Monthly Archives: April 2011

Nightstand Reading with The Grass Stain Guru

April 26, 2011

book reading

As I suspect is the case with most writers, I am a reader. My nightstand is always filled with books. Sure, I have a novel with a high body count (I can’t help it — I’m twisted!), but I always have a book or two that add something to my life, besides just being brain candy.

Right now, I have two great books going.

The first is The Nature Principle by Richard Louv. If you read Louv’s fantastic book, The Last Child In the Woods, think of this as the adult version of that. Why is nature so important to us as adults? As human beings? It’s an important book for today’s harried society, and I encourage each of you to read it.

I am also reading the re-released Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative by Sir Ken Robinson. I read (and loved!) the original years ago, but let’s face it, sometimes we all need a kick in the creative pants. And this book is giving me just that.

Of course, if you read this blog regularly, these titles will come as no surprise to you. Both men are personal heroes of mine — I respect their work and their capacity to capture an audience so greatly. If you aren’t already, follow them on Twitter — @RichLouv and @SirKenRobinson, respectively.

So tell me, what’s on your nightstand?

Happy reading!

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Creative Commons License photo credit: falldownmoon

By Bethe | Posted in education, Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (13)

Take a Walk With the Grass Stain Guru

April 23, 2011

 

There’s nothing I like better than getting outside and just being. It doesn’t really matter what I do. The focus isn’t on the what, it’s the where.

Play time is incredibly important to me, and recently I have had the opportunity to share some thoughts on that issue over at the great blog, Let Children Play.

 

So come on, take a walk with me over there. We’re sure to have a good time!

Check out the following posts:

The Right to Play

Have You Made an Outdoor Bill of Rights?

Tell Meg I said, Hi!

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

By Bethe | Posted in nature, play | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (10)

7 Fun Ideas for Screen-Free Week

April 19, 2011

Watching the post-New Year's Eve entertainment from Times Square

We’re a few days into the 2011 Screen Free Week. How are you and your family doing?

Let the TVs and video systems go dark for the week. Limit computer use to necessary work and school activities whenever possible. Join people across the globe as they take back the enormous blocks of time that our plug-in devices are stealing from us — that we are GIVING THEM all too willingly!

Instead, spend time reconnecting with family and friends in meaningful, face-to-face ways.

We’ve discussed screen-time here on several occasions, and it is without a doubt one of the chief barriers to unstructured play and outdoor time in the lives of today’s children. (And we grown-ups, too!) So here are a few ideas to get you started. Of course, you are only limited by your imagination. Make Screen Free Week your own!

An Idea a Day to Keep the Screen Away:

  1. Have a cookout! Still snow on the ground where you live? Have an indoor picnic.
  2. Have game night. Break out the cards and boards games and have some old fashion fun. Or, if the budget allows, pick out a new family game to master.
  3. Go for a nice long walk after dinner. Stop and chat with neighbors you might not have seen all winter while we were all holed-up.
  4. Take a trip to the library and everyone pick out a book. If age appropriate, get a book that you can read together as a family.
  5. Visit a local nature center for a program. They often have evening programs on stargazing, night hikes, and nocturnal wildlife.
  6. Take a day trip! Go hiking, biking, or to visit a nearby museum. Just get out there! (Weekend) Take advantage of National Park Week — admission is free all week!
  7. Start a backyard garden or container garden, or spend time in one you already have. (Weekend)

Need more ideas? Check out Nature Rocks or my friend Debi’s great site, Go Explore Nature.

No matter what you do, make a real effort to unplug and reconnect. See if you notice any difference in your mood, or those of your children. Or changes in their behavior or sleep patterns.

Don’t worry — the TV isn’t going anywhere. And you all know that thanks to TiVo and web-streaming, you can catch-up on just about everything you will miss. But who knows, you just might find that you don’t MISS a thing!

See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru

Creative Commons License photo credit: dionhinchcliffe

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By Bethe | Posted in nature, parenting, Perspectives, play | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (14)