How To Teach Your Kids To Appreciate The Outdoors
I personally believe that teaching my kids to appreciate nature and the outdoors will bring numerous benefits for them. It will develop the value of gratefulness in them for being given the chance to marvel at the beauty of their surroundings. I also believe that raising kids who are appreciative of the environment will develop in them the sense of responsibility when it comes to waste management as they grow up.
How To Teach Your Kids To Appreciate The Outdoors
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Being outdoors makes children healthy
Aside from developing values in children, letting them play outside, especially in the dirt, makes them healthy. The germs and bacteria in the dirt will help strengthen their immune system.
I have personally observed this in my kids. When we were in Metro Manila where they had limited exposure to garden soil, they always had allergic rhinitis.
However, when we stayed in the province for a two-month vacation, we gave our two children unlimited time to play in the yard. They were picking up stones, digging into the soil using their hands, and plucking leaves from the plants in the backyard.
Throughout our stay in the province, our two toddlers never developed allergic rhinitis. Indeed, what science said about the advantages of letting kids play outside is very accurate.
Ways to expose kids to nature and the outdoors
Some people, particularly those from the city, may think that exposing kids to nature and the outdoors may require more effort since they are in the urban jungle. While that is true, it’s not impossible. In fact, there are spots in the city that allow people to commune with nature, such as those in Quezon City.
Anyway, if you have no idea on where to begin, here’s how you can do it:
1. Let them play outside
Allowing kids or encouraging them to play outside is probably the best way to expose them to the outdoors. It can be in your garden or backyard; it doesn’t have to be necessarily in the streets because that may be unsafe for them.
2. Take them to parks
The public park is a great location to expose children to the outdoors. Public parks are usually spacious, they are like oases in the middle of the city or town because of the abundance of plants, and they are generally a safe place for children because they are well-lighted.
Just the same, always keep a keen eye on your children when you take them to public parks because of the influx of people in such plazas.
3. Let them experience the joy of camping
Camping is an exciting an activity, not just for children but for the entire family. I personally want to take my kids out camping on a weekend given the chance to do so.
There are actually many options for family friendly camping grounds near Metro Manila such as those in the following locations:
Bulacan (list from Laquatsa blog)
Casa del Pueblo de Cabanacan
Kampo ni Juan
Camp Riverside
Te Amo DRT Camping Place and Resort
Ysayas Resthouse and Camping Site
Camp Marupok
Blue’s Farm and Resort
Cavite (from Tripzilla)
Nurture Wellness Village
Campsite in Alfonso
Rizal (list from KKDay)
Mt. Purro Nature Reserve
Phillip’s Sanctuary
Singalong Nature Campsite Hill
Quest Adventure Camp
UCM Adventure Park
3 Springs Mountain Park
Treasure Mountain
Lambingan Hills
Pili Paninap Farms
Tinipak Camping Ground
Pampanga
Clearwater Resort
Clark Philippines
4. Travel with your kids
I’ve always believed that traveling with kids is one way of giving them wonderful memories and experiences. It doesn’t have to be in a far off or exotic location. You can take them to a nearby beach resort and let them bask in the sun and enjoy the seawater. They’ll surely appreciate the happy times with you.
5. Give them toys that mimic the thrill of being outdoors
I do understand that not all parents are comfortable in taking their kids outside in view of the pandemic. Some families may also not have an outdoor space or garden within their home. In such cases, they can opt for books and toys that can give kids the thrill of experiencing the outdoors.
There are jungle-themed toys, such as the indoor camping collectibles from McDonald’s Happy Meal. Kids will enjoy completing the Jungle Survival Kit with the P50 Happy Meal add-on promo
The McDonald’s Happy Meal features Pokémon toy collectibles and includes eight different designs that will help children become masters of the jungle through exploring and training activities.
With this new Pokemon-themed Jungle Survival Kit, holiday celebrations can be much more creative by setting up an indoor camp that families can explore and enjoy. This will not just inspire curiosity and wonder, but will also let the kids exercise their practical skills with a unique indoor camping experience!
The Pokemon-themed Happy Meal is also a perfect gift for the young ones, young-at-heart, and Pokémon fans because it can be purchased with McDonald's festive, ready-to-gift, and limited edition Christmas-themed Happy Meal Boxes. Surprise nieces, nephews, and even friends with the fun Pikachu-themed toy set this coming Christmas.
To echo the beloved anime’s slogan, encourage kids to “catch ‘em all” and collect all eight designs for the full indoor camping experience! Through the Add-On promo, customers can even get a bigger bang for their buck when they add only P50 to any meal to avail of an additional Burger McDo Happy Meal with a Pokémon toy collectible!
Introduce life and survival skills to kids through the concept of camping indoors with McDonald’s NEW Happy Meal featuring a Pokemon-themed Jungle Survival Kit! Even get the chance to score an affordable deal with the Happy Meal Add-On Promo. Order now via McDonald's Dine-In, Take Out, Drive Thru, or McDelivery!
To learn more about these collectible toys, just head on to the McDelivery website or app and follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook to stay up to date on all McDonald's announcements.
Epilogue
In this era of modern technology when kids are exposed to gadgets, it’s still beneficial for them to be experience the joy of nature and being outdoors. It may prove to be a challenge to take kids outside because of the pandemic but it’s not impossible.
We just have to be creative in finding a space for them to play. We can also recreate outdoor activities for them inside our house through books and toys.
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