Warm weather has arrived and is here to stay. The school year is coming to an end and after months cooped up indoors, your kids are itching to get outside and play. Here are Your Local Kids 5 favorite outdoor activities for kids.
- Take advantage of Long Island’s natural beauty
This spring/summer explore all Long Island has to offer by visiting one of the many state and local parks across Nassau and Suffolk County. Take a hike and learn about Long Island’s native wildlife or spend a day at the beach.
- Visit a petting zoo or farm
Another activity that the whole family can enjoy is visiting a petting zoo or farm. Kids will be thrilled to feed and interact with goats, sheep, birds, sometimes even zebras and giraffes! And who would say no to a pony ride? Long Island’s petting zoos are a great way to have an interactive experience with animals that everyone is sure to love
- Plant a Garden
If you’re looking to stay closer to home, another fun thing to do is plant a garden with your kids. They’ll love getting messy, taking care of their own plants and watching them grow. Gardening is not only fun, it’s educational. Here are some tips to start a great garden;
– Choose a nice, sunny area in your yard that is close to a water source. Teach your kids that water and sunlight as essential in order to have healthy plants
– Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, marigolds and sunflowers are easy for kids to grow and care for from seed.
– Repurpose an old sandbox for just your children’s plants. They’ll be happy to have their own space to care and be responsible for.
– Do some research about what kind of soil is right for your garden. Depending on the plants and seeds you’ve chosen there may be different types of soil mixes to help your garden thrive.
– Teach your kids about composting. Compost is an important element in gardening because it provides plants with important nutrients that help them grow. Kids can collect dead plant matter and yard waste, as well as old newspapers and table scraps like fruits, vegetables, corn cobs, and eggshells in recycled soda bottles or milk cartons to create an easy compost container.
- Plan a Historical Walking Tour
From famous poets and authors to former presidents and revolutionaries, and from gorgeous mansions to Native American sites, Long Island is home to many great and influential people and historic sites. It’s great to expose your kids to the area they live and teach about the history that took place here.
- Take a camping trip
On Long Island, there’s a pretty good chance you live in an urban or suburban area. Enjoy a night or two away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life and bring your kids to one of the many campsites across Long Island. Whether you prefer to spend a night under the stars or a peaceful evening in a cabin, Long Island campsites fit any lifestyle.
Warm weather is perfect for spending the days outside. What makes it even better is enjoying fun activities with family and friends. Be sure to check out our events calendar and directory for more fun things to do with your kids. And whatever you decide to do, don’t forget the sunscreen!
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