If getting your kids outside were as easy as saying “Go play!”, you wouldn’t be reading this.

Most parents I talk to already want their kids outdoors more. They know it’s good for their bodies, their moods, their creativity. And yet… when it’s time to actually head outside, it turns into resistance, complaints, or negotiation.

That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means modern childhood has changed.

For today’s kids, indoors is fast, colorful, comfortable, and predictable. Outside is slower. Quieter. Less structured. And that adjustment can feel uncomfortable—especially at first.

So if “just go outside” isn’t working in your house, here’s the encouraging truth: it’s not a discipline problem. It’s a transition problem.

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When kids spend most of their time inside, their nervous systems get used to constant stimulation. Screens, toys with buttons, planned activities—they all do a lot of the work for them.

Outside asks kids to do the opposite:

That’s a skill. And like any skill, it needs practice—not pressure.

Instead of treating outdoor time like a rule to enforce, it helps to treat it like a muscle you’re slowly strengthening.

Here are three simple shifts that make outdoor time easier—and more enjoyable—for everyone.

1. Start smaller than you think you should

You don’t need an afternoon hike or a perfectly planned nature outing.

Ten minutes counts.
Fifteen minutes counts.

A short window lowers resistance and helps kids succeed. Once they’re outside, momentum often does the rest—but even if it doesn’t, you’ve still built the habit.

2. Go outside with them (at first)

Many kids struggle most with the first few minutes outdoors. That’s when boredom shows up.

Instead of sending them out alone, try stepping outside together:

You don’t need to entertain them—just be present long enough for their brains to shift gears.

3. Expect boredom—and don’t rush to fix it

This part is hard, especially when complaining starts.

But boredom is often the doorway to creativity. If we immediately rescue kids from it, they never learn what comes next.

You can acknowledge it without solving it:
“I know. It feels boring right now.”
“You’re allowed to be bored.”
“I’ll be right here.”

Most kids move through boredom if we give them space.

The goal isn’t kids who skip happily into the yard every day without protest.

The real goal is raising kids who:

That doesn’t happen overnight. It happens through small, repeated experiences that slowly build confidence.

Pick one day this week and aim for:

That’s it.

You’re not trying to create magical memories. You’re creating familiarity. And familiarity is what eventually turns the outdoors into a place your kids want to be.

You’re doing important work—even when it feels messy.

All you have to do is share our newsletter below with ONE other person and you will get the 30 Day Outdoor Family Fun Challenge PDF for free. It’s just a simple way to say thank you and provide something you can print out and hang in your office, post on your fridge or just keep in your phone files. It’s a very quick and easy document to check off adventures as you go. Just click the link below and we will send the pdf directly to your inbox.