Accessible Outdoor Activities for Children in the School Holidays
The school holidays are a great time for children to get out and explore the world around them. However, if you have a child with a disability, it can be difficult to find activities that they can access easily and enjoy. Luckily, with a little research and a few tips, you can find plenty of accessible outdoor activities in the school holidays that will keep your kids both happy and healthy! In this blog, we look at four accessible outdoor activity ideas.
1. Find a sensory trail
Outdoor nature walks are great, but they may not always be well-suited to children with certain disabilities. Sensory trails are an excellent alternative and are designed to stimulate all five senses. The idea is to explore nature and learn about its characteristics via texture and sound. They are also usually along flatter ground too, with many routes being wheelchair accessible. You can create your own sensory trails by focussing on the environment as you walk together.
2. Have a picnic in your local park
Picnics are a fantastic way to spend quality time with your kids, and you don’t have to stray far from home to plan this nice accessible activity with your children. Just take their favourite food and drink and head out to your local park. Picnics can be great fun, whether you’re on a blanket on the grass or sitting at a table in a picnic area. You could also bring along their favourite games to play together as a family.
3. Get creative with chalk
Chalk is a natural, non-toxic substance you can use just about anywhere. What’s more, it’s super accessible since you can use it on concrete or outdoor walls or even on pavements or playgrounds. It’s really fun too and provides your children with a chance to get creative without you worrying about them making a mess on your carpet! Chalk is also an excellent way for children to practise basic numeracy and literacy skills outside of the classroom, making this a particularly helpful activity in supporting their development.
4. Make natural art
Making natural art is a great way to get creative and learn about nature. Simply collect leaves, flowers and stones that have fallen on their own and use these objects to make
prints. All you need to do is apply some paint to the object and then press it onto paper or card. This accessible activity can help children learn about colours and textures, as well as the different shapes of leaves and flowers. You can even encourage children to make new shapes from the different prints and experiment with different colours. It’s a great activity all year round too, not just in the summer.
Are you planning to try any of the above fun ideas to keep your children entertained over the school holidays and weekends? It can be tricky to think of accessible activities for the whole family to do, but hopefully, there are some activities here you can all enjoy together.
Article submitted by:
Trevor Walker Consultant | Researcher Digital Content & Media email: trevor.walker.media@gmail.com