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Outdoorsy Family Activities to Try When Practicing Social Distancing

As advised by health authorities and the government people across the UK are continuing to adopt certain lifestyle changes to help slow down and prevent the spread of COVID-19. While Measures such as working from home, avoiding social gatherings and avoiding visits to friends and family are all essential in tackling the pandemic, they can also prove quite difficult, especially for those who are used to leading very socially active lifestyles. Thankfully, however there are many things you can do to reduce stress levels and anxiety during this time, and we look at a few below.
 

Have a home Campout


Spring is an enjoyable time for most avid campers, but when practicing social distancing, heading to a busy campsite is certainly not a wise idea. However, keeping your family and others safe doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the atmosphere of a campout or the activities associated with one. Plus, the novelty of pitching a tent in your back garden or living room is a great way to switch things up if you’re catching a bit of cabin fever.
tent in garden
 
Photo by Matheus Bertelli from Pexels

• Camping stove (for outdoor use)

If you’re camping in your garden, cook your dinner on a camping stove for an authentic experience. Use your ordinary camping cookware and dinnerware and fill flasks with hot chocolate, soup, coffee and tea. Better yet, if you’re fortunate enough to have a fire pit in your garden, use it to roast marshmallows on skewers.

• Torch

Turn all the lights off in your home to create a real camping atmosphere and instead use torches for your night-time trips to the loo and illuminating the tent.

What to Do at a Home Campout

• Share Stories

Whether you choose to read from a book or make up a story on the spot, this is a fun family activity to try with all ages.

• Play Parlour Games

Parlour games are great family fun, and perfect for a campfire setting.
book and blankets

Wildlife Spotting in the Garden



When we are compelled to put our normal lives on hold, we start to stop and appreciate things we usually take for granted, and one of those things is nature. Spending time in nature can provide some much needed tranquillity for those practicing social distancing, but for those living in cities or suburban areas, access to natural spaces may not be easy during this time. However you may be surprised to find out just how much wildlife is present on your own doorstep.

Bird spotting

A bird feeder is a great way to welcome new wildlife into your back garden or onto your balcony, and is something that can easily be made at home with supplies you probably already have. According to lovethegarden.co.uk, the 19 most common birds you are likely to spot in the British garden are listed below:

• Robin
• Goldfinch
• Collared dove
• Great tit
• Chaffinch
• Wood pigeon
• Blackbird
• Starling
• Blue tit
• House sparrow
• Magpie
• Carrion crow
• Jay
• Wrenv • Goldcrest
• Dunnock
• Coal tit
• Lon-tailed tit
• greenfinch
robin on branch
Bird spotting and identifying birds is also an interesting and educational activity to try with children. Why not create a bird spotting chart where kids can count when and how many times they see a certain type of bird?
 

Insect and Minibeast Spotting



Wildlifewatch.org is an amazing resource full of information and advice on local and national wildlife. Their spotting sheets are brilliant for identifying all sorts of insects and minibeasts just in time for spring!
honeybee