I feel like most millennial and gen x parents I’ve talked to grew up playing outside lot. Maybe not in the wild completely unsupervised (a la boomer), but still: outdoor play was important, and ubiquitous.
Unfortunately, as the economy would have it, a lot of us in the millennial age group do not have the good fortune of owning a stand-alone home with white picket fence and a yard. We have some friends who are lucky enough to have a large communal playground in their housing area, but that’s not as common as you might expect. Personally, I theorize that such a large percentage of us have gotten ‘into’ plants, because we live in more urban settings, and want to feel more connected with nature.
Having plants, tending to any amount of yard space (no matter how tiny), or growing food or flowers in planters or pots can really help. But when you have kids, that’s hardly enough—they need space to run. I, personally, believe that outdoor time, and play is absolutely crucial to children (and adults). But when you’re in a more urban area, how do you go about that?
As someone in that position, I thought a lot of about this question in the Spring. I enjoy being outdoors with the kids, but want to make it more of a reliable thing. Here’s what I came up with, divided by situation. They build on each other, so anything you can do in a smaller space, you can do in a larger one, too.
If you have no yard at all
- find the best outdoor spaces in your town, or area. If you can, connect with your local Hike It Baby chapter, or search Facebook for other hiking parents, kids outdoor, or nature school groups. Your town’s Parks & Rec page can help you discover parks near you, as well. This can take a bit of trial and error. But, after a bit, you’ll discover what spots you enjoy hanging out in most. I think it can be fun to vary it—maybe a playground once a week; a park with lots of trees another; a hike; go on a walking trail (in needn’t be mind-blowing, it just has to exist), paved, or unpaved. Then put these locations on your calendar, and make visiting them weekly occurrences.
- get a bike. If you’re serious about spending time outdoors, it doesn’t always just have to be kid-centered. If you get a bike, you can get a cargo bike, a log-john, put your kids in from and/or being you on your normal bike; or pull them behind you. There’s lots of options (although I highly, highly, highly recommend getting an e-bike. They’re necessary pulling extra weight (kids), and they can take you farther, so you can see more.
- babywear. Get out for walks. Even if it’s a lame suburban space around your residence, just being outside at all is beneficial. I know that kids—particularly multiples—can be really difficult to keep safe, and together. But babywearing is completely normal, even after 2 year old, so strap on a kid, or two, and you’ll find yourself able to have a less anxious walkabout.
farmer’s market 
falls 
picking berries
- look for local outdoor events and activities. Follow local pages on instagram, or join groups on Facebook. More likely than not, there are seasonal events where you live, held outside. I recently discovered there was a sunflower maze (as opposed to a corn maze) within driving distance of us. We also picked fruit locally. Summer and Fall are notoriously good times for events, but winter can have some festival markets and events, too.
If you’ve only got a patio
- craft a space. Patios are so ridiculous—they charge you more, and for what, 40 square feet? Anyway. Find a way to really squeeze as much value out of your space as you possibly can. If you’ve got cats, or small dogs—or terrifying kids who want to leap over the edge of the balcony (as Harry probably would)—maybe build your own catio (cat-patio. More or less a free-standing screened-in porch)—that way, your kids, or pets, can technically get out of the house. We have pots and garden planters on our front porch, and back patio. You could build a custom tiny bench(es), and add some plants in pots for privacy; or just some hanging baskets or rail planters and some string lights. Set up a hammock, or a tiny playhouse or some climbing things for kids. Extend your homey space, even if just for a couple of feet.
If you have a micro-yard
- go big or go home. With any size yard, now we’re talkin’. Even with a teeny yard, you’re likely to have at least space to properly move around. You don’t need a huge space to make a cool space. Write a list of what you want from your outdoor space, and decide what the biggest priority is. You want a big garden? Or a place to entertain? An at-home playground? If you keep your focus to one area, you can go all out, and make a place that really, really does what you want.
- add a little something for everyone. As an alternative to the point above: go small. Take your list of what you want. Let’s say it’s the same things we talked about before, a garden; a place to entertain’ and a place for kids to play. Take your patio space, and add some benches and chairs that allow you to maximize seating; add a sun shade or pergola; or a small, portable fire pit. Add pots or garden planters along the fence, or use them to separate the entertaining area from the play area. Then, for kids, you can do a climbing dome, or put rock climbing rocks on a fence, or make a small playhouse. Nothing is too big, but you’ve got some of everything you are looking for.
If you have a communal yard space
- talk to your HOA. You may be able to get a play space put in for kids, even if it’s just a play dome. Maybe you could have benches put in, so people can meet and chat. Or put up a swing that you can take down when it’s not in use. You won’t know until you try (and/or get signatures).
- start playdates with those in your neighborhood. Chances are, you’re not the only one wanting to get out more. Knock the neighborhood to meet others with kids, or, if your kids have already made friends, follow them home to meet their parents. A plain outdoor space doesn’t offer a t o n, but outdoors with kids is always more fun with other adults. Find a playdate day, or just have a usual time very day. Maybe even consider making neighborhood outdoor events (like a water balloon day in the summer; a clean up for Earth Day; Oktoberfest; you name it). Create reasons to utilize what you do have.
If you have a yard
- don’t let it go to waste. You have a yard. You lucky duck, you. So many yards I’ve seen (from Zillow, of course), have basically nothing going on. You don’t have to live in the wilderness to have outdoors worth breathing in! Take care of your space—maintenance is easier when it’s regular. Add proper places for what you want and need. Get inspo from Pinterest! Have climbing plants on your fence. Add decorative potted plants, or garden plot/boxes. Make it a space you want to be in, and that you’re excited to bring others to.
- think like a kid. I feel like a common complaint among parents is that their kids don’t really want to spend that much time out in the yard. So, to those parents, I ask: have you given them a reason to? Think about the outdoor spots you liked best as a kid. Was it a really fun playground. Was is full of trees? Was water play the best thing in your book? Bring that to your own yard. If you’ve just got a playground and open grass, add some trees. If you have trees, add a tree swing. Think like a kid, and, heck, maybe ever ask your kids what kinds of outdoor things they think are fun.
No matter your exact circumstances, I hope these ideas help you spend more time outside, and have fun doing it!
