Back-to-school season is the great harbinger that fall is near! Yay! And all parents know that kids will need plenty of new school supplies, clothes, and gear to kick off the season.
But while we tend to focus on academics, new routines, and setting up the homeschool classroom, wise parents can also look for ways to make childhood enjoyable, develop confidence and independence, and encourage kids to get active and spend time outdoors.
In fact, last year, I was on a major mission to make sure my kids spent more time outside and engaged in kid-directed play rather than constantly participating in parent or adult-led activities. For us, that meant nature walks, daily bike rides, and intentional hours of screen-free, hands-on, exploratory play.
One of the best gifts parents can give their children is the gift of a beautiful, unrushed childhood. Kids need time to be bored, daydream, explore, read, and listen to music.
Too often, we parents scramble to fill our children’s schedules with structured activities when maybe what they really need is more time to simply play, explore, and be kids!
So as you plan your new school year and establish fall routines for your kiddos, don’t forget to intentionally make room for independence, confidence, outdoor activity, and time to unwind. I’ve sprinkled in a few products we’ve been enjoying that help us accomplish these goals, along with some ideas to get you started!
Just so you know: Some products featured in this post were provided to me at no cost for review – but all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links to Amazon and Huffy, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting my family!
Develop Independence
Childhood is a gradual transition from dependence to independence—and it’s our job as parents to keep our children safe while gradually giving them more freedom. For a mom, it can be scary to start letting kids go off short distances on their own!
I still remember our first-year homeschooling. My oldest was in third grade and was used to having daily recess. Some days, she simply got the wiggles and needed to get outside. But I was wrestling her younger siblings, including a newborn, and the schedules of the younger ones didn’t always match up with what she needed.
What an incredible blessing that her best friend lived just across the street! Each day, we sent the two girls out for a few short laps around the cul-de-sac on their bikes together. It was their first little venture into independence.
Nowadays, we’ve enjoyed using the TickTalk 5 Smart Watch for Kids with our school-age kids for exactly this reason. The smartwatch allows us to stay connected with calls, texts, and video calls and gives us location information while our kids are out exploring.
For us, it’s a helpful tool for giving kids small opportunities to practice independence while still giving Mom peace of mind. They can experience a little more freedom without suddenly being completely on their own.
Of course, every family’s comfort level will be different, and children should only have as much independence as is appropriate for their age and circumstances. But those small steps toward independence are important!
>>> Read: 7 Tips for How to Homeschool a Strong-Willed Child
Build Confidence
Those little independence practice sessions accomplish something else, too: They build confidence!
Kids need to learn that they are capable of making decisions, handling difficulties, and thinking for themselves—but this doesn’t happen all at once.
With younger children, you can start with simple everyday tasks. Encourage them to get themselves dressed and ready for the day. Let them choose between two outfits. Give them small responsibilities around the house. Even simple decisions can give a child the confidence boost they need.
This year, my youngest has fallen in love with her Dream Pairs ballerina Mary Jane flats. They’re cute, comfortable, and practical—but also pretty. And pretty matters to little girls! As a mom, I love that the shoes are versatile enough for both school and church. But to her, they’re simply sparkly and sweet. Getting to choose and care about what she wears is one more small way she’s developing confidence in her own choices!
And of course, those opportunities aren’t limited to clothing.
Praise your kids when they make good, godly decisions—when they share, use good manners, show kindness, or think for themselves. Let them ride their bike around the neighborhood when it’s appropriate, but also let them place their own order at a restaurant or walk up to the counter to ask for a straw.
These may seem like tiny things, but those little steps toward independence teach children that they are capable of handling things for themselves.
Encourage Outdoor Activity
A short daily bike ride can be a great way for school-age kids to get some exercise, spend time outdoors, and get their wiggles out. For homeschoolers, biking can be a wonderful brain break in the middle of the school day. For kids who attend school outside the home, it can be a fabulous way to unwind after a long day.
I’ll admit, the first time I allowed my kids to go biking completely alone around the neighborhood, it was a little scary for me!
That’s why I initially opted for them riding with a friend or sibling. There is strength in numbers—and sometimes Mom needs a little peace of mind, too!
It also helps tremendously when kids have outdoor gear they enjoy using. It shouldn’t matter what a bike looks like, but just like with clothing, kids want their belongings to feel like them.
Getting the right size and finding something they actually like can go a long way toward encouraging reluctant riders.
Our most recent addition to the household bike barn was the Huffy girls’ beach cruiser. I used the size tool on the Huffy website to help find the correct size for my daughter, and she can’t wait to get outside and ride it! It’s super pretty, sturdy, and so easy to ride! We love their GRM (Grow, Ride, Move) series, too, but my little girl was aching for something a little more feminine – and the beach cruiser fit the bill perfectly! She loves that it looks like mom’s beach cruiser!
Also, if your kids ride to and from school, don’t forget about visibility and safety as the days get shorter. A bike light, such as the Knog Frog Bike Light Set, can help make young riders more visible during early-morning or late-afternoon rides and a good bike bell like the Knog Oi Prima Bike Bell gives others in the neighborhood a heads up that the bike is coming.
A little extra visibility and safety features can give Mom some additional peace of mind, too!
Schedule Time to Unwind
Finally, kids need time to simply relax.
School requires a lot of thinking and learning, and little brains get tired! Letting children play, rest, and unwind is an important part of a pleasant, unrushed childhood.
Don’t feel like you have to fill every afternoon with activities. Kids don’t need something scheduled every minute of the day. In fact, it’s beneficial to give them opportunities to entertain themselves.
Let them be bored.
Boredom can lead to creativity, imagination, and surprisingly great ideas. Give them opportunities to sing, listen to music, dance, read, play outside, or simply figure out what they want to do.
We’ve been enjoying the iLive Water and Sand Proof Bluetooth Speaker with our kids. They can take their music outside, use it while playing, or simply listen to their favorite songs when they want to relax. I especially like that it gives them some control over choosing what they want to listen to and how they spend their downtime – but since it’s sand, mud, and waterproof its practically kid-proof, too!
Music can be a great way for kids to transition from a busy day of schoolwork and activities into a more relaxed part of the afternoon or evening.
Another fabulous way to help kids unwind and quiet their minds is by reading.
Summertime may be over, but it’s still okay to encourage your kids to spend 20–30 minutes reading each afternoon. If you’re not sure which wholesome, age-appropriate books to choose, check out my 100 Must-Read Classic Books for Kids. It’s broken down by grade level for grades 1–5, so you’ll know exactly what books to grab!
Tools That Help
If you’re interested in any of the products we’ve been using to accomplish our goal of an active, independent childhood, here’s a quick roundup:
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Give Your Kids an Unrushed Childhood
As you begin your new routines and enjoy the smell of new books and crayons, make sure you’re also planning ways to help your children build confidence, independence, healthy habits, and a love for outdoor activity.
And don’t forget to leave some room in the schedule for something that doesn’t always make it onto the back-to-school checklist: fun.
Kids need opportunities to explore, make choices, get some exercise, listen to music, read, play, and simply enjoy being children.
Along the way, you’re teaching your child subtle lessons about balance and healthy living—for both their minds and their bodies.
Those lessons might just end up being as important as the new school supplies!
For more must-haves for getting the family outdoors and moving, check out my list of essentials for on-the-go parenting. And as always – never stop singing those Bible songs for kids all day long!
