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.

​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.

Many kids are too busy to have time to play creatively or relax after school.

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. ​

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.

Whatever your family situation is, nature provides a solution for fostering connection. 

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. 

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

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. ​

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.

So, grab a friend and head outside.  Your body and your children's bodies will thank you!

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.

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.

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:

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. 

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.

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?

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.

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.

​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.