EP 3: How 15 Minutes Outside Every Day Transformed My Kids Independent Play

There's something magical about the outdoors even if it's just your own backyard.

In this solo episode, I share how a simple 15-minute outdoor habit with my toddlers turned into one of the best parenting decisions I've ever made. 

From setting a timer and embracing boredom to watching my kids imaginations blossom, you'll hear the exact steps I took (plus what research says!) that helped foster independent outdoor play.

Whether you have toddlers, preschoolers, or just need a reset after too much screen time, this episode will help you find confidence, consistency, and calm all with the help of fresh air.

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Read the related blog post here

Research cited from Frontiers in Psychology:

• Nature settings help restore children’s attention and focus—even after short exposure.

• Outdoor time reduces stress in children, promoting emotional regulation.

• Kids who play in nature regularly show greater self-discipline and impulse control.

Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5126106/

Where to find me:

👉 Instagram: @myoutdoorsymom

👉 Blog: www.myoutdoorsymom.com

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Transcript

Welcome to the My Outdoorsy Mom podcast. I'm your host, Julianne Nienberg, mom of three, backyard adventure enthusiast, and your go-to gal for making memories outside with your kids. This is your space to ditch the pressure of perfect and embrace simple, soul-filling time in nature that fits real family life. Each week, we'll talk motherhood, nature play, travel, and entrepreneurship with honest stories, practical tips, and guest conversations that'll feel like chatting with a friend.

Whether you're raising wild little explorers or building a business during nap time, I see you. So grab your coffee, toss some snacks in your bag, and let's make some memories. This is the My Outdoorsy Mom podcast.

There's something magical about the great outdoors, even if it's just your own backyard. I discovered this firsthand when I committed to taking my toddlers outside for 15 minutes every single day.

What started as a small experiment to get some fresh air turned into a beautiful transformation in how my kids play independently outside. In this episode, I'm sharing our story from the early days of unsure toddlers standing around to the joyful moments of them exploring on their own. Along the way, I'll share tips and key takeaways for parents who want to build a simple daily outdoor habit and some fascinating research that shows why this actually works.

When I first started our 15 minute outdoor routine, my kids didn't quite know what to do with themselves. There were a lot of moments when we all stood around looking at each other like, okay, is this it? I worried that 15 minutes might feel like an eternity. And some days, honestly, it did. My kids would wander a bit, they'd pick up a stick, then lose interest and glance back at the patio door. I realized that for my kids,

Not used to being given free rein in the backyard along with my constant engagement, being outside with nothing to do was a brand new experience. I resisted the urge to be a camp counselor and come up with a million activities for them to do. I really wanted them to figure it out, so to speak. Was that too much to ask? As a millennial parrot, I wanted to jump in with suggestions. Why don't you play tag or look at this cool stick?

They were toddlers. They really didn't know what to do. The reality was this was new for my kids. My goal was to foster independent play. But how do we get there? In those early days, I started by simply staying nearby and observing. Yes, there were a few awkward minutes and the occasional, can we go inside now? But I stayed firm in our plan to do the full 15 minutes outside. Now here's a simple trick I discovered to help set expectations for me and my little people.

I started using a visual timer. I'll link the exact one in the show notes. Every day as we stepped outside, I set a timer for 15 minutes. I told my toddlers that we would stay outside until the timer went off. This simple act helped set clear expectations with my little people. Instead of asking me, can we go in now over and over, they would just look at the timer.

Even my 18-month-old started getting the idea. The timer became the bad guy instead of me. If it hadn't rung yet, we weren't going back in. Having a timer also kept me accountable. I'll admit there were days early on when 15 minutes of aimless wandering and two impatient toddlers felt really tough. But almost always, by the time it rang, the kids had gotten over the initial boredom and found something to capture their attention, even if just for a moment.

And here's what's so fascinating. Research backs this up. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that natural settings help restore children's attention and focus, even after just a short amount of time outside.

So if your kids seem scattered or bored at first, that's totally normal, but nature has a way of pulling them in.

This is the part where the hard turns into something beautiful. At first, heading outside was a novelty, and to be honest, a bit of a battle. Okay, maybe a big battle. Two toddlers and a newborn meant I probably spent more time putting outdoor gear on than we spent actually outside. But that's neither here nor there.

I stayed consistent. Every single day, roughly around the same time, we went out for those 15 minutes. And eventually, the whining faded. It became part of our routine, just like snack or bath time. And something else happened. My kids started anticipating outdoor time with excitement.

