet the signs of winter while they explore nature and take a stroll through their town. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice By Wendy Pfeffer - This book explains the science, history and cultural significance of the winter solstice in lyrical prose that kids can enjoy. How does your family celebrate the winter solstice? Let us know in the comments below! Photos courtesy of Krystal Weir, Deanna Curry and Jessica Human. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.