1000 HOURS OUTSIDE
Have you heard about this initiative where people try to spend one thousand hours outside in 365 days? Must be nice to have so much free time – you might say – but let’s take a deeper look.
Research shows, that kids spend 1,200 hours in front of a screen in a year on average. Maybe we can shift at least some of that time toward a more productive and healthy outcome: playing outdoors.
In the sea of activities available to children and families, the simple act of stepping outside to play can easily get lost. Who has time for playing in the yard when there are dances to be rehearsed, homework to be finished, music notes to be played, and soccer drills to run? Yet surprisingly, many different studies have shown that the cheap and simple act of playing outside offers the most developmental and health benefits for our children.
More and more families around the country are aiming for an average of three hours in the fresh air a day. There are many variables from season to season, both figuratively and literally. Some days, in the heart of the summer, they may be out from dawn to dusk. Others they may get outside for shorter periods or occasionally not go out at all due to illness, appointments, frigid temperatures, or other commitments.
You don’t have to spend the whole day outside to feel refreshed and recharged, a small smattering of nature experiences can be brimming with sensory moments and joy. A childhood that is rich in nature time benefits kids (and their caregivers) in untold ways. However, the spirit behind the 1000 hours outside challenge is one of encouragement - not competition. There are often questions about ‘rules’, but the good thing here is that there really aren’t any!
1000 Hours Outside is about striving for engaged time outside, and that looks different from one family to the next. That’s the beauty of nature play; it works for any age and any stage, in any outdoor environment. Remember not to get bogged down in the details. Adjust the goal if needed.
No matter how many hours you will actually spend outdoors, we promise you’ll never regret committing to a year filled with making memories outside.
Find more information about the challenge and the countless benefits of a more outdoor-focused childhood on this website and Ginny’s podcast: www.1000hoursoutside.com
Join exciting, local outdoor adventures as well as a welcoming and fun community of Mamas to reach your goal with: Mama & Me Adventure Club – Maple Valley WA. Go online at www.mamameadventure.club, browse our adventures (hikes, walks, play dates, nature crafts, stroller workouts, and a monthly moms’ night out), RSVP, show up, have fun, and make some Mama friends.
Excited to adventure with you guys soon,
Andrea
Same article in Maple Valley Neighbors Magazine (sorry about the terrible scanner quality):
