Just 15 minutes outdoors makes children happier and more relaxed! The same holds true for adults.
Tips for planning outdoor time into your day.
For parents:
- Do homework outside
- Add outdoor time into your schedule
- Visit a local park after dinner
- Backyard picnic once a week
- Visit local apple orchard or farmer’s market
- Outdoor reflection time. Sit. Breathe. Observe.
- Keep a family nature journal
- Any activity that gets you outside as a family!
- Create a family “nature table” in your home to display nature finds (rocks, leaves, twigs, etc…)
- Bring potted plants indoors to “green” up your indoor space
For educators:
- Take reading time outdoors
- Plan outdoor walks in your day (can be worked into a multitude of subjects – art inspiration, social studies observation, science nature studies, math statistics, etc…)
- Bring nature into your classroom with potted plants, fish aquariums, nature table, etc…
Why outdoor time is so important
- Children who play outside are healthier and happier
- Outdoor time increases academic success
- Playing outside leads to more active imaginations and lowered aggression
- People who play outside as children grow up to be better stewards of the environment
Helpful Links
- National Wildlife Federation: Connecting Kids and Nature
- National Wildlife Federation: Health Benefits
- National Wildlife Federation: Special Reports about Children and Nature
- Benefits to taking children outside (This includes a separate page of bibliography)
- Considerations before stepping out the door
Check out our companion site at KinderNature – Research affirms the importance of time spent in the natural environment.