Wishing your nanny would spend more time doing outdoor activities with the kids? Encourage your nanny to try some of these favorites next time she’s in charge:
1. Go for a Picnic – Ask her to pack a picnic lunch and find a special outdoor location to enjoy a meal together with the kids. She can bring along a Frisbee or ball and enjoy playing around a bit too. Encourage them to run races, go for a walk and enjoy being active together.
2. Play Pick Up Games in the Park – Playing games in the park are a great way for children to interact with one another. Encourage game playing by having your nanny bring the necessary equipment, like a wiffleball bat, along.
3. Fly a Kite – Let’s go fly a kite can be more than words to your favorite Mary Poppins tune. Take the challenge and encourage your nanny to take the kids kite flying. Invest in a decent kite that they can easily fly together and have them head to your nearest open space next time the wind is blowing.
4. Head on a Nature Hike – If you live in an area where there are nature trails present, a frequent visit to the “wilderness” can give children a chance to experience nature first hand. Have your nanny bring along journals for everyone to write down interesting things they observe.
5. Take a Trip to the Zoo – The zoo is more than just a collection of animals put on display for all to see. Have her make the trip a learning experience by talking about each animal, its habitat and what it eats. Have her bring sketch books along for the kids to draw their favorite creatures. If the zoo is close by, consider getting a membership.
6. Tend to a Garden – Children are more apt to eat fruits and vegetables that they have grown themselves, so get planting! Offer a specific area in the backyard or purchase some supplies for container gardening. Try your hand at planting and caring for beans or herbs to start.
7. Play Water Games – Encourage your nanny to head outside for a water balloon toss the next hot day you have (be sure to have her monitor this activity carefully and remove all broken balloons which can be a choking hazard) or invest in water squirters so they can play their own version of water tag.
With a little encouragement, your nanny can find creative ways to spend time outdoors with the kids. Encourage her and the kids to make a list of the outdoor things they would like to do together and have them check them off as they accomplish them.
With over 20 years of experience in the nanny world as an award-winning nanny, agency director, and parenting author, Michelle LaRowe is considered a leading industry expert. A mom herself, she loves to educate parents and nannies on the importance of quality in-home childcare. Find out more by visiting @eNannySource on Twitter.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
June 5, 2014 at 4:16 pmWe do all of these except the garden. My yard is mostly shade, so we can’t have one.
Michelle LaRowe says
June 6, 2014 at 7:15 amThat’s great to hear! Thanks for commenting.
Jennifer Williams says
June 6, 2014 at 6:45 amThese are the kinds of activities I do with my boys all the time. It is such an easy and inexpensive activity – just get outside.
Michelle LaRowe says
June 6, 2014 at 7:15 amThat’s true. I’m glad to hear you and your boys have fun outdoors together. Thanks for commenting!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
June 6, 2014 at 7:40 amI used to be a nanny, and I did all of the above! Thanks for bringing back some great memories! 🙂
Alice Chase says
June 6, 2014 at 9:22 amWe love playing outside in the summer. There is just something about playing outside that refreshes the soul!!
Kay Adeola says
June 6, 2014 at 10:02 amMy kiddies love flying kites,we do it every year in the summer at the beach.
Helene Cohen Bludman says
June 6, 2014 at 10:14 amOutdoor activities are fun and great exercise for kids. I love these ideas.
becca says
June 6, 2014 at 12:22 pmThese are all wonderful games. We like to play with bubbles outside in the summer.
Nikki says
June 6, 2014 at 1:26 pmI don’t have a nanny, but these are all fun outdoor games for anyone to play I think. Gives me some ideas for summer!
Annie Mai says
June 6, 2014 at 1:35 pmI did all of this as a kid except flying a kite. I will definitely be encouraging this when I have a kiddo 🙂
Liz Mays says
June 6, 2014 at 1:36 pmI haven’t flown a kite or played water games in so long. That sounds like so much summer fun to me!
Ann Bacciaglia says
June 6, 2014 at 2:28 pmThis is a great list of activities to do with kids. Thank you for sharing.
Rosey says
June 6, 2014 at 4:27 pmI have seen too, where if the kiddos are involved with the growing of veggies, they’re way more prone to eat them too. Ownership pays off sometimes. 🙂
Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty says
June 7, 2014 at 11:49 amGreat tips! My mom nannies for us in the afternoons, and I think sometimes she runs out of ideas – will have to share!
Healy Harpster says
June 7, 2014 at 1:02 pmI am my kids nanny! 🙂 I love the seven fun outdoor activities. I could really apply them all this summer!
The Chef's Wife | Anne @TheSatEvePot says
June 7, 2014 at 5:44 pmThese are great ideas. It gets sooo hot here in the south it’s easy to stay inside most days. I need to find some more great water ideas!
Triplezmom says
June 9, 2014 at 4:23 amWe do all of these. The kite flying is the only one that I’m not so into, but my husband is.