With many parents and caregivers concerned about screen time too, having a consistent outdoor hobby for you and your girl(s) to enjoy can help limit an over-abundance of screen time while enjoying the outdoors.
While you can’t choose a hobby for her, you can offer activities to do outside and see what piques her interest. We’ve compiled a list of five outdoor activities that have been proven to increase self-esteem and confidence.
Fun Outdoor Hobbies for Girls
Start a garden together
A study in London found that people who garden regularly have high self-esteem, a more positive body image, and increased confidence.
Gardening is a great confidence-boosting activity because it teaches the importance of consistency and care. When we tend to our gardens, we see them grow and blossom before our eyes. This can encourage girls to learn patience, nurture, and care.
Learn about native birds by birdwatching
It may be surprising to know that people who birdwatch report lower levels of stress and higher levels of self-esteem. Birdwatching can be a really calming and relaxing hobby–especially for those interested in nature and science.
If you’ve got a more science-focused kid, consider birdwatching. Birds can teach us a lot about patience, grace, and productivity. Birdwatching with your kids is a great way to learn about the native species in your hometown, and allow your girl(s) to learn more about nature and the habitats that birds thrive in.
Encourage her to try a sport
Sports are a great way to connect with other kids her age. Sports can teach our girls about commitment, practice, and progress. Sports don’t always have to be about the competition, they can be about sportsmanship and learning that life isn’t always going to give you a big win. Losing in sports may have more teachable, confidence-inducing moments than a win, too.
Try out different sports, every girl is different and some may choose soccer over basketball–or vice versa. The important part is to encourage her to try.
Hiking and nature exploring
When kids have more exposure to the outdoors at a young age, they’re more likely to bring this hobby and pastime into adulthood. Not only is being outside fun, but it’s also good for our health.
Having exposure to the sun supports our mental health and well-being while also giving us a healthy dose of Vitamin D. A vitamin known to decrease health risks like heart disease and osteoporosis. But of course, too much exposure can be harmful, so make sure you’ve got plenty of sunscreens to protect your and her skin!
Make giving back a family pastime
Make volunteering outdoors a regular hobby. Many parks and recreation departments have ongoing volunteer days for community clean-up at parks and other community centers. Volunteering is another way for young girls to gain self-confidence because it instills a sense of accomplishment while doing something good for their community.
Volunteering gives folks a sense of purpose for the greater good. This has been shown to improve self-esteem and self-worth.