With Spring and Summer just around the corner (fingers crossed) there are so many ways that you can enjoy the great outdoors with your child at home. It’s as simple as getting out of the house, and into the garden. You’ll be surprised by just how much fun you can have. So here are some super simple ways to help both you and your child enjoy spending time in your garden. Planting flowers and vegetables This is a lovely activity to do together, and it will really encourage your child or toddler to get to grips with gardening and how things grow. You could give them their own plant pot, and allow them to add the compost and help by planting the seeds, bulbs or flowers. They will definitely love this, and probably enjoy getting messy at the same time. I know that my 31 month old toddler would really enjoy this activity, and would want to be updating all of our pot plants with pretty flowers. Find their sense of adventure Treat your garden as another playground for them, it will make some days easier for you rather than trekking to the local park. You could think about getting a slide and swing for them to play on, or even a sandpit where they can create their own beach and sandcastles. See your garden as a source of adventure for them, and it should then be a place that they enjoy spending time in. Invest in patio or garden furniture for you and your child To ensure the best of both worlds for both you and your children, invest in patio and garden furniture from Groupon who have exactly what you need. This could be a patio table and chairs set in a style and colour of your choice, where you can relax and watch your children from. And, for your children this could be a cool wendy house or shed where they can bring their friends, or act as an outdoor space for them to play. It could also double up as a place for their scooters, bikes and outdoor toys to be stored as well. Hunt for bugs, wildlife or birds Whatever shape or size your garden you will be able to complete a bug, wildlife or bird hunt with your children. You could create cards that contain different types of insects, and ask your children to find them. Or alternatively you could ask your children to draw what they find. This is a brilliant way for them to learn more about the great outdoors, and the wildlife that they can find on their doorstep. Create a mud kitchen Mud kitchens seem to be really popular at the moment, appearing in schools, nurseries and parks. They are a brilliant way for your child to spend time outside, and a good opportunity for you to get rid of a few old pans and utensils. At the same time your child will enjoy playing with mud and water, whilst learning important social and sharing skills. If a mud kitchen seems a bit far fetched for you, just think it’s better for them to be playing outside with mud, rather than being indoors making a mess. So those are my top tips for helping your child enjoy the great outdoors at home. Spending time in the garden when the weather is warm and sunny is a great way to enjoy the day, and you could also have an outdoor picnic at the same time as well. How do you spend time outside with your children at home? Claire x This is a collaborative post.