Ecohappiness Project

Blog

How BLOOM! Teaches The Importance Of Nature And Plants To Kids

Blog

Have you ever stopped to think about how plants play such an essential role in our everyday lives? Better yet, are your children aware of this fact? For starters, plants provide food, shelter, medicine, recreation, beauty, and stress-relieving benefits—and that’s just to we humans!

Due to children and teens spending more time staring at screens and less time running around outdoors, experts are trying to reconnect them to the wonders of nature. A new campaign by BLOOM!, an exciting movement to improve the world through the power of plants, is working to inspire young people to appreciate the plant world so that horticulture (the science and art of growing plants) thrives well into the future.

BLOOM! is run by Seed Your Future (SYF), a coalition of more than 150 horticulture industry companies, gardening organizations, schools, colleges and universities, public gardens, youth organizations, and supporters united by an unwavering confidence in the power of plants to change the world. Through eye-catching content delivered inside and outside of the classroom, BLOOM! is educating young people and their families about the endless possibilities in horticulture and introducing them to a lifelong passion—and maybe even a fascinating career.

Amazing Facts About Plants

Sadly, plants are not getting the attention they deserve. The average American can recognize over 1,000 commercial brands and logos, but fewer than 10 plants where they live. And although plants are part of our children’s STEM education, most schools stop teaching about plants after third grade. Yet, plants and horticulture are key to our future. Did you know…

  • The “green-collar” industry of horticulture is home to more than 100 diverse professions that spans the art, science, technology, and business of plants, including drone specialists, plant scientists, landscape architects, arborists, and urban farmers.
  • Horticulturists impact everything from the air we breathe, to the fruits and vegetables we eat, to the beautiful landscapes and floral arrangements we enjoy.
  • Horticulturists are using their plant knowledge to solve some of our biggest challenges, like feeding a growing world, climate change, and clean water.

The more we know about plants, the more we can make a difference. Introducing kids to nature at an early age is the best way to protect the planet. In fact, studies have found that children who are exposed to the natural world at a young age are more likely to appreciate nature and preserve and protect it for the future. This is why BLOOM! is working to empower today’s youth to unlock the potential of their natural world and open their eyes to opportunities they never knew possible.

Explore BLOOM! Plant Games and Other Resources

BLOOM! has put together some amazing games and other resources for parents, students, and teachers to learn more about plants. The BLOOM! website features videos, infographics, surprising factoids, and an interactive quiz where you can find your own plant power. I love the quiz because it helps kids realize how plants relate to their own interests. You answer a few questions like “would you rather be inside or outside?” and “how do you prefer to travel?”. Then you get matched with a type of plant power, which essentially puts you in a category with a group of people using plants to develop things like technology, food, or art.

They have also partnered with Scholastic to develop a toolkit of educational resources, which features sample lesson plans, student magazines, book lists, discussion guides, games, and videos. These are great resources for both educators and parents to use. Finally, check out their social channels Facebook and YouTube for eye-catching content and videos for everyone to learn about the power of plants.

Learn More

BLOOM! is a great jumping off point to inspire us to learn more about the importance of plants. Enjoy some of these other activities as a family:

Take a hike. Grab the family and go exploring outdoors on a nature hike. Teach your children how to identify the many intriguing plants that you find along your hike. Make it fun by creating a scavenger hunt, and be sure to bring along a field guide to help you identify the plants you see.

Garden together. By creating your own kids garden and growing fruits and vegetables together, your kids will get to spend more time outside, learn about healthy food, connect to how food is produced, feel a sense of accomplishment, and appreciate the importance of nature in our life, while also building important skills.

Add plants to your decor. Displaying plants have been shown to cheer people up and even reduce stress and anxiety. You can start an indoor garden of herbs and flowers or just add some houseplants in several rooms.

Explore museums. Visit sanctuaries of nature such as an arboretum, butterfly garden, botanical garden, greenhouse, or science museum. Ask your children to capture the plants they observed by using photographs, drawings, or paintings to create a print or online directory.

Read books about plants. There are so many wonderful books about plants and gardening for kids. Check out the Scholastic BLOOM! site for recommendations.

How do you discover plants for kids in your family?

*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by BLOOM! to spread the word about its Educational Resource Toolkit. All opinions and stories are my own.

5 Reasons Why A Pet Will Improve Your Child’s Life

Blog

This guest post was written by Amanda Bentley of Qavashop, an online store for coffee aficionados. Apart from providing its customers with quality coffee machines and consumables, it also provides them with advice about how to make their own restaurant quality espresso at home.

