Their lanterns were easy and fun to make, using many items you may already have on hand. They love this open-ended and customized craft because they were able to choose their own colors and designs.

Our screens and screen culture have normalized the experience of having conversations with little or no eye contact. We’ve seen it in adults, and we all have certainly seen it in kids. Unfortunately, we are losing something vital and inherently human. -Nicholas Kardaras Ph.D.

Many of our frustrations as parents arise simply from denying our kids the opportunities they desperately need, albeit unintentionally. The cherry on top is that nature time is good for adults as well so there really are no downsides here.

As childhood has largely moved indoors over the past several decades,  The Little Farmhouse in West Virginia highlights the power and long-lasting impact of simple nature experiences for children.

Time outside is a simple way for parents to have a moment (often many moments) of reprieve from the constant needs of family life. In the great outdoors, mom and dad can easily strengthen their bond, without having to pay for a sitter or an expensive night out.

This simplest of all remedies to intentionally foster inter-family connection is to spend some time in nature

Of all the options out there free play and providing time "just to be a kid" often gets lost in the mix. But the research is out and it points to the overwhelming importance of play.

The best day of my life was the first good day I had as a mom. My life was forever changed on that day and I am here to pass it on. Mull it over. Think about that 4 – 6 hour time chunk. Could you do it? What would it take? Where would you go? Who would you go with? Are you willing to try it just once?