Summer is slowly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean shutting the doors and windows and holding the children hostage inside in fear of the colder weather. Autumn, much like spring, can be an inconsistent time for judging what the weather will be, but there’s nothing that an additional layer or light waterproof cannot solve. School’s back in session, too, so that leaves less time for the kids to run around and burn off all that excess energy they have built up whilst being sat at their desks. Coming home and sitting idle in front of a screen is not doing them any favours whatsoever – as parents, we actively need to encourage them to experience the great outdoors. With autumn making its annual appearance, it won’t be too long until winter is here and that is when there are limitations as to when children can play outside. Let’s make the most of the garden while we can. 

Before we can allow the children to run around the garden, the first step is to make sure that it is a safe space for kids to play. That means clearing up any mess that children can, and will, trip over and hurt themselves on. If your outdoor space features a lot of hard, concrete surfaces then consider looking at ways of restricting access to these areas. If a child falls on a patio or gravel, there is a greater risk of injury than if they fell over on a soft surface such as grass. As well as making sure the garden is safe for little ones, also make sure it is relatively tidy and everything has a place and that children cannot get into anything they shouldn’t. A garden shed, which can house such itinerary, that can be locked should be a necessity for any household with children. 

Children respond well to a little bit of encouragement, so thinking of some fun garden games for kids will help persuade them to ditch the screens in favour of running around outdoors. As the weather is likely to be considerably cooler than it was just a few weeks beforehand, games that keep children active and engaged, rather than sitting or standing waiting for their turn, should be top of the order. Old favourites like swingball, sack race, trampolining and skipping are fantastic for keeping the little ones (and big ones, for that matter) active. This means that, even if there is a slight chill in the air, no one will be feeling cold. 

Autumn is a fantastic time for parents to get the tent out for one last outing in the garden before putting it away until next year. Try to pick a good evening for it and set up camp in your back garden, space permitting of course. The kids will love doing something different and, if you find that the weather does take a turn for the worse, you can always just head back inside – we won’t judge! Doing this will not only be fun for the kids, but the adults too as it makes for a great family bonding experience. This allows you to enjoy all the fun aspects of camping, while not having to worry about using communal washing facilities which we know is a major cause for concern for many (and with good reason). Just because the sun may not be as mighty as it was in July and August, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be making the most of it while we can. Layer up and get the kids outside before the weather is too bad.