This year, many festivals and other outdoor events have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, having some regular outdoor activities is important for your family’s health. Being outdoors with your family is a great way to incorporate physical activity, spend some quality time with your children while teaching them about their environment at a low cost. All these have been shown to improve mental health and decrease anxiety and depression (Glassy & Tandon, 2020; Moore et al., 2020). With physical distancing measures in place in many areas, being able to get some fresh air and move around is so valuable. To help you incorporate more outdoor activities in your life this fall, we compile resources and activity ideas for you and your family to try. These are entertaining, workable, free of charge and great option during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Find a Playground for Toddlers (see Note 2 & 3);
• Backyard Camping;
• Create an indoor garden;
• “Turn Walks into Scavenger Hunts” (see Note 4); You can create some activities for your litter children, such as to give children some paper and let them draw with petals and leaves.
• BBQs, Outdoor Potluck, and Picnics (see Note 5)
• Farmers Markets (see Note 6);
• Walking, Running, Biking, Playing Ball/Frisbee Games;
• Hiking (see Note 7);
• Having fun in Beach (see Note 8).

Here are a few resources for you to explore with your family this fall. We would love to hear from you and how you have connected with your family this fall.

Resources

1. Safe Outdoor Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/safe-activities-during-covid19/art-20489385

2. Calgary Playgrounds That Are Great for Toddlers.

https://calgaryplaygroundreview.com/13-calgary-playgrounds-that-are-great-for-toddlers/

3. Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities: Protect Yourself And Others from COVID-19.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/visitors.html

4. Playing it Safe While Getting Cooped-up Kids Outside: How to Keep Children Safe Outdoors During the Pandemic, Plus 10 Ideas for Fresh-air Fun.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/2020/04/playing-safely-outside-coronavirus/#close

5. 20 Best Places for a Picnic or Barbecue in Calgary and the Mountains.

https://www.avenuecalgary.com/things-to-do/best-places-for-a-picnic-or-barbecue-in-calgary-and-the-mountains/

6. Farmers’ Markets in and Around Calgary.

https://www.avenuecalgary.com/Restaurants-Food/Farmers-Markets-In-and-Around-Calgary/

Please double-check these markets’ open hours during the pandemic.

7. Best Trails in Calgary.

https://www.alltrails.com/canada/alberta/calgary

8. The 5 Best Beaches in Calgary.

http://blog.buzzbishop.com/calgary/best-beaches-in-calgary/

Additional references

Glassy, D., & Tandon, P. (2020). Getting Children & Teens Outside While Physical Distancing for COVID-19. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Getting-Children-and-Teens-Outside-While-Social-Distancing.aspx

Moore, S. A., Faulkner, G., Rhodes, R. E., Brussoni, M., Chulak-Bozzer, T., Ferguson, L. J., Mitra, R., O’Reilly, N., Spence, J. C., Vanderloo, L. M., Tremblay, M. S. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: a national survey. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, 17(85). DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-00987-8