87: Reclaim Summer with Outdoor Play

Summer boredom has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re optimistic with big plans, and the next we’re staring down sibling squabbles, restless kids, and the temptation to hand over a screen just to get a quiet moment. I share a different option that’s both simple and surprisingly powerful: go outside, even when it’s hot, even when it feels inconvenient, even when you don’t have a big yard or a perfect plan.

We talk through why outdoor play matters so much for kids and parents. Unstructured time in nature nurtures wonder, creativity, resilience, and real confidence. It also helps kids re-learn how to entertain themselves with the world in front of them, not just a device. I also share the signs I watch for when screen time starts to backfire, like when kids can’t think of anything else to do or when a short show leads to daily meltdowns. That’s usually my cue to reset habits and expectations with a gentle screen detox.

You’ll get practical, age-by-age ideas you can actually use: sensory outdoor play for toddlers and preschoolers, confidence-building adventures and neighborhood independence for elementary kids, and meaningful teen projects that grow initiative, stewardship, and maturity. We end with simple summer rhythms that make “outside time” the default again, plus a question to help you evaluate what might change at home if you prioritize creation and connection over convenience and entertainment. If this encourages you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more families can find it.

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Transcript

Summer Restlessness And Screen Temptation

Leanne Tuggle 0:50

So I think it's safe to say that we have reached the point of summer when perhaps the boredom and the restlessness is starting to take over. All those good ideas that you had at the beginning of the summer, yeah, you've used them all. Or maybe your kids are tired of hanging out with each other. And so the sibling squabbles have reached whole new heights. Whatever it may be, I'm willing to guess that you are simply tapped out from trying to keep the peace or manage the fun. And maybe you're just ready for the structure and the routine of the school year again. Right? All of these feelings are valid and very understandable. And while it is tempting to allow more screen time or to lower the standards set at the beginning of the summer, there is another option. Go outside. Now, now, now, before you tell me that it's too hot or too cold or whatever other Goldilocks complaint that you might have ready to go, hear me out. Summer is the best time to focus on raising kids who engage with the real world. It is my hope that in this episode, you can feel inspired to reclaim outdoor play and creativity and independence for your family. Let's get back to really living this summer and forget about the screen-saturated world for a little bit. When we first moved to Japan in the middle of July, I remember thinking, where are all of the kids? There was this beautiful playground and it was empty. Well, then I got out of the car and I realized that they were likely inside because it was so hot. Oh my goodness, it was hot and humid. But I had twin toddlers, and staying inside all day was not going to work for me either. So it was sort of a toss-up between melting outside or losing my ever-loving mind. I chose melting. Every afternoon, I took my kids to that playground to run around. I would lather them up with sunscreen and search for whatever tiny bit of shade that I could find. And then I would just let them go.

Choosing Outside Even When It’s Hot

Leanne Tuggle 3:17

My kids grew up on that playground. And slowly but surely more families started joining us. Soon we added water balloons and slip and slides in the grassy area to give the kids an opportunity to cool down. We took turns bringing the snacks and the popsicles. As it turned out, most people were sick of staying cooped up inside. And our kids became friends in between running from the shade to the sun and back again. Our kids miss out on so much when childhood becomes mostly indoors or scheduled play dates and scream-based. God designed us to engage with his creation. You don't have to look any further than the first two chapters of Genesis to know that this is true. A couple of years ago, my children and I committed to memorizing Psalm 19. This Psalm begins with, The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. And as Romans 1.20 says, for his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. This verse tells us that we actually learn more about who God is through his creation, all the

Faith And Wonder In Creation

Leanne Tuggle 4:41

more reason to stop just consuming life and instead go outside and participate in it. A big part of summer is learning to slow down. Much of the year is fast-paced and hurried. And I think that we actually like summer because it forces us to take a breath and slow down. Nature has a way of doing the same. It simplifies things. Have you ever taken your kids outside and watched them, little boys especially, pick up a stick or a rock and then start playing with it? Within minutes, that stick is a sword or a spear. It's a weapon forged in the depths of the forest meant to save the kingdom. Or maybe you've seen your little girl sit down at the base of a tree and start weaving daisies together into a crown. Outdoor play builds wonder, resilience, creativity, confidence, and responsibility. It opens doors to imagination and ingenuity. The unstructured time outside invites opportunities to problem solve and be inventive. One of our favorite places to be in the summer is at the river. Hours of play spent throwing rocks, building dams, fishing, swimming, or floating on handcrafted rafts. It's so simple, and yet it is exactly their favorite thing to do on a hot summer day. Well, as long as I have ensured to bring lots of snacks. And yet, screens are tempting because they are easy, right? Parents are tired or they have work to do, and summer is so long. We also live in a culture of convenience and overstimulation. The problems arise when easy in the moment isn't helpful in the long run. I noticed this to be true after my kids have been using screens for longer than what I would typically allow. Like, for example, if we are traveling or we're visiting cousins who maybe play video games more frequently, my first clue that screen time is negatively affecting my children is when they can no longer figure out what to do except play on a device. They need to be constantly entertained. The increase

