The time U.S. children spend outdoors has declined 50% in the past 20 years (source here), and while I have friends who love to remind me (and my anti TV watching ways) that our generation--including myself-- watched TV and turned out "okay", they are forgetting that our generation did NOT have cell phones, smartphones, laptops, Ipads, Nooks, Kindles, and the like....and we didn't have DirectTV, if we were lucky, we had 4 channels.
Our children are bombarded with screens.
And so are we.
Where have the childhoods gone? Where have all the parents gone, for that matter...everywhere I look, they are behind a cell phone, or laptop, plugged in and missing the childhoods happening right in their own houses. This is a great path to be on if you want to wake up 15 years from now and feel regret because your kids grew up...
and you missed it.
Enter one of the things I love, love, love about a Waldorf-inspired curriculum... it gets my kids outside, (thereby getting me outside)...unplugged...everyday.
Sunny? of course.
Chilly? Throw on a sweater...or a scarf...or both.
Rainy? Doesn't matter.
Mr. Darcy and I live in an area where outdoor activities are plentiful, but I am the first to admit our schedule does not always allow for taking advantage of them. This year, starting with this summer, we are trying to change that by filling the kids summer (and our own) with outdoor day trips and experiences they have not had before. (We have already done a few and look for those in coming Waldorf Wednesdays posts!)
So I was very excited to discover that the United States Forest Service has a new campaign to help our kids Discover the Forest! On the Discover the Forest website, you will find a treasure trove of ideas and activities to help you and your children discover the forests near you and get outside this year, including this great free book, "The Book of Stuff to Do Outside" that you can download today! It is full of fun outdoor activities including matching animal tracks, how to find direction without a compass, leaf and bark rubbings, nature collages, keeping a nature journal and more!
So hop over there, check out this great site, print out your free booklet and start planning your own forest adventure this summer. Unplug. I promise you will be glad that you did.
To read more about adapting an unplugged parenting style, check out http://www.handsfreemama.com and join the hands free revolution!
To read more posts from the Waldorf Wednesday Series, click here.
This post is linked up to:
Friday Nature Table Series at The Magic Onions
Show and Tell bloghop at ABC & 123
Kids Play Thursdays at Messy Preschoolers
Inspire me Mondays at Create with Joy
Preschool Corner at Homeschool Creations
Link & Learn at No Time for Flashcards
Weekend Wrap up at Your Thriving Family
Also linking up to:
Big family Friday Link Up at Holy Spirit led homeschooling
Collage Fridays at Homegrown Learners
Favorite Resources Friday at Learning all the Time
FreeBEE friday at Gricefully Homeschooling
Friday Favorite Things at Finding Joy
What are little boys made of at Seven Thirty Three
Women living Well Wednesdays
Completely agree with you on this one !
ReplyDeleteMy childhood was spent largely out of doors and I grew up with the philosophy of a 'daily walk'. I have a teenage 'screen addicted son' but I try and prise him outside every day if possible (for my own sanity as much as anything else)
Thank goodness we are lucky enough to live so close to the South Downs !
I absolutely agree that lots of outdoor time and being mindful about screen time is very important. Thanks for sharing these great resources with Favorite Resources :)
ReplyDeleteKatie - thanks for the tip to the free book. I AGREE with you. We try to be outside each and every day. I, too -- don't want to miss a single second with my kids.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking!
My kids are teens now, and I often will insist on screen free time, put down the iPods, TVs, computers, various video games, and head outside or do some reading. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and we spent hour upon hours outside. I look forward to checking out the info from the forest service, we have been trying to get out into nature for weekend hikes. Thanks for sharing this! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the great book! My kids spend a lot of time outdoors, but they usually end up fighting. Keeping them busy will help keep down the fighting...I hope!
ReplyDeleteOne can not beat Mother Nature, she is not found inside however, great post, cheers from New Zealand, Marie
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. What happened to the gool ole outdoors. I was just at the dentist's office and kids under the age of 10 were on their own cell phones! I am into good old fashioned fun!!!
ReplyDelete