Getting children outside more often does not have to begin with a long hike, a perfectly planned day trip or a car full of outdoor equipment.
Sometimes, it starts with twenty minutes after school.

A snack on a park bench. A slower walk home. A friend joining for a quick run among the trees. A small mission to find something yellow, listen for three different birds or follow a path you have never taken before.

Family life is busy, and outdoor time can easily feel like one more thing that needs organising. But it does not have to be complicated. In fact, children often enjoy the simplest plans most, especially when they have time to move, make decisions and create their own games.

Here are ten realistic ways to make spending time outside feel easier, more natural and more enjoyable for the whole family.

Why simple outdoor time matters

Outside, children have room to move in ways that feel natural. They can run, climb, balance, invent games, notice tiny details and follow their curiosity.

They can also experience different kinds of play within the same afternoon: energetic movement, quiet observation, imaginative games and time with friends.

But outdoor time is more likely to become part of family life when it feels manageable.

The goal is not to create a perfect outdoor childhood or organise a memorable trip every weekend. The goal is to make going outside feel normal, something that can happen on an ordinary Tuesday, even when there is not much time.

1. Start with twenty minutes

One of the easiest ways to spend more time outside is to make the plan smaller.
Instead of waiting for a completely free afternoon, choose a short amount of time that feels realistic. Twenty minutes in the park, around the neighbourhood or under the trees can be enough for children to move, reset and find something interesting.

A short plan is also easier to repeat.

Try:

• A quick walk after dinner
  
• Twenty minutes at the playground after school
  
• A small bike or scooter route
  
• A walk around the block before homework
  
• A short visit to a nearby green space
  

Not every outdoor moment needs to become a full activity. Sometimes, simply stepping outside is the activity.

2. Take the long way home

Daily journeys can become outdoor time without adding another plan to the calendar.

On the way home from school, the library or the shops, choose a quieter street, walk through a park or take a small detour past some trees.

Let children notice what is different from the usual route.

Has a tree changed colour? Is there a new puddle? Can they hear birds, traffic, wind or footsteps? Is there a path they have not followed before?

The destination stays the same, but the journey feels new.

This works particularly well on busy weekdays because outdoor time becomes part of something the family already needs to do.

3. Move snack time outside

Food has a wonderful way of making a simple plan feel special.

Pack a snack and eat it on a blanket, a bench, a fallen tree or the steps outside your home. It does not need to be a full picnic. A piece of fruit, a sandwich and a bottle of water are enough.

Children may be more willing to go outside when the suggestion is specific:
“Shall we have our snack under the trees?”

often feels more inviting than:
“Do you want to go for a walk?”

Allow time after the snack for free play. Once children are already outside, they will often find their own reason to stay a little longer.

4. Give the walk a tiny mission

Some children enjoy walking simply for the sake of walking. Others need a purpose.

A tiny mission can turn an ordinary route into a game without requiring special materials or preparation.

Try asking children to:

• Find five different colours
  
• Spot something smaller than their thumb
  
• Listen for three different natural sounds
  
• Find a leaf with an unusual shape
  
• Look for signs of the changing season
  
• Photograph something beautiful
  
• Count bridges, birds, dogs or tree stumps
  
• Find something rough, smooth and soft
  
• Choose the funniest-shaped tree
  

Keep the mission open and playful. It should offer a starting point, not turn the walk into another lesson that needs to be completed correctly.

The best missions encourage children to slow down and notice things adults might normally walk straight past.

5. Let children lead the way

Adults usually decide where the family is going, how quickly everyone needs to walk and when it is time to leave.

Giving children small decisions can change the whole experience.

At a safe crossing or path, let them choose whether to turn left or right. Allow them to decide where to stop for a snack or which tree to investigate. Let them set the pace for part of the walk.

Children do not always choose the fastest route. They may stop repeatedly, return to the same place or become interested in something that seems very small. That is part of the experience.

Following their curiosity shows them that outdoor time belongs to them too. It is not only an activity planned and controlled by adults.

6. Invite a friend

For many children, the quickest route outside is knowing that a friend will be there.
Outdoor playdates can be wonderfully simple. Meet another family at a park, playground, beach or woodland path. Bring a ball, chalk or a snack if you like, but do not feel that every minute needs an organised activity.

Children can invent games together, create imaginary worlds, race between trees, build dens or simply talk while they walk.

Friendship can make familiar places feel new. It also changes the role of the adults: instead of constantly entertaining the children, parents can give them room to decide what happens next.

