There are plenty of reasons you’re stuck inside—and while sometimes that calls for a movie and popcorn, you don’t always have to default to screen time (and there are plenty of reasons you might not want to). Instead, there are a few easy, fun, creative ways to bring the outdoors in. This is all especially true given summer is waning and fall is fast approaching. Soon your kids will start up school again and won’t have the same free time to run outdoors and embark on excursions. But just because school time tends to mean more structured time doesn’t mean you can’t keep some of these principles going. The thing you need to keep in mind is this takes supplies and perhaps a little forethought: Take photos during your adventures, collect mementos along the way, have them journal about their adventures to preserve memories, and be prepared to make a run to your local art supply store to get crafting materials. If a scrapbook or journal isn’t your kid’s thing, but you still want to create long-lasting memories, just fill a Mason jar with shells, sand, flowers, a ticket stub, or anything you’ve found along the way.