Most kids get really excited about owning a pet. Caring for a lovable creature who is also their daily playmate is a child’s dream come true. If that pet becomes a best friend, then the bond they share for the rest of their lives is incomparable to any human connection. They create wonderful memories together and an amazing childhood to hold on to forever.

When it’s time to beg a parent for a new pet, children are quite clever at highlighting all the positive, fun aspects of adding an animal to the family. But the reason why so many parents hesitate to give into the request for a new pet is because it requires a ton of patience, time, and effort to share your home and life with a pet when you already have kids to take care of.

But what you get in return is not just the unconditional love from your pet. Research shows that pets can have a profound positive impact on your children. According to a study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development improve when they interact with a family pet.

If you are struggling to decide about bringing a pet into your home, consider these amazing benefits of pets for kids.

Teach Responsibility And Empathy

Approximately 58 percent of pet owners claim that their pets have helped their kids to be more responsible, according to a survey by the American Pet Product Association. Simple tasks such as walking the dog, cleaning up the bird cage, or filling a food bowl can instill a sense of responsibility and accomplishment in a child. Helping in bathing or brushing a furry pet can also make a child aware of their own personal hygiene needs.

Taking care of a pet also helps children develop empathy. Because kids are naturally focused on their own wants and needs, a pet that depends on them can have a huge impact on broadening their perspective. One thing you can do is ask your child to pay attention to your pet’s mood and observe if it seems sad or sick. This will teach your child to be sympathetic to other’s feelings and needs.

Always keep in mind that even the most responsible child is capable of making mistakes. If your children make a mistake or get careless when it comes to taking care of a pet, ask them why they did not feed or walk the pet and then explain how their action impacts the animal.

Provide Comfort And Companionship

The companionship of a pet also offers coping skills for kids by alleviating loneliness and isolation, which can be part of anxiety and depression. Kids find support and security in having a pet companion to always be there for them. A study published in The Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health concluded, “There is growing evidence that children turn to their pets for comfort, reassurance, and emotional support when feeling anger, sadness, or happiness. Thus, it is plausible that companion animals may have the potential to encourage better emotional health and reduce anxiety and depression.” In addition, experts have found that children who own pets have improved social interaction with their peers since a pet gives them something to talk about with other kids their age. Learn more about where to turn when you or your kids are feeling sad: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/where-to-turn-when-youre-feeling-sad.

Boost Self-esteem

According to a report from the Pet Health Council, kids who have pets have higher self-esteem and confidence. The report says that “Children with low-self esteem may talk to, or confide in, an animal in ways they would not with people. They are often more confident in performing tasks they find difficult with an animal simply because the animal does not care if mistakes are made, nor will the child be afraid of looking silly in front of the animal.”

Experts believe that the critical time in which owning a pet can impact self-esteem is under age six. Dogs and cats are usually considered the ideal providers of social support since they offer a greater level of interaction and reciprocation than other pets. Experts also believe that pets have played a positive role in various cultures by providing psychological support, helping people feel good about themselves and more optimistic about life.

Enhance Learning

It’s a well known fact that pets like dogs and cats can help children learn more effectively. For a long time, dogs have been used as a therapy tool in schools for children with developmental disabilities. They have been shown to be especially helpful in improving children’s reading skills. A study conducted on second graders showed that children who read aloud to a dog had better reading skills than children who read out loud to an adult. Researchers then concluded that this was because the child was less stressed with a dog as it provides nonjudgmental support.

Improve Family Bonds

A pet at home is something all family members come to love and cherish. Having a pet can make the family bond stronger, as animals are usually the centerpiece of many family activities. Walking, grooming, feeding, and playing with a pet are enjoyable for everyone. The pet also forces family members to slow down from their hectic lives, realize the importance of nature in our life, communicate with one another, and enjoy spending time together relaxing with their animal friend.

Find out if you or a loved one qualify for an emotional support animal through ESA Certificate.

How Climate Change Can Flare Up Your Child’s Anxiety and Depression

Blog

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, droughts, rising sea levels. These are not topics for the faint of heart. But the reality today is that these types of natural disasters are on the rise due to climate change, and more people are being impacted as our population booms, especially in coastal areas.

We can’t necessarily hide this news from our children. They will learn about the effects of natural disasters and climate change in science class, on television, and at museums—as they should. They also absorb the adult conversations going on around them, so when a major event hits like hurricane Harvey in Texas or Maria in Puerto Rico, our kids will hear about it.

