*This is a collaborative post
A 2021 Children’s People and Nature Survey (C-PANS) found 96% of children in the UK spend time outdoors at least once a week, regardless of factors such as gender, ethnicity, or income. This shouldn’t be a surprising statistic, as most children do enjoy going outside and spending time doing outdoor activities. This is especially true in the summer, as free time away from school and homework gives children more time to spend with friends and family.
On top of quality time outdoors with loved ones, being outdoors also offers health-related benefits for your children. These include allowing them enough sunlight while keeping them fit and active, but also extends to their mental wellbeing as well. Findings from C-PANS also indicate that access to green or natural spaces for children and young people can impact their levels of anxiety and loneliness, with children who spend time outside at least once a week reporting ‘very high’ levels of happiness.
While time outdoors can be good, some parents may have concerns for general safety or how to be better equipped for new experiences outdoors. In this post, we’ll go over some essential things parents can invest in for a better and safer time outdoors.
Child-sized bikes
If they don’t yet know how, summer might be a great time to teach your little ones how to ride a bike. Teaching your kids how to ride a bicycle can be an important lesson in helping them get to terms with balance control, along with an opportunity for your children to learn to prioritise their safety as well as those around them.
Choosing the right bicycle for your child depends on various factors. For one, a younger child might be more comfortable with a bike that has stabilisers. Older children, on the other hand, will probably appreciate the hybrid bikes from Frog — which are great for dashing for park adventures. Of course, the most important consideration is to buy the right size for your child’s age and height, instead of buying one size bigger for them to grow into, like you would with coats or school uniforms.
Quality pushchairs
If your children are too young to be learning how to bike, then investing in a quality pushchair means that you can take your children out with you on vacations or picnics for the summer. Of course, it’s not always practical to take the whole family — especially if you’re planning to visit crowded outdoor spaces. The double pushchairs at iCandy represent how modern pram designs simplify things for parents. These tandem double buggies allow one child to sit behind the other, for easier manoeuvrability through doorways or even on public transport.
When going out with your children in a pram, don’t forget to bring toys, books, or some snacks to keep your little ones occupied so that they aren’t restless during long journeys. It’ll also make pushing around the pushchair less of a struggle, especially on longer days out.
Fun paddleboards
This one may seem a little niche, but sometimes children have unique wishes added to their Summer Holiday Bucket List — such as learning how to paddleboard. Actually, your child might be on-trend with this one; British Canoeing reports that paddleboarding was tried out by more than 1.9 million people in 2021, and is fast becoming one of the most popular water sports in the UK. Paddleboarding can be a form of stress relief for parents and older children, while building confidence in your younger ones.
In case your family chooses to go out and try something like this particular water sport, investing in the proper equipment is important to ensure maximum fun and safety for everyone. It’s recommended that you look into speciality stores or rentals, rather than opting to buy cheap clothing or equipment. For kids, Quroc’s inflatable paddleboard models might be your best bet, as they suit a wide range of sizes and are designed to glide easily through the water. They are also comfortable to ride, so your children will definitely be encouraged to get active more often, and take up a new water sport.