If you're feeling a little antsy and you want to try someplace new here are a few suggestions on how to find the hidden gems in your area.

Preparedness goes a long way in having successful outdoor experiences with kids. What's your favorite first aid kit? What extra thing do you pack just in case?

When kids play outside it can take up to 45 minutes to determine a play scheme. Since kids activities are often less than 45 minutes we aren't used to giving kids the time they need to figure out what they are going to do with their surroundings. Waiting almost always gives way to something engaging.

Quite incredibly, wool can absorb 30% of its weight in water without feeling wet at all; and what happens next is astounding. In cold weather, during this process of trapping the moisture, wool actually generates heat.

Throughout childhood there will be many voices encouraging you to enroll and each enrollment will certainly have some merit. What you probably won't feel is much pressure to play outside.

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.

Since time outside provides multi-faceted physical, social, mental, and emotional benefits, we are intentional about scheduling nature time into our week. Research shows time and again that kids need quality nature time and they need lots of it!

For the most part we don't take toys with us when we go outside. One major exception is the beach! Kids love to use the endless supplies of sand and water to make exceptional creations.

While we are totally supportive of whatever your outside goals are we do want to encourage you that a goal of 1,000 hours is an attainable goal for many. 1000 Hours Outside within a calendar year will absolutely change the entire landscape of childhood.

The best time to go outside is whenever can you do it!!

Here are five tips for increasing nature time when you'd really rather be snuggled up in front of a fireplace.

​After work. After school. After dinner. It is a short period. But it's a short period you get most days of the week. Instead of "binge-watching" how about trying "binge-hiking"? Or "binge-wrestling-in-the-grass"? This is such a superior choice to cartoons.

What's a family to do during the dreary days of winter?  Staying inside for four to five months is not a viable option.  Children have to get outside and so do families.

When we go outside, we often stay outside for many hours. This is in stark contrast to how I used to plan our activities and to a degree I think it is also different from how many other American families plan their days.

40 degrees and some sunshine will feel like Tahiti. Head outside and enjoy the spring! Soak up all the educational, social, developmental, and physical health benefits time outside playtime provides. Foster connection, memories and playfulness within your family unit - even if it is still just a tad chilly.

The danger of the digital babysitter is that it provides provides everyone what they really think they want - instant gratification for the child and peace and quiet for the parent. But parents got on thousands of years without these things so I think we can, too!