Today I've put together a short list of five outdoor activities that dads and kids can enjoy together. These activities will get your family out of the house, can bring your family closer together, and could even count as your exercise for the day. All of my suggestions are either free or relatively inexpensive.
1. Disc golf
Disc golf is a lot like regular golf, but with flying discs; instead of shooting a ball in a hole, you are throwing discs towards a basket. It’s a sport that is easy to pick up, but you can spend a lot of time perfecting your game.
Source: Ronald B. / YouTube
Disc golf is usually free, aside from the cost of the discs themselves which typically range from $10 to $15 each. Regular Frisbee style discs won’t cut it either. Like the difference between golf clubs, disc golf discs are either designed for long distance, medium range or putting, They come in dozens of configurations. I recommend getting at least two discs for each player: one distance disk (either mid or long range,) and one putter for each person that’s going to play. Younger kids could get away with using a single disc the whole time.
Disc golf can be fun for two people or the whole family. Once you’re out there on the course, your family is going to get great exercise as you chase after your discs from hole to hole.
In Las Vegas we are lucky enough to have seven different disc golf courses. There are hundreds across the U.S. and the rest of the world. Search the PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) website to find a disc golf course near you.
2. Geocaching
Although it’s been increasing in popularity for years, a lot of people still haven’t heard of geocaching. This video does a good job of explaining what it is:
Source: Geocaching.com / YouTube
Geocaching gives you and your kids an opportunity to explore your town--and beyond--by tracking caches using the GPS on your smartphone. Caches are small collection of items hidden in a secret spot. Usually the cache includes a logbook where you can sign your name before replacing it for the next treasure seeker.
While geocaching, my kids and I have climbed hills together, found hidden caches close to our house, and explored parts of our town that we’d never been before. When my kids were young, we called geocaching “treasure hunting.” I would let them hold a compass to navigate. As we got closer to the cache, I would share hints with them and let them find the treasure themselves.
Geocaching is free, but you might consider a paid subscription for Geocaching.com if you enjoy the service. Chances are there are hidden caches all around your town. For more tips, check out this blog post detailing Tricks of the Trade for Geocaching with Kids.
2. Hiking
I love being out in nature and exploring trails. Hiking with kids takes extra planning and preparation. You need to make sure their clothes and shoes are appropriate. You may need to pack a lunch.Depending on the trail, hiking can be rough. Your child might get hurt. Don’t over do it. Every kid has their limit and hiking can easily push them past it. Stick to small trails and hills before trying anything more ambitious. When it's good, hiking can be a wonderful way to inspire your kids with nature and spark their interest in exploration and discovery.
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| photo: Take A Hike Arizona / flickr (cc) |
Hiking can offer some wonderful photo opportunities.
For more advice about hiking with kids, check out the footnotes on the Hike It Baby blog, where mom-blogger Shanti has great posts about hiking equipment and tips on surviving longer expeditions with smaller children.
4. Playing catch
Playing catch is the quintessential outdoor dad activity. It's also a great activity to help your child develop motor skills, improve reaction times and build skills useful for participation in youth athletics and other physical activities.I start playing catch with my kids when they’re babies by rolling a ball to them across the floor. As their skills develop, I increase distance and speed. We progress from rolling and bouncing balls to light tossing, until my child can catch and throw a ball safely and accurately.
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| photo: Cara VsAngel / flickr (cc) |
Even a stuffed animal can provide a joyous game of catch, as this father and daughter discovered.
Catch can be played with any number of players, as long as you have enough open space and daylight. If your neighborhood is cramped, think about parks, greenbelts, school playgrounds, football fields or baseball fields in your area that may have areas where you can play catch.
5. Trampolining
If you were to ask my kids what their favorite dad activity is, it would be jumping with me in the trampoline. Trampolines are great for keeping the kids active and occupied when the weather is nice.Our family’s trampoline has been in daily use for the past six years. I typically replace the mat and springs every two years, but it's well worth it. Jumping on trampolines provides an excellent workout for kids and dads. If you don’t have a full-size trampoline, consider investing in one. I insist on having a safety net around the sides to reduce the potential of accidents.
There is a recent trend of indoor trampoline parks opening up around the country. My family loves them! Here's a video from SkyZone, a chain that operates here in Las Vegas and other cities around the U.S. and Canada:
Source: SkyZone / YouTube
These are just a few activities that will get you and your family out of the house and having fun together. If you’re looking for more, visit Barbara Rowley’s blog where she writes about other family activities that are cheap, fast, and fun.
Be sure to bookmark my blog or subscribe using the links provided. Next week I'll be blogging about why I'm a better college student now--as a parent--than I ever was as a teenager. Until then, happy fathering!
- Ronald
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