Nature Play. Environmental Education. School Gardens. Recess.
Simply opening the door and saying, “Go outside and play!”
There are so many ways for children to engage with the natural world. There are just as many ways for adults to facilitate it.
I often hear, “Children don’t play outside anymore.”
To which I say, “So, what are you going to do about it?”
Listen, I love to talk about the why and complexity of the issue — that’s no secret. But at some point, we need to stop gasping over the problem, musing about the whys, and focus on the solution.
When the 2006 Kesier Family Foundation (KFF) report came out stating that children spend 6.5 hours a day in front of electronic media, we all gasped. It got lots of press and the stat has been cited and quoted many times over.
But what happened? Um, the time went up. Again. In their report released earlier this year, KFF reports the daily screen time for children has gone up to 7.5 hours.
All the media and academic attention. All the head shaking…and we lost another 7 hours per week of childhood.
ENOUGH.
In honor of Children & Nature Awareness Month (which is every month in my book!), let’s think less and do more!
- More confronting screen time with your children and yourself
- More modeling enjoying nature and outdoor time
- More hikes
- More digging in the dirt
- More climbing trees
- More singing around camp fires
- More birdwatching
- More fishing
- More chasing rainbows and puddle jumping
- More living
Who’s with me?
See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru
PS: If you need some concrete ideas, check out the Spring Activity Guide from the great folks at Nature Rocks.
photo credit: tiffanywashko
I agree. Kid’s aren’t going to go outside unless we take them there, especially when they are young. It can be as simple as taking a blanket outside and having a picnic lunch.
Sometimes as parents it is so easy for us to take the easy option and plonk the kids in front of a screen. We are tired. Sometimes stressed. Busy. I find that anyway.
So I have to push myself to make that little bit of extra effort to get us all outside – but then I’m so glad that I did.
As my kids get older (my oldest is 11) I am finding that computer games and DS games are stiff competition for playing outside. When I was young there were no computers (I’m a dinosaur) so it is a whole new world for our kids (and for us trying to achieve that balance in their lives).
Over here in Ireland we have the same problem. I started noticing it about 16 years ago, the first summer I came back from university. When I was a teenager, we used to spend hours on end in the sports fields behind our houses playing soccer. I remember that first summer back from University, and there was no-one out playing.
I have a 17 month old daughter and she has just got her first pair of shoes. Now that the good weather is back here in Ireland (fingers crossed it will stay) I plan to find time during the weekends to get her more familiar with being outdoors.
Thanks for the great posts.
.-= Frank´s last blog ..New technology – the threat to our corporate information: Great… =-.
Of course I’m with you! I’m hoping to start sharing more nature adventures with other families in our school to start getting more families outside!
.-= Debi´s last blog ..My Big Explorer’s Favorite Hawaiian Adventures =-.
7.5 hours? A DAY! What? Aren’t they only awake 12 hours a day?
Makes me sad for so many reasons. And mad for so many more reasons. Parents have the power to say “no” or “not now” or “maybe after it’s dark” or “only for a half hour” or “wait until tomorrow” or “why don’t you play instead” or “can I play with you?” when their kids ask for screen time. I may not be popular all the time, but those all work for me. We DO have screen time. We don’t forbid it – but it doesn’t take a starring role in our life.
Geez, when do those kids have time to eat?
.-= Michele´s last blog ..CA Open Space: Photo Journal of OC’s Outdoor Places =-.
Hear! Hear! Well said! Go, go, go outside!
.-= Juliet Robertson´s last blog ..The Hidden Park =-.
RT @balmeras: Who's with me?! Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B #playoutdoors #parent
Stop Asking Why – Just Get 'em Outside! – http://grassstainguru.com/2010/04/09/stop-aksing-why-just-get-em-outside/
RT @salisburydowns: Stop Asking Why – Just Get 'em Outside! – http://grassstainguru.com/2010/04/09/stop-aksing-why-just-get-em-outside/
In case U missed it: Who's with me?! Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B
RT @balmeras: In case U missed it: Who's with me?! Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B
RT @balmeras Who's with me?! Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/cxKxH8 (Yes! For lots of reasons, reconnect with nature!)
RT @CB4wildlife: RT @balmeras: Who's with me?! Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B #playoutdoors #parent
RT @balmeras: In case U missed it: Who's with me?! Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B [I'm with you!]
Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B #playoutdoors #parent #ece
Right behind ya! Leave the door open…I’m coming throooooough!!!
*runs like a maniac waving arms*
.-= @wildelycreative´s last blog ..A Weekend on Exmoor =-.
RT @balmeras Stop Asking Why – Just Get ‘em Outside! http://bit.ly/9XOB4B << Just do it!
Here’s the thing. Kids don’t know how to entertain themselves anymore! So you take them outside and they don’t know what to do with themselves. They putter around for a bit, decide “I’m bored,” and come back inside. And this reinforces the notion that being outdoors is no fun.
So our task as parents is to block out time to take those kids outside and make them work through that boredom… to the point that a bug crawling by catches their interest, or they make up a game to play. And THEN they get it. THEN they want to recreate that freedom of play. But it is absolutely our job to get them there.
The expression “a little boredom is good for you?” It’s the truest mom-ism out there.
You bet! I’ve written quite a bit about the benefits of boredom. 7.5 hours of screen time a day — no wonder they don’t know how to make their own play.
Keep up the great work & passion, all!