This consistency built a sense of predictability and comfort, and the resistance faded. But it wasn't just about routine, it was also about regulation. According to that same research, children who spend time in nature show lower stress levels and better emotional regulation. And I felt that. Less whining, more calm, more flexibility. It was like the fresh air helped all of us reset.

Now the beautiful part about 15 minutes is that once you've achieved it, you and your littles build confidence to repeat it over and over. We'd add extra time before dinner or sneak in a second round after daycare. My little ones went from being complete barnacles to full on explorers. They found joy in sticks and rocks and bugs without my prompting.

I saw their attention spans grow, their imaginations explode, and their confidence in navigating their environment skyrocket. One of my favorite moments, when the timer went off and they didn't want to go back inside. And here's another gem from that research article. Kids who spend time in natural environments tend to show better self-discipline and impulse control. That independence I was craving for them,

Nature was quietly building it minute by minute right in front of me.

Eventually, they didn't just play independently outside, they began playing more creatively indoors too.

that little dose of nature each day had a ripple effect.

So what do you do if you're a parent hoping to encourage independent play and make outdoor time part of the daily routine? Here are the key lessons I learned.

Start small and stay consistent. 15 minutes was our magic number. It's short enough to do every day without feeling overwhelmed, but still enough time for kids to start engaging with their surroundings. Pick a duration that works for your family and stick to it daily.

Use a visual timer to set expectations. A simple timer can save your sanity. It gives kids a clear signal for when outdoor time ends, so they're less likely to nag you early on. It also helps you stay committed to not cutting playtime short. I'll link our favorite one in the show notes. Expect boredom at first. Your kids will come to you at some point in time and complain that they're bored. That's okay. Resist the urge to solve it for them.

Boredom is often the precursor to creativity. Given a bit of time, kids will surprise you with how they find ways to play. Stay hands-off as much as possible. You're there to supervise for safety, but try not to micromanage the play. This can be done even with toddlers. Let your little ones lead the way. If they ask you what to do, turn it back on them with gentle encouragement and a question like, hmm, what do you think we could do out here?

Ask questions to engage their senses, like, what do you notice over there? What do you smell? I love I wonder questions, especially for those strong-willed kids. It might sound like, hmm, I wonder what you could do with that pine cone. Let the question hang or start backing away slowly. It's okay to let your kids wrestle with boredom. Make it routine. Consistency is key. Whether it's first thing in the morning, after lunch, or before dinner,

Find a time that you can consistently dedicate to outdoor play. As a stay-at-home mom, especially in the summertime, I love getting outside right after breakfast. When it's just what we do each day, kids come to accept and even expect it. Embrace the weather. You know what they say, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. All right, so let's exercise some reason here. Part of our success was not letting a little rain or cold stop us.

Here in Michigan, we are used to sub-freezing temps. And if I had to keep my kids inside on every cold day, I would surely go insane. So we embraced it and I'd get out there too in the winter because the cold, fresh air was necessary for all of us. So this is your little nudge to bundle up, grab an umbrella, get your rain boots on, and show your kids that nature can be fun in all seasons.

Lastly, celebrate the small victories. Did your toddler finally spend 10 minutes outside engrossed in digging dirt? Have an ice cream cone. Did they invent a funny game with a stick? Cheer it on and laugh with them. These little moments build up their confidence and enthusiasm for independent outdoor play. So all in all, what began as a simple effort to avoid extra screen time turned into one of the best parenting decisions I've ever made.

Just 15 minutes outside each day gave my children the space to develop independence, creativity, and confidence in their play. One of the best parts? It's backed by science. Nature supports attention, reduces stress, improves self-discipline, and it only takes a small, consistent commitment to see these benefits show up in your home and in your family too.

So this episode, I'm starting something new called the Outdoorsy Challenge, something small you can do each week to get outside and make some memories. Your Outdoorsy Challenge this week is to find a pocket of 15 extra minutes to get outside with your kiddos. Sound good? If you're taking part in the Outdoorsy Challenge, make sure to share it on Instagram and tag myoutdoorsymom.

Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me. I hope this episode left you feeling encouraged and inspired to get outside and enjoy nature wherever your feet are. If you loved what you heard, it would mean the world to me if you tap those five stars or leave a quick review. It helps other outdoorsy minded moms find the show and grow the sweet little community. And if you're looking for more ways to simplify, slow down, and connect through nature, you can find me over on Instagram at myoutdoorsymom, read the blog at myoutdoorsymom.com, or explore all my digital resources and seasonal guides in the shop.

Everything's linked right there in the show notes. Until next time, take a deep breath, step outside, and I'll meet you back here next week.