Link Between Climate Change & Mental Health

As these disasters become more frequent due to the warming climate, mental health becomes one of the critical concerns that we need to pay attention to. Of course, those directly impacted will suffer most dramatically. Following Hurricane Katrina, nearly half of those impacted by the storm developed an anxiety or mood disorder and one in six developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

But when these events occur, we all suffer in a broader sense. What if it happens to us? Susan Clayton, professor of psychology at Wooster University in the UK, assesses that natural disasters significantly impact the mental health of millions of people. She sees three types of disasters that people worry about: the natural disasters themselves like floods and storms, slower changes such as an increasing global temperature, and the destruction of communities that can result. All of these can cause stress, anxiety, and depression as we try to either envision ourselves in a particular situation or adapt to the changes as they occur.

With all of these impending disasters looming as temperatures continue to skyrocket (15 of the 16 hottest years on record have occurred since 2001), it is no surprise that more and more people are developing eco-anxiety. This is a relatively new psychological condition in which a person experiences chronic fear of environmental destruction.

How Children Are Impacted

Children are particularly at risk for heightened anxiety and depression from a natural disaster. The American Public Health Association is working hard to study and educate people about the impacts of climate change on mental health. According to this organization, up to 45 percent of children suffer depression after a natural disaster. Some of the behavioral and psychological changes in children include an inability to speak, bed-wetting, stress or fright when not in danger, and self-harm.

For children who are just learning about these events, they worry that something bad could also happen to them. They have active imaginations and want to always feel safe. Climate change can instigate feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness that take the shape of anxiety.

7 Ways To Ease Your Children’s Fears

It is never a good idea to shelter our children from the world because when they do learn what is really going on, they will most likely struggle even more so. However, there are some ways to handle the climate change and natural disaster topics carefully so that our children do not form a major case of eco-anxiety before they graduate from elementary school. Check out these 7 coping skills for kids to ease their fears about climate change:

  1. Have an informative, well thought out discussion with them about climate change and its potential effects. Ask them what they already know and how they feel about it. Explaining that climate change is a long process and we have some time to fix the problem can be reassuring to children. Point out positive examples of how scientists and others are finding solutions like electric cars and solar panels.
  2. Make learning about climate change and weather fun for your kids. Look for creative kid-friendly resources to teach about climate change on a level that they will grasp. Read books, attend science education events, and visit museum exhibits to learn more. Do your own experiments at home and encourage them to choose science projects for school related to solving climate change.
  3. Show your children that they can play a role in helping the planet by working together as a family to reduce your family’s carbon footprint. Some ideas include replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent or LED bulbs, turning of lights and other electronics when you are no longer using them, eating less meat, and carpooling to school and extracurricular events. Just be sure to instill the message that the goal is not perfection; they should do what they can and not stress about it.
  4. Spend time outdoors appreciating and enjoying everything nature has to offer. A growing number of studies from around the world show that spending time in nature can lift mood and improve mental health. So, when you participate in activities like hiking, biking, camping, boating, and swimming, you are essentially combating your child’s anxiety or depression with a boost of green therapy.
  5. Support environmental organizations by volunteering or sending donations as a family. Consider a donation in lieu of a child’s holiday or birthday gift. Empower your kids by letting them choose which organizations to help.
  6. Avoid watching excessive television coverage of extreme weather events. The dramatic, intense images of tornadoes, flooding, and other harsh weather associated with climate change can be petrifying to children. Seeing images of people bleeding or crying could definitely cause nightmares for anyone.
  7. Reassure and comfort your children everyday so they feel loved and protected no matter what challenges they face. Build a strong relationship in which they can talk to you about their fears so that they will ultimately be more resilient.

How do you ease your children’s concerns about climate change and natural disasters?

How To Enjoy Nature When You Are Stuck Indoors

Blog

Spending time in nature is so beneficial to our health and well-being. It calms us, reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and anger. It has also been shown to improve focus and attention, and reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It even makes us friendlier and more apt to reach out to others in our community. Playing outside is one of the best activities for our kids, but what if it’s too cold or too rainy to go outside? Is it possible to experience the benefits of nature from indoors?

Nothing beats actually immersing ourselves outside in the natural environment, but science proves that we can capture the importance of nature in our life through images, sounds, and plants inside our home.

