O is for Outdoors #AtoZChallenge

Posted April 17, 2020 in A-Z Challenge / 6 Comments

The Blogging from A-Z Challenge continues today. Every day throughout April (except Sundays) I’ll be posting a range of ideas and tips for keeping your family entertained at home. It will include arts and crafts, games, learning ideas and imaginative activities for all ages. I thought it would be particularly useful while we’re all self-isolating or socially distancing, though it can be used for any time of year.

Letter “O” is for Outdoors. If you are lucky enough to have a garden or patio area there are lots of fun things you can do outside. But if not, you can get creative with any small outdoor areas you have (balconies, steps and rooftops) or try bringing the fun of the outdoors indoors.


Make the most of your outdoor space

  • Go on a bug hunt and see how many creepy-crawlies you can find. You could also build a bug hotel from wood, sticks and other natural materials.
  • Consider painting or chalking a mural on your shed, fence, wall or steps to cheer yourself up or celebrate local keyworkers.
  • Try stargazing on a clear night by following the National Trust’s top tips.
  • Bury a time capsule in your garden. Kiddycharts have some wonderful worksheets to fill in and include.
  • Decorate your patio, balcony or steps with colourful planters (you could paint your own with acrylic markers).
  • Organise a scavenger hunt in your garden with clues that lead to a prize.
  • Make a bird feeder and look out to see which feathered friends come to visit. Check out the RSPB’s guide to the most common garden birds.
  • Help the kids to make rubbings of bark, bricks and fences with paper and crayons.
  • Start growing your own vegetables. The Royal Horticultural Society have some great tips and advice here.
  • Try the fun outdoor exercise ideas from my E is for Exercise post.

Bring the outdoors indoors

  • Purchase some house plants from your local garden centre’s website or plant some seeds in a window box. Gardenia, begonia, hydrangea and herbs can all thrive on window sills.
  • Collect leaves, pinecones, feathers, shells and flower petals from your daily walk to turn into sculptures and collages. You could also try painting pebbles with acrylic markers.
  • Kinetic sand is brilliant fun for the kids (and grown-ups too). It looks and feels just like wet sand but without the mess! I absoloutely love the stuff.
  • If you’re feeling adventurous, lay down some towels in the kitchen and set up an indoor paddling pool for the kids to splash around in.
  • Build an indoor fairy garden. You can find lots of inspiration on Pinterest.
  • Set up a tent in your living room and go “glamping”. You can even roast marshmallows on the stove and have an indoor picnic.
  • Immerse yourself in literature and art about the beauty of nature. Look up Monet’s paintings online or download one of these popular nature fiction books.
  • Light candles or spray home fragrances that remind you of the outdoors, such as “sea spray” or “freshly cut grass”.
  • Visit the Yorkshire Dales virtually by checking out the daily pictures tweeted by @yorkshire_dales.
Image description: a collection of house plants and cacti near a window. Image from Pixabay.
Over to You

What are your favourite activities to do outdoors? Have you ever tried any traditionally outdoors activities indoors?

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6 responses to “O is for Outdoors #AtoZChallenge

    • We’re very lucky to live out in the country where the air and light pollution is minimal so we get a great view of the night sky.

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