The Blog
A Day in the Life of 1000 Hours Outside
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.
Kids Want to Play Outside with Friends More Than They Want to Play Video Games
If children seem "addicted" to their gadgets, could it be we didn't give them enough choice? We can affect change with one simple solution: offer better options.
Nature Time is a Worthy Extracurricular Choice
Many kids are too busy to have time to play creatively or relax after school.
Children Should be Outside for 4-6 Hours Every Day
If children can consume media through screens 1200 hours a year on average than the time is there and at least some of it can and should be shifted towards a more productive and healthy outcome.
When You Can’t Regularly Date Your Spouse
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.
Nature is the Great Age Equalizer
Whatever your family situation is, nature provides a solution for fostering connection.
Our Lifestyle Choices Teach Kids to be Active or Inactive
So while we are portioning a certain amount of childhood time to seat work let's keep in mind that childhood is also a time where we are training the bodies of young children either to be active or inactive.
Hike Together and Create Unparalleled Connections
This simplest of all remedies to intentionally foster inter-family connection is to spend some time in nature
There is No Way for Inside Kids to Get Enough Exercise
Grade school girls need to take 12,000 steps each day and grade school boys need to take 15,000 steps each day just simply to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). This is equivalent to MILES of movement.
Let’s Raise Kids Who Will Have Stories to Tell Their Grandkids
When my kids are grandparents I want them to have good stories - rich stories of full childhoods. I want them to talk about the forts they built and the frogs they caught. I want them to talk about the waves they jumped and the trees they climbed. I want them to remember the campfire songs and the seemingly endless moments swinging through the breeze in the backyard.
Invest In Your Health by Going Outside
So, grab a friend and head outside. Your body and your children's bodies will thank you!
Nature Play Helps Children Academically
It’s important as parents and caregivers to know that movement, and especially movement in free play, is a major contributor to brain growth. In fact, movement it is the pre-cursor to all learning.
How to Become a Playing Family
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.
Nature Play Saves You Money!
When it comes to saving money during the child rearing years, one strategy is just not to spend it in the first place. As the old adage goes, a penny saved is a penny earned.
Here are five ways we have saved money just by spending more time outside:
Committing to Outdoor Play with Enhance Indoor Play
Something we quickly noticed when we began to spend more time outside was that our inside time became smoother, calmer, and more enjoyable. Outdoor play definitely enhances indoor play.
How to Spend Four Hours Outside with Kids
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.
One Four Hour Day Outside Changed our Family’s Entire Course
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?
Mother Nature Helps Me Be a Better Mother
Mommyhood. It's as consistent as the sunrise. When you feel your passion being enveloped by plating meals or reading Berenstain Bear books, call up a friend and head to a forest. Here are three ways time in nature will help rejuvenate you for your most important work.
Help Kids Develop Brand Loyalty to Nature
I suggest that we continue to vigorously show our children the things in life that are better than screens. We can even employ some of the strategies these large companies are using. Taking from their play books, here are three ways to help your child develop brand loyalty to nature.
100 Reasons to Spend 1000 Hours Outside
Parents, there are so many things that vie for your time. By the time school is over and homework is finished there aren't many minutes left. My passion is to bring the gentle reminder that nature play is always worth the investment of your family time. It's value extends into all facets of childhood development and beyond. Maybe, just maybe, weekend forest time or family walks after dinner should be among the first things we write in on our calendars. My hope is that this list will empower you to slow down, embrace blank spaces in your weekly routine, and experience the beauty of our world with your family.