School is out for the summer and if you’re like most parents you’re looking for fun ways to occupy their time. All parents know that it’s important for kids to spend time outdoors, but many may not know just how important it really is. Today’s kids spend much less time outside than previous generations and many suffer from nature-deficit disorder. According to author Richard Louv, nature deficit disorder is responsible for the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression in children. His book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder” indicates that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. There are strong indications that children who experience nature also do better academically, because they are better able to focus. Additionally when children are exposed to natural environments at an early age they are likely to develop more environmentally responsible behavior.
Summer is a great time to get the kids outdoors in a variety of ways and help them develop a love of nature and the environment. Below are a few steps you can take to get your kids outside for a daily dose of nature:
1. Have scheduled outdoor play time. If your kids are school aged, they are used to going outside to play at a set time everyday for recess. So rather than trying to force them outside because you think they’ve watched enough television for the day, instead have a scheduled time for outdoor play each day. If they know that every day at 9 they go outside, there will be fewer battles. Additionally, the structure of a daily schedule is great for younger kids because routines are so important to them. Try for the mornings shortly after breakfast, before the sun and temperatures get too hot or after 2 p.m. when the sun isn’t as strong.
2. Plan some fun outdoor activities. Kids don’t need to have a lot of outdoor toys to have fun outside. Let them go out and have their own adventures. You can also set up a scavenger hunt where they search for things all over the yard, such as leaves, pine cones, flowers etc. Or have them find something that is every color of the rainbow. Additionally, you can also invest in a good pair of kids binoculars to help them explore nature up close and perhaps do some bird watching too. If you are looking for a few outdoor toys, there are some more eco-friendly options these days. One that our kids love is the PlanToys Twisted Tossing game. It can be used indoors or out and is made from earth-friendly and replenishable rubber wood.
3. Help your kids plant something. Kids love to plant seeds and watch them grow. Find something that grows well in your climate during the summer and help your kids plant it and let them be responsible for watering it. Each day, they can go outside and measure the progress of the plant’s growth. They can also take pictures, draw pictures of the plant and document how the plant is changing each day.
4. Enroll them in an outdoor day camp. Many local youth organizations offer some type of nature or garden camp for kids as young as three. They can participate in activities like hiking, exploring nature, outdoor scavenger hunts, crafts make from natural items, and other outdoor educational activities.
5. Visit a National Park. This is a great opportunity to enjoy nature as a family and explore something new and exciting. Most Americans live within a few hours’ drive of a national park, so planning a visit can be an inexpensive trip. Additionally, August 14th and 15th are fee-free days at over 100 national parks, so it’s a great time to explore nature and save a little money too.
6. Use family outings as a fun way to educate kids about the environment. Whether you’re going to the beach or a park, there are plenty of opportunities to educate your kids about the importance of taking care of the environment. This can be especially true over a holiday weekend when so much trash is left behind after celebrations. You can teach your kids about how trash and plastic can adversely affect our lands, oceans and animals and how taking a few simple steps can make a big difference.