How to Make Outdoor Skills Fun for Kids: Patience, Play, and Lasting Memories

Teaching your kids outdoor skills in the woods is an incredible way to build lasting memories, but it's important to keep the experience fun. As parents, we sometimes focus too much on getting the job done, but for kids, it's all about the process.

Lillie Exploring

Exploring safely is always an opportunity for growth.

Take my four-year-old daughter, for example. When we practice tying knots, she often gets frustrated because her hands aren’t strong enough, or the rope keeps slipping. Another time, while using a folding saw to cut a limb, she got tired after just a few strokes. In those moments, it’s easy to get impatient and want to rush things along, but that’s not what learning in the woods is about.

I'll be honest. I was more frustrated than her.

The truth is, practicing outdoor skills with your kids is more than just teaching them the "how." It's about spending time together, letting them make mistakes, and creating fun memories along the way. Sure, it’s important for kids to learn how to tie a knot or cut a branch safely, but it’s even more important that they enjoy doing it. When we take a step back, let them breathe, laugh at mistakes, and just be present, we’re teaching them patience, perseverance, and a love for the outdoors.

Even I dont like to cut things higher than my sternum.

From a Christian perspective, this type of teaching reminds me of Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This verse emphasizes the importance of guiding our kids with love and patience. It’s about showing them the right path, both in life and in the woods.

And let’s be honest—kids will remember the time you spent with them more than the task you were trying to complete. Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good because we’ll see the results in time. So, when your little one gets tired of sawing or frustrated with knots, take a breath, enjoy the moment, and remember that the real goal is time spent together, not just skill mastery.

Went from "I'm going to cut the entire tree down", to gassed in moments. but she dug in.

In the end, your kids will develop these skills, but more importantly, they’ll develop a love for learning, the outdoors, and the time you’ve shared with them. So, get out there, take it slow, and have fun!