Encouraging Kids To Get Active & #EnjoyMoreWater

Now that Summer is here, we're spending a lot more time outdoors as a family which - in turn - means that the children are spending their days being a lot more active than usual.   Alongside all of the usual summer fun activities such as days spent at the park, going on "adventures" (or "walks" as adults tend to refer to them!), visits to the beach and games of football, rounders and other sports - I've been trying to think of new ways to encourage my 3 year old to enjoy spending time outdoors.   Like a lot of 3 year olds, he's very attached to his toys and over the past month or so since the weather has improved - I've noticed that it can be a bit of a challenge to get him away from them in favour of time spent outside - quite often he'll insist that he doesn't want to go anywhere because he'd rather be inside playing with his favorite toys.   And while this is fine some days, I do want to make sure that we make the most of the good weather while we have it so trying to show Tyne how much fun can be had outside has been top of my agenda.   We tend to visit the park often come rain or shine anyway, and as we live so close to the beach it's not really anything new to him - likewise we spend a lot of time having kick arounds with the football so again, this doesn't really pique his interest that much anymore.   But last week while visiting my parents in Liverpool, his Grandma asked Tyne if he'd like to help her with some gardening - and he jumped at the chance!
Together they walked around to the village florist, chose some flowers and then Tyne got stuck right into spending the afternoon planting them.   He loved digging the holes in the soil ready for them, chatting about the various bugs and worms he was finding, and choosing which flowers to plant in which spot.   It was lovely to see him having such a wonderful time enjoying time spent outdoors in a way that he hadn't experienced before, and it provided so many great opportunities for discussions about nature too.
    It also gave us another great opportunity - lately we've been struggling to get Tyne to drink water as he's become a little fussy with it stating that it's "Boring" - but whilst he was watering the flowers he'd just planted, I took he opportunity to have a chat with him about why he was watering the flowers and how very important water was to keep the flowers healthy - and how us humans need to have water to keep us healthy too.
    He seemed to really grasp on to this and chatted to me about how "Having a drink of water from his beaker is just like how the flowers have a drink of water from the watering can".   To combat the problem we're facing with him finding the taste of water boring, we added some Robinsons Squash'd - Robinsons juices are the perfect way to encourage fussy little ones to drink more water as they taste fantastic and come in a great range of flavours including new Orange & Peach and Lemon & Pink Grapefruit, and us parents needn't worry as they contain no added sugar, and are from artificial colours and preservatives!
    Squash'd are a very concentrated squash which comes in a teeny weeny little bottle which is perfect for popping into handbags, hand luggage while traveling or picnic baskets!   I always have one with me and I am pleased to report that it's been a HUGE help in massively increasing Tyne's water intake.
    How do you encourage your little ones to get active outdoors in the summer?   *This post is an entry for BritMums #EnjoyMoreWater Challenge, sponsored by Robinsons   
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