Unlocking the Power of Outdoor Play: Nurturing Your Child's Emotional and Physical Well-being through Fun and Games!

In today's fast-paced digital age, where screens dominate children's leisure time, the importance of outdoor play cannot be overstated. Engaging in outdoor activities not only promotes physical health but also fosters emotional well-being in children. Among the plethora of outdoor play options, the 12ft Trampoline stands out as a versatile and exhilarating choice. In this article, we explore the myriad benefits of outdoor play, particularly on a 12ft trampoline, and provide tips on making it a fun and enriching experience for your children.

Toys and games for fun over the Easter holidays

Take a look below for suggestions of toys and games to keep the kids entertained over the Easter holidays for lots of Easter fun.

The Benefits of Outdoor Learning for Children

Every parent knows how much children love to be outside. Playing outdoors is not only fun, but it also provides plenty of new and exciting learning opportunities for children. To help you discover more of the benefits associated with outdoor learning, I have collaborated with an independent preparatory school in Banstead to share these interesting facts…

Encourage kids to get active & play outdoors with these top products

GIFTED

As we embrace sunnier days and get out and about once again, the kids are loving playing outdoors. 

Outdoor play is not only fun for kids but it is vital to physical health, emotional wellbeing, independence, enabling all five senses to run wild, mental health and social interaction. 

To make playtime fun and encourage the kids to get moving here are a few of our favourite outdoor toys perfect for active play in the sun this summer.

Scooter fun with smarTrike - T1 Scooter review

At 18 months old Jelly Bean is a busy toddler who is regularly mastering new skills. He is a clever, bubbly and loveable little boy with a strong character and a fun personality that shines bright.

He loves doing many things most of all he loves playing and having adventures with his big brother Bug who he adores. As they play and have amazing adventures together I watch Jelly Bean strive to be a big boy like his brother. He wants to play with the same toys. He tries his hardest to follow his big brother’s steps. His little feet race behind and his determined, tough character aspires to do as brother does.

When Bug is riding on his bike or scooting along on his scooter in the great outdoors, his little sidekick Jelly Bean is following closely behind on his smarTrike trike.

He loves his trike and has had many adventures riding along on it - check out our#smartdiscoveries video here to see Jelly Bean meet a cute little owl. Whilst the trike is still very much loved and will grow with him, as he has gotten older and his desire to be like his big brother has grown I have watched him crave to jump on a scooter or bike.

Thankfully multi-award winning smarTrike have helped his dream of being a big boy scooting along like his brother come true with their new smarTrike T1 3 stage scooter.

Garden features for kids - green fingered, outdoor loving kids!

As we love being outdoors our garden is somewhere we spend lots of time when we are not out and about having adventures in the woods, beaches, castles and beautiful countryside which are a stones throw away from our home.

Being a family who spends most of their time outside in the garden especially during the spring and summer months I have plans to make the garden more fun and appealing for the kids than it already is.

Mud kitchen

Inspired by memories of my childhood I am building the kids a mud kitchen in the corner of the garden where they can have fun getting muddy and creating me tasty mud-filled pies and cakes which if anything like I was as a child will be decorated with leaves and flowers.

Garden toys

Taking inspiration from Bug's recent drawing and wish list of his perfect Easter birthday garden party that was filled with outdoor toys I hope to get a few more outdoor toys for the garden. I would love a garden with outdoor that are perfect for both the boys with toys that they can play with together and toys they can play with individually with the toys being suited to their ages and interests.

Wednesday Words - Sunshine.

Summer Hunt Activity Sheet by E-Outdoor.

We are huge fans of nature and the great outdoors. We love playing in the great outdoors, enjoying a natural childhood as we make the most of the wondrous world around us. Not only is playing in nature and the great outdoors lots of fun but it is also a fantastic learning experience.

As we love playing and learning in the great outdoors we have been making the most of the sunny weather that has been shining down on us so far this summer holidays by spending everyday playing outdoors.  Thanks to the lovely weather this summer has been the perfect time for Bug to accomplish a few more achievements from the National Trust’s 50 Things List and tick off a number of fun activities from his summer bucket list.

As well as having lots of fun outdoors playing and mastering new accomplishments, Bug has also been learning about nature and science whilst also developing his language and creative skills. Realising that summer can be the perfect time for children to explore the great outdoors, have fun and nurture their knowledge with fun learning activities, E-Outdoor have created a Summer Hunt Activity Sheet.

Playing in puddles.

Both Bug and I love being outdoors.  Bug loves playing outside with his bikes, trikes, balls and slide.  He loves trips to the park and gets giddy with excitement when we go to woodlands, wildlife centres and nature reserves for walks.  He loves going for walks, running around like a little mad man, exploring and having lots of fun.  He also loves going to the beach, playing in the sand and splashing in the sea.

I like for Bug to enjoy the great outdoors in a variety of ways and in different weather conditions.  We have had lots of fun outdoors regardless of the weather.  We have enjoyed the beach countless times in the beautiful sunshine and we have enjoyed the beach in the pouring down rain.  We have had fun going for country walks in the rain as well as on sunny days.  We have made the most of puddles left by the rain for puddle jumping play and have had fun filled times making a muddy mess playing with mud and dirt.  We have also had wintery fun playing in the snow.

