Remember your childhood before iPhones?
We all remember the countless hours spent outdoors when we were kids. Running around the freshly trimmed grass, falling on the earth’s cushiony belly, laughing while our friends chased us around.
We remember climbing trees, pretending we were great apes discovering the strength of our limbs and the fickleness of our bodies, when at times, we fell. Grabbing a pile of blood-orange leaves laying on the ground, waiting to come back to life, through our fiery youth, and being tossed up in the air, in celebration of nature!
Were these not some of the happiest moments of your young life? A life that seems so far away, but at times, comes back in rushes of warmth and tender nostalgia. Is it not our duty as parents to share those experiences with our children? Shouldn’t we lead them by their soft and tiny hands to mother nature’s care, so she will teach them some of the unforgettable lessons she taught us? Our kids deserve to be nurtured by her wise and loving voice.
Not enough play time outside!
Unfortunately, kids today spend on average less than 8 minutes per day in unstructured outdoor play. They are constantly glued to their tablets, phones and video games, being robbed of the happiness that should be naturally given to them, in healthy doses, by the wonders of the natural world.
What do you feel when you look outside and the trees sway with earthly delight, dancing as the warm summer breeze sings its melody? The rays of the sun make their way through the kitchen windows, breaking into your home, begging you to let your children play with them.
Planning an outdoor expedition might seem like a lot of work, but like with all successful goals, take it one step at a time.
1. Start by taking walks with your kids.
2. Find a pretty trail with trees and flowers, or if you live in a city, take them to a park, preferably one with trees.
3. If you have a garden, walk around the garden or have certain meals outside. We want them to experience being outdoors and have their hungry little brains take in the information nature is sending them.
4. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, take a weekend trip to a forest or a natural park. Most cities have one no more than twenty minutes outside of them. Do some research, and find the one that best suits your schedule and traveling means.
5. You can invite their friends and make a fun adventure out of any Sunday. I’m sure their friends’ parents would love to have some time off, and have their kids get some outdoor time. We all secretly want our kids to play outside, but let’s face it… We’re lazy sometimes. You can take turns!
We are all part of Nature
When you’re walking through the trees and the plants, the birds and the flowers, make sure they notice that all of these creatures are alive. They’re all part of Mother Nature’s realm, just like us. Teach them to see nature as living, as part of the cycle of life, and how indispensable these beings are to our existence. The love of nature starts with empathy and humility!
This is not just for your kids. It is as much for you as it is for them. Do you spend enough time outside? Your mood is incredibly important for your kids. Psychological research has shown that spending time in nature improves mood and reduces stress. You can take some time away from the stressors of the modern world, and if even for a couple of hours every week, enjoy the fruits Mother Nature has given you; your kids, the birds, and the trees.
