5 ways to encourage adventure and imaginative play in your kids
Do you remember what it’s like to be a kid? Not a care in the world. Everyday is a new chance to explore uncharted territory and to go on a new adventure. Life as an adult can be so complicated but not as a child. And as a parent, that’s one of the best parts of my day. Watching my kids explore and take in the world around them.
I’ve always been a huge advocate for getting my kids outside as much as possible when the weather allows it. We grew up playing outside all day everyday. We’d ride our bikes for hours, run through the woods, jump on trampolines, and GET DIRTY. I don’t even care if I have to do laundry everyday because it means they’re using their imaginations and enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer.
The kids recently received their Radio Flyer Balance Bikes and have been asking me hourly if they can go ride them. N learned how to ride his bike without training wheels a few weeks ago but this bike is a different kind of fun. And I love that his little sister wants to be just like him and try and ride hers too.
The kids have wild imaginations. We’re usually hunting zombies or traveling miles to save the princess from the evil monsters that have captured her. Sometimes I’ll join in the game and other times I’ll just watch in amazement as they create these elaborate stories and think of every detail to bring them to life.
S0 how can you encourage adventure and imaginative play in your kids?
Provide them with the right tools. Better yet, make them! Recycle old materials to create circuit boards, binoculars, treasure maps, etc. Sometimes they can do this on their own but other times, you may need to assist them and get the juices flowing.
Take them different places. Find different trails, locations, and fun spots to give them a change of scenery. Sometimes that’s all they need to see something in a different light.
Give them the scenario. Sometimes all I need to do is set the scene. I’ll act like we’ve just been shipwrecked on an island or our plane went down in the arctic. Once I set the scene, I let them take it away and finish the story!
Read to them. I know, this sounds crazy. But by exposing them to different stories and narratives, you’re enriching their minds and giving them ideas to play out in their adventures.
Just go outside with them. I know, we’re all tired after work and all we want to do is get the kids ready for dinner, bath, and bed. But it’s summer… let them break the rules a little! Even if you get them outside for 30 minutes, that’s 30 minutes for them to soak up the sunshine and go on an adventure.
Radio Flyer has been powering playing and inspiring imagination since 1917. So to celebrate their 100th year anniversary, they’re encouraging everyone to get out and play! They’ve kept up with design and innovation and created relevant products to keep growing and keeping kids happy for the past 100 years.
To keep kids imaginations brewing, they’ve created a kids travel agency to take care of all of the things that real travel agencies do; whether it’s booking a space ship for their travels to Monster Mountain or needing accommodations at Zombieland. Y’all seriously need to watch this video because it had me rolling. And the reactions from these kids is priceless!
Just enter the Rafflecopter below and cross your fingers! You can also share your adventures with #radioflyer100 for more changes to win! GOOD LUCK!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Radio Flyer. The opinions and text are all mine.
4 COMMENTS
Toni
7 years agoI love the lights and sound racer another scooter!! My kids would love those!!
Toni
7 years agoIt’s supposed to say *and the scooter 🙂
Andrea Darst
7 years agoMy niece would love the MY 1ST SCOOTER® SPORT!!
Annette
7 years agoI like the EZ FOLD STROLL ‘N TRIKE™