7. Keep a small outdoor kit ready

Getting outside is easier when you do not have to search for everything first. Keep a small set of useful items together in a child-sized backpack or basket near the door. The kit does not need to contain specialist equipment.

A simple outdoor kit might include:

• A reusable water bottle
  
• A small snack container
  
• Tissues or a cloth
  
• A light extra layer
  
• A small notebook and pencil
  
• A magnifying glass
  
• A sitting mat or small blanket
  
• Sunscreen or a hat, depending on the season
  
• A small bag for carrying litter home
  

Children can help check and pack the kit. This gives them responsibility for their own belongings and makes leaving the house feel like the beginning of something enjoyable.
The backpack should be comfortable, light and easy for the child to manage independently.

If you are choosing one, our guide to selecting a sustainable kids backpack explains which practical details are worth considering.

8. Leave space for unstructured play

It can be tempting to prepare a full list of activities, especially when children say they are bored. But boredom is not always a sign that the plan has failed. Children sometimes need a little time before they begin to notice what is around them and decide what to do. A stick can become a fishing rod, a wand or part of a den. A line of stones can become a shop, a treasure trail or the border of an imaginary world.

Try allowing ten or fifteen minutes without suggesting the next game.

Stay nearby and available, but give children the chance to create the activity themselves.

Their game may look simple from the outside, but it can involve storytelling, negotiation, movement and problem-solving.

Not every outdoor moment needs an adult-designed purpose.

9. Let the weather become part of the experience

Families do not need to wait for a perfectly sunny day.

A little wind, drizzle or cooler weather can change familiar surroundings and create new kinds of play, provided children are dressed comfortably and conditions are safe.

On a windy day, try racing leaves or watching clouds move.

After the rain, look for reflections, footprints and puddles.

On a cold day, take a warm drink and notice how the air, trees and sounds have changed.

The right clothing makes a big difference. An extra layer, comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate accessories can help children focus on playing instead of feeling too cold or wet.

It is always sensible to check the conditions and turn back when the weather becomes uncomfortable or unsafe. The goal is not to endure bad weather. It is to show children that outdoor life changes with the seasons.

10. Create one simple family ritual

Outdoor time becomes easier when it has a familiar place in the week.

Choose one small ritual that suits your family rather than trying to plan something different every time.

It could be:

• Friday afternoon snacks outside
  
• A Sunday morning walk
  
• A monthly family picnic
  
• A walk to look for the first signs of each new season
  
• An after-dinner scooter route
  
• One outdoor playdate every week
  
• A visit to the same tree, pond or path throughout the year
  

Returning to the same place is not boring. Children often notice changes that adults miss: new leaves, different insects, water levels, animal tracks or the first signs of colder weather.
Over time, an ordinary place can become part of the family’s story.

Help children care for the places they enjoy

Spending time outside is also an opportunity to help children develop respect for nature.

This does not need to begin with a serious lesson. It can grow through small, repeated habits:

• Take litter home
  
• Use reusable bottles and snack containers
  
• Observe animals from a respectful distance
  
• Avoid disturbing nests and habitats
  
• Leave living plants where they are growing
  
• Follow local signs and marked paths when necessary
  
• Treat shared outdoor spaces with care
  

Children are more likely to care about nature when they are given time to know it.

A familiar forest path, beach, park or tree can become something they recognise, value and want to protect.

Find free resources for relaxed outdoor adventures

You can also find free downloadable resources to make these calm trips to the countryside easier and more enjoyable for the whole family.

From simple nature activities and observation games to printable checklists and ideas for exploring at your own pace, these resources can help you prepare for an outdoor adventure without needing a complicated plan or specialist equipment.

Explore our free downloadable outdoor resources and choose an activity to take with you on your next peaceful walk in nature.

Make outdoor time easier, not bigger

Children do not measure outdoor memories by distance, equipment or how impressive the destination looked.

They remember the friend who ran beside them, the snack under the trees, the enormous puddle, the strange-shaped leaf and the day they were allowed to choose the path.

Start with the time and place you already have.

Keep the plan small. Leave space for play. Invite a friend when you can. Pack only what makes the day easier.

No big plan needed.

Just more chances to be outside, together.

Ready for everyday life outside?

Our Maju collection includes lightweight backpacks and practical toiletry bags made from recycled PET polyester and designed for school days, family trips and time outdoors.

Want to know more about the material? Read why we choose recycled PET for our kids backpacks and toiletry bags.