This week in between downpours of torrential rain Bug made the most of the big puddles left by the rain when we grabbed a chance of playing outside for a short while before the rain returned once again.

Bug zoomed around the farm tracks on his bike looking for puddles to race through.

Driving through puddles (Project 365 - 252/365).

Bike fun (Project 365 - 236/365).

Charcoal Challenge - Moneysupermarket.com challenge

A few days ago before the cooler weather and then the rain arrived whilst the sun was shining bright we had a family BBQ.  It was thanks to the Moneysupermarket.com #CharcoalChallenge  that we took the time out of our busy lives to get together and have fun in the sun whilst having a barbecue.  As I love barbecue’s I was delighted about being accepted to take part in the #CharcoalChallenge which entailed hosting a barbecue for under £50 and then writing a post about having an ultimate barbecue on a budget.

After a quick visit to the beach for splishy splashy fun in the sun Bug and I popped to the shops to stock up on food and drink for our family barbecue later that day.  We bought lots of fresh salad, a variety of meat, fresh bread rolls and drinks including some wine for our guests to enjoy (my mum and sister who do love to indulge with a glass or two of wine bought their own bottles too).  Thankfully we already had coals for the barbecue for a previous barbecue we had recently and as we did not have to buy barbecue coals we came just under budget.

Happily the sun was still shining bright in the blue sky when barbecue time arrived with our family barbecue get-together starting early evening.

Once Lee was back from work he set about lighting the barbecue.  Bug was fascinated with the shadow of the barbecue, amazed at the smoke’s shadow flickering on the ground.

Being the man of the house Lee took his barbecue duty seriously and would not let me lift a finger to help allowing me to relax and chat with family which was lovely.  The aromas coming from the barbecue was divine and as the meat cooked upon the barbecue the scents emanating from the barbecue set my belly grumbling with a desire for tasty barbecued food.

Whilst Lee was busy cooking the food on the barbecue, the family relaxed in the sun with my mum and sister starting on the wine as we chatted and enjoyed watching Bug play.

After racing around and playing to his heart’s content Bug settled down and enjoyed his daddy’s creation of a Cajun Salmon salad as a starter before munching on barbecued burgers and sausages.

We all enjoyed the eating al fresco in the sun, relishing the tasty barbecue food.

The wine was enjoyed by my family whilst I stuck to a refreshing, ice cold glass of diet coke.

Even though our bellies were full with yummy barbecue food we all managed a little sweet treat, with strawberry cheesecake and mouth-watering watermelon enjoyed.

With our appetites satisfied by delicious barbecue food we all chatted and relaxed in the lovely weather.  Wanting to keep the party going Bug insisted on changing into his swim suit to enjoy splishy splashing fun in his little paddling pool, showing off to his Aunty Boo as he slipped and glided down his slide making a big splash as he landed in the water.

We all had a lovely time and satisfying barbecue food was enjoyed by all.  It was great to catch up with the family and have some relaxing time together in the gorgeous sunny weather.

*  This is my entry to the Moneysupermarket Charcoal Challenge competition, I was provided with £50 to take part and have a barbecue.  By taking part I am entered into the competition where one lucky winner will get £250 to throw the ultimate barbecue *

Plans for green fingered fun #KidsGrowWild

Bug loves being outdoors.  He is in his element playing in the great outdoors.

He loves going on country walks.

He adores playing in the mud and making a muddy mess.

Village park play.

Last week we got out of the house for a little bit for park time play at the park in our village.  Bug delight in running around the small park, exploring the area before some serious play.

#23 Visit a Farm. Ranger adventure - 50 Things To Do Before You're 11 ¾

After exploring the 18 th century house, walled gardens, grounds and lake atLlanerchaeron we visited the home farm there for Bug to complete his first 50Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ adventure; #23 Visit a farm from the Ranger category of adventures.

The home farm at Llanerchaeron has been resorted to its former glory with its impressive range of traditional, atmospheric outbuildings now being used as a working organic farm with Welsh Black cattle, Llanwenog sheep and rare Welsh pigs.

Bug was super excited when he realised we were headed to see some animals as he loves animals.

In the stone cobbled farm courtyard we explored the stone outbuildings in the hope of seeing some animals. 

A day out at Llanerchaeron.

As I am hoping to encourage a natural childhood of playing in the great outdoors for Bug and keen to record his 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ accomplishments when we recently had the car on a lovely sunny day I thought it was the perfect time to get out for a day out, play outdoors and attempt a #50 Things task.

With the National Trust Wales promoting the 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ campaign I thought it would be great to go to a National Trust Property so Bug and I headed to Llanerchaeron in Ciliau Aeron, near Aberaeron.  As my mum has wanted to go to Llanerchaeron for a walk around the house for ages I thought it would be the perfect chance for Bug and I to spend some quality time with her on a family day out.  I also hoped that it would be the perfect day and place for Bug to complete 1 of the 50 Things To Do Before You’re 11 ¾ adventures.

Bug was super excited about his day out with his Mamgu and raced off to explore the 18 th century Welsh gentry estate.

First we decided to have a look in the house which was designed in the 1790’s.  The Llanerchaeron villa is according to the National Trust website is the most complete example of the early work of John Nash.