Child Refuses to Play Outside

Dear Mother of SAH Child,

You don’t say if you are going outside with your daughter. Generally, children want to be with their parents. If you want your daughter to be outside; be outside with her. 

Spend time in the yard during the day, even if your child stays inside. Get some exercise on the trampoline, do yoga on the grass, plant a garden, sit outside and read, or, add a hammock to the outdoors and enjoy. Your daughter is very likely to join you. 

Even though without TV and media, your daughter seem to have more interesting things to do indoors. Can she bring some of these activities outside and join you? 

You have already provided another clue for a peaceful solution. You say that once your husband is at home, your daughter would often rather go with you to the beach than stay inside. Go to the beach during the day and hire someone to stay with your daughter at home. She will observe your excitement about the outdoors and be free to stay or come with you. 

Make a good use of the weekends. The three of you, mother, father and child, can go out together for a couple of hours, or even go camping and do some outdoor activities for a whole day or two. Another child to play with can ignite outdoor play as well.

Your child mustn’t go outside every single day. She may be an indoor person for now. While she plays inside, open the windows for fresh air and make sure she plays in a room that has direct sunlight. However, most likely, if you are outside,

she will find it more attractive to be out too.

Warmly, Naomi Aldort http://AuthenticParent.com