When Screen Time Becomes A Crutch

Leanne Tuggle 7:09

in screen time ends up becoming more of a hassle than it's worth. Perhaps you notice this to be true when your preschooler throws a tantrum every day after the 24-minute show is over. Sure, you were able to cook dinner in peace, but was it worth the meltdown after? Once I see this happening in any shape or form, then I know it's time for a screen detox. To be fair, I think sometimes as parents, we are afraid of boredom. If you are the mom of boys, then you have likely experienced the sheer terror of realizing that the house is too quiet. Or maybe you have lived through the endless wrestling matches that inevitably happen when there is nothing to do. While I completely get these very valid fears, I also firmly believe that boredom often becomes creativity, invention, curiosity, and initiative. Sometimes your little darlings just need to be pointed in the right direction. So what does it look like at different ages or stages? How can you practically give your children an unstructured summer that is still safe and sane? For children between the ages of two and six, your focus is on cultivating a sense of wonder, sensory experiences, imagination. Activities that you might find engaging for your littles would include water play. We had a water table in our backyard, and on our apartment balcony when we lived in Japan, when my kids were little, and it provided so many hours of entertainment for them. Maybe you have a sandbox, you could go on bug hunts, invite your children to help you in the garden, nature walks, chalk mud kitchens, collecting leaves or rocks. The best part about this stage is that your kids don't really need a whole lot in order to find their fun. You don't have to prepare a specific activity. Mostly it's just a matter of providing them with a few

Outdoor Play Ideas For Ages 2–6

Leanne Tuggle 9:47

materials or even things that you find around the house, and then just let them go for it. You can always put them in the bathtub afterwards and then let the playtime continue there. One helpful website that can help you find some really great ideas is BusyToddler. And I will link her website in the show notes for you. This is a great resource for finding easy activities that you can put together for your little ones. For elementary age kids, like ages 7 to 11, which is the stage that my kids are currently in, I find that I am more focused on building their confidence, their creativity, and their capability. Our outside time includes things like family bike rides, creating backyard forts, going on scavenger hunts. Have you ever taken your kids geocaching? This is a really fun thing to do. Or putting together a lemonade stand, climbing trees, learning important life skills, perhaps playing independently in the neighborhood. This is the best age for slowly giving them more autonomy and less supervision. We just moved to a new state and our new house is located in a cul-de-sac. So shortly after unpacking and getting settled into our new place, I took my kids, especially my boys, on a little walk and showed them their boundaries in this neighborhood.

Building Confidence In Ages 7–11

Leanne Tuggle 11:13

I specifically went over where they could and couldn't go in the neighborhood. We talked about how to be respectful of our neighbors and how to safely move out of the way when cars come and go out of driveways. And then we discussed possible problems that they could encounter while playing in the cul-de-sac and where they could find me should they need to get help. And then I let them go. I gave them a few days to trial it out, or maybe I was on the porch watching them, seeing how they could handle it. And eventually they're just able to play outside by themselves in this cul-de-sac. At the dinner table, we talk about their outside time and how it went, what problem solving they encountered. Children grow in maturity when we gradually trust them with more independence and responsibility. I mean, think about all of the time that you spent outside in the summer, unsupervised, playing all kinds of games. I want that for our kids too, to some degree. For older kids and teens, I think your focus is more on things like teaching independence and stewardship and how to take initiative. Our culture today delays maturity and independence because parents are still doing so much for their teens. Summer is a wonderful opportunity to increase their independence. Things that teens can do include getting a summer job, babysitting, providing lawn care for neighbors, serving at church. I'm actually going to talk about this a little bit more in a future episode, so stay tuned for more on that. They could also be in charge of planning family outings, going for hikes with their friends, or learning new practical skills. They could even work on starting a business. One way to approach this with older kids and teens is to have them think about something that they would like to accomplish this summer. Maybe

Teens Need Independence And Ownership

Leanne Tuggle 13:14

it's some sort of a project or a goal that they can work towards all summer long. For example, we have this raised garden bed in our backyard of this new house. And my daughter has been talking about wanting to have a garden someday. And so I invited her to go ahead and do the research this summer, plan out a garden. She has been checking out what things grow best here and how much space the plants need to thrive. It's actually been a really fun project for her that she can do independently and take ownership of. Earlier this season, I mentioned the saying that we only have 18 summers with our kids. It would be wise to remember that we are not raising permanent children. Our goal is to raise adults. 1 Thessalonians 4, 11 through 12 says, and aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. This sounds like a reasonable intention to set before your teens. Slowly increase their freedom with wisdom and accountability. So before you lose your mind or turn to screens to provide some semblance of order in your home, try some of these ideas. Create outside hours for every day. Declare no screen usage until at least after lunch. Or go for a family walk every evening when it's maybe not quite so hot. As I have shared before, it is helpful to have some summer traditions or rhythms on standby so that you aren't tempted to just pass around the tablets. Plan a picnic in the park once a week for the rest of the summer, or maybe go berry picking. Spend the afternoon at the creek, take your dinner to the backyard, take a walk at sunset, or even read your books together outside. Or if you want to get back to the good old days when raising kids took a village, you could try inviting other neighborhood families over for a barbecue. Maybe you have an open open door backyard time for the neighborhood kids. Pass out popsicles. Sometimes it just takes one family

Simple Summer Rhythms That Work

Leanne Tuggle 15:32

to step outside and choose to melt in the summer sun. As I wrap up this episode, I want you to remember that there is nothing wrong with letting your kids have some screen time. I'm not against screen time. But when screen time starts to become a crutch, then you'll know that there are other options to explore. And the best options include going outside. It's not about being the perfect parent who never gives their kids screen time. It is about choosing intentionality over convenience. And you don't need a huge property. I started taking my kids outside when we lived in a tiny apartment in Japan. You don't need elaborate plans. Our best days are usually the days when I don't plan anything and I just let my kids create their own fun. And you don't need endless energy. You simply need to be willing to prioritize real life over

Intentionality Over Convenience

Leanne Tuggle 16:35

digital distractions. Something to ponder this week. What would change in your home if for the rest of summer you prioritized creation and connection more than convenience and entertainment? And a scripture to savor.