Nature Imagery

Amazingly, just looking at pictures of nature scenes can make us feel similar to actually spending time outdoors. A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that you can reduce stress by simply looking at good nature images. When participants viewed pictures of natural scenes, their stress level decreased because their parasympathetic nervous system (that helps us to calm down) was activated.

Spending time in nature can also make us feel more compassionate and connected to others and our environment. Scientists proved this by observing brain activity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the experiment, they discovered that when participants viewed scenes from the natural environment, the parts of their brain associated with empathy and love lit up. On the other hand, when they looked at urban scenes, the parts of the brain associated with fear and anxiety were activated.

Finally, Dr. Marc Berman and researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a study in which participants took a break for 10 minutes in a quiet room to look at pictures of a nature scene or city street. They found that cognitive performance improved after the nature break. Although the boost was not as large as when participants actually took the walk outside among trees, it was more effective than taking a walk in the city.

Nature Sounds

Listening to nature can help relax us and improve our mood. A research team at the University of Florida looked at how nature sounds affect people’s mental and physical health. They measured pulse rate, muscle tension, and self-reported stress of a group of people and then had them listen to one of three sounds: silence, music by Mozart, or ocean waves. Then the researchers gave them another medical exam and asked them how stressed they felt. They saw no significant change for people who listened to silence or classical music, but those who listened to ocean waves had considerably lower muscle tension, heart rates, and stress. The scientists also saw these positive changes occur quite rapidly, within five to seven minutes of listening to the sounds of nature. Imagine how quickly we can calm our children down by playing some soothing nature sounds!

In another study, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Acoustician Jonas Braasch found that listening to natural sounds (specifically birdcalls) during a work break can boost performance afterward. Braasch believes that nature sounds have a restorative effect because they create a more comfortable environment where people feel happy and satisfied. He also thinks this idea can be applied to other stressful environments, like hospitals, where nature sounds may potentially help people heal faster.

Experts found, however, that not all nature sounds have the same calming effect. The best sounds are those that give a sense of natural space and mimic the biorhythms of an ecosystem like a forest. Loud chirping and croaking is just not going to cause the same calming feelings as sounds of water, which are very soothing because of their slow, rhythmic whooshing noises.

Plants

Plants and flowers have long been known to cheer people up. Research done in hospitals, offices, and schools has now found that even a simple plant in a room can have a significant impact on reducing stress and anxiety. Plants actually boost healing, according to a study at Kansas State University. Researchers learned that viewing plants during recovery from surgery can lead to a significant improvement in physiologic responses. Patients had lower blood pressure and less pain, anxiety, and fatigue compared to patients who did not have plants in their rooms. In addition, studies found that patients who are able to view nature scenes or plants in their room experience less pain after surgery. Look for indoor plants for sale to brighten up your home.

How To Bring More Nature Inside

According to Netta Weinstein, professor at the University of Rochester, we can maximize our connections with nature even if we are unable to get outside. She explains, “Because of the hidden benefits of connecting with nature, people should take advantage of opportunities to get away from built environments and, when inside, they should surround themselves with plants, natural objects, and images of the natural world.”

How can we give our children experiences of nature on the days that we just can’t fit in outdoor play? Here are some ideas to expose your children to the amazing aspects of nature from inside:

  • Visit indoor sanctuaries of nature such as an arboretum, butterfly garden, botanical garden, greenhouse, science museum, or aquarium.
  • Decorate your house with awe-inspiring images of nature. Collect gorgeous pieces from famous photographers like Ansel Adams and Philip Hyde or start a family hobby of taking pictures of nature that you love to display throughout your house.
  • Display plants throughout your house.
  • Start an indoor garden of herbs and flowers.
  • Watch nature shows, movies, and documentaries as a family.
  • Include pictures and objects of nature that are green and blue in your house, colors known to calm us down.
  • Play nature sounds in your home, especially at bedtime.

The beauty of nature is that is has the power to impact us no matter where we experience it. By giving our children a multitude of ways to observe nature through their senses, they can enjoy the many benefits it has to offer on any day of the year.

How do you help your kids experience the importance of nature from indoors?

How To Balance Technology With Outdoor Time In Your Family

Nature

This guest post was written by Emma Gibson, a psychology Ph.D. candidate from Jacksonville State University and a talented communicator. She has a passion for the written word and has a remarkable ability to explain complex topics in layman’s terms. She engages readers with her creative ability to teach as she entertains.

