{"id":7799,"date":"2017-06-09T11:50:29","date_gmt":"2017-06-09T15:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=7799"},"modified":"2023-02-16T12:53:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T17:53:06","slug":"fun-things-only-child-outside-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/09\/fun-things-only-child-outside-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun Things for an Only Child to Do Outside This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"funI\u2019ll be the first to admit that when I was a kid, my favorite part of summer vacation was holing up in the den, shades drawn, so I could watch cartoons all day while eating popsicles. But I don\u2019t really remember anything about my time spent indoors\u2014other than how awesome the popsicles always were.<\/p>\n

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Summer memories in the sun | Image courtesy Unsplash user Gabby Orcutt<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No, my favorite summer memories are the ones from my time outdoors in the sun. I can still smell the sweetness of the dried grass I would use to make small dolls (what can I say, I was obsessed with Little House on the Prairie<\/i>). And, I can even feel the cool shade provided by my tree fort, made from branches and scrap wood and decorated with acorns\u2014the hub of all my outdoor activities.<\/p>\n

Only children are used to spending time by themselves, but when they\u2019re always indoors, it can be difficult to get them to look up and notice the world around them. They\u2019ll have plenty of time to enjoy the great indoors when it\u2019s cold outside again this fall. So, on summer break, encourage your little to have an outdoor adventure with these fun things for an only child to do outside. Interacting with the world around them, using their hands, breathing in the warm summer air, and feeling the dirt between their toes will inspire unforgettable memories that they\u2019ll carry into adulthood, creating their own stories that are even more immersive than whatever\u2019s streaming on their laptops.<\/p>\n

Nature Activities for an Only Child to Do Outside<\/h4>\n

Smell is the sense most associated with memory; freshly cut grass probably brings back memories of your summer vacations. For me, though, even stronger memories are connected to the scent of pine needles. One whiff and I\u2019m immediately transported to the forest bike path where I spent many summer days trying to break my personal speed record while avoiding the pinecones that littered the trail.<\/p>\n

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Natural curiosity | Image courtesy Etsy seller TheLittleNaturalist<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Planning outdoor activities for sunny summer days<\/a> doesn\u2019t have to be complicated.The nature around your home, even if only a small patch of green in the front yard, isn\u2019t just there for looks. It\u2019s also the perfect outdoor play space for your only kid to soak up the smells, sounds, and sights of all things summer. Here are a collection of nature activities for an only child to do outside:<\/p>\n