Children nowadays are spending an increasing amount of time indoors and as a result are becoming detached from the wonder of the outside world. For various reasons it has become harder for children to spend as much time outside as they once did. It is important for both children and for wildlife that the two engage as, with wildlife and the environment in a precarious position, we need a future generation that values and enjoys the natural world.

With the approach of summer, there is never a better time to get outside with the children and here are some simple ideas of activities that the whole family can enjoy.

1. Go for a walk
A walk is something the whole family can do together. It may sound an obvious choice and it may not appeal to the children initially, but by incorporating a little extra into the walk it can become a fun activity. Take a picnic and plenty of snacks – these always prove motivational! Don’t aim too high, and choose a route to match the age and abilities of the children.

Do some research and look for a route with things that capture their interests along the way such as a river or a playground. Take some ‘treasure’ (coins or chocolate coins) and hide these along the way for them to find. Alternatively, try geocaching which involves finding hidden ‘caches’ that are concealed all over the UK. Visit www.geocaching.co.uk to find out more.

2. Do a scavenger hunt
This can be done in the garden, your local area or further afield. List ten or so natural items and send the children off to find them. Items such as a daisy, a stick or an empty snail shell – you can make it as hard or as easy as you like. You could also give them larger things to locate, such as an oak tree or a particular bird, and they could take a picture on a phone or camera. As well as having fun, this also gives them the opportunity to learn to identify some of our native wildlife.

3. Complete a bug hunt
This is another free and easy activity. Go out in the garden or have a stroll around an area and see which mini-beasts are lurking. If you have a magnifying glass and a book for identification that can help, but it is not essential. The main thing is to fire their interest. Remember to treat anything you find with care and return it to where it was found.

4. Try pond dipping
Many places offer pond dipping sessions for children during the summer. This is such a fun activity and always guarantees interesting finds that are bound to capture their imaginations. Useful organisations for this activity include the Wildlife Trust, WWT and the National Trust, amongst others.

5. Take on a challenge
In June the Wildlife Trust run ’30 Days Wild’ – a scheme that encourages children to do something wild every day of June. They provide loads of great ideas and you can send off for a pack to help you with the challenge. Visit wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild.

6. Encourage them to care
Following Blue Planet II, we are only too aware of the impact of plastic on our wildlife. If you visit the beach this summer take part in a two minute beach clean. This is a great way to show the consequences of our actions on the natural environment plus it really shows how everyone has the opportunity to make a positive impact. It’s also good fun, especially if you add an element of competition as to who can collect the most! The site www.beachclean.net has loads of useful information.

There are just a few ideas that might pique your children’s interest in their natural environment whilst providing some family fun as well. It is so important that children get outside and get the chance to explore all that the natural world has to offer. You have to know and care about something if you are going to look after it. We have so much great wildlife and wild places to visit in the UK, so grab the wellingtons, get outside and enjoy it together!