What Does a Free-Range Kids Day Actually Look Like?

This week is spring vacation, and we spent the morning outside doing what Free-Range Kids does best — running, playing, exploring, and letting nature lead the way.

We started with a  spring scavenger hunt from my Etsy shop.  Clipboards in hand, scanning the ground and trees for signs of the season. Daffodils, budding trees, bird's nests, clouds. Kids who are used to moving fast suddenly found themselves crouched down, completely absorbed in a patch of dirt. That's the thing about giving children a simple task outdoors — they do the rest themselves.

We also played shadow tag — a game from the Free-Range Kids Adventures app — which is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of tagging someone's body, you tag their shadow. It's simple, it gets everyone moving, and it turns an ordinary sunny morning into something a little magical.
Then it was off to the library, followed by a walk to the pond, where the turtles were out in full force, sunbathing on every rock and log they could find. We also spotted swans, geese, and ducks. It was quite a crowd.

We ended the day at the playground — a perfect way to burn off whatever energy was left before pickup.
Part of what makes Free-Range Kids different is the pace. Kids eat when they're hungry, run when they feel like running, and aren't watching the clock. There's a loose structure to the day and plenty of room to just be a kid.

One camper found a sunny bench and decided it was the perfect spot to rest — and look for shapes in the clouds, another activity straight from the Free-Range Kids Adventures app. She was not wrong.
Free-Range Kids runs during school vacation weeks right here in Melrose. If your child loves being outside and you're looking for something meaningful to do during the next break, we'd love to have them join us.