Childhood today is very different than it was for us, particularly when it comes to technology replacing outdoor play. We used to enjoy running around in our backyard and at the park with neighborhood friend. Our kids spend almost nine hours every day staring at screens, and now more with online learning. After all, our children can’t even remember a time before the Internet, wireless technology, or cell phones so it makes sense that they prefer to use technology and digital devices for a majority of their communication and interaction. Unfortunately, all of this connectivity can have some surprising effects on our kids.

 

 

The Problem With Too Much Technology

As parents, we need to really process what all those hours in front of a screen of any type can do to a person, especially growing and developing children. Sure, our kids can log several hours watching television, but a large chunk of this daily consumption occurs as our children are streaming videos, playing games, or scrolling social media on numerous digital devices. The sheer amount of technology time is alarming, even the American Academy of Pediatrics now advises limiting kids’ time in front of devices.

Some of the dangers that technology poses to children include:

  • Feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem are associated with social media overload.
  • Fast-paced stimulus from technology and the Internet are known to alter development in the brain’s pre-frontal cortex, which increases the likelihood of developing addictions to fast-paced technology.
  • The light emitted from glowing screens and interruptions from notifications on our kids’ devices disrupt sleep patterns.
  • Technology is limiting the face-to-face interactions that build a young child’s ability to learn speech, bond with others, and develop communication skills.
  • Joint and neck pain caused by leaning over and using cell phones and devices for long periods of time.

Why Outdoor Activities Are Essential For Kids

Technology is not totally bad all the time. Our gadgets do deserve a time and place in our children’s lives. But before giving them unlimited technology access, we should also consider that they might be missing out on the importance of nature and valuable play time when they are plugged in constantly.

Outdoor play is essential to our kids because it:

  • Helps reduce stress, anxiety, and other emotional issues.
  • Lowers the likelihood that a child will experience heart disease, high blood pressure, or obesity later in life.
  • Gives children opportunities to fine tune their observation and creativity skills. Kids often exhibit higher levels of readiness to learn and even scores on tests from playing outside.
  • Exposes kids to beneficial germs and bacteria, provides healthy doses of Vitamin D from sunlight, and boosts their immune system.
  • Regulates natural biorhythms which help children form healthy sleep patterns.

 5 Ways To Disconnect From Technology

Although a lot has changed since we were young, we still need to encourage our kids to take a break from their devices and enjoy the great outdoors. By taking a stance against digital overload, perhaps we can reduce technology’s negative impact on our kids. With a few mindful choices and a little planning, we can successfully balance the best of both worlds: technology and nature.

To help encourage our kids to get outside, consider these tips to disconnect from technology:

  1. Make kids earn time to use technology by rewarding them with an allotted amount of tech time for every hour they spend outdoors, reading, or doing chores.
  2. Strive to get the family outside for about one hour each day, weather permitting. Go for a bike ride, play a pickup game of ball, work in your family garden, or take a walk.
  3. Designate technology-free zones in your home by keeping devices in common family areas and away from bedrooms and the dinner table.
  4. Power down all devices at a set time each night to allow your kids to prepare for a good night’s sleep.
  5. Take advantage of free events hosted by local parks and recreation areas.

What do you do to keep the technology-nature balance in your family?

How To Choose The Best Volunteer Activities For Your Family

Nature

Volunteering as a family is such a wonderful way to bond and to feel better overall. When we make others happy, we experience an amazing biological phenomenon called a “helper’s high” that is the result of our brain releasing chemicals called endorphins. We experience an energy in our body that is similar to the rush we feel after we exercise. These positive feelings make our kids happier and healthier by reducing stress and anxiety and feelings of sadness, loneliness or depression. It’s so important that we teach our children meaningful values like helping others.

Finding the right family volunteer activities can be overwhelming at times. You may feel uncertain about what is expected and question whether your children can participate. It is so important that your children feel comfortable where you volunteer, get inspired by the work you do, and enjoy themselves. Without these three components, our children won’t reap all the amazing benefits of volunteering. Plus, we want them to love helping others so they continue to do so for a lifetime.

When searching for the appropriate activity, consider the following priorities:

Project Focus

The first step is to brainstorm as a family to decide what types of volunteer activities you are interested in doing. Ask your children who they would like to help. Is there a particular cause they feel passionate about, such as feeding homeless people, making art for other children, helping animals, or visiting the elderly or sick? What interests, skills, and talents do your family members have? Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors? Do you wish to work directly with people or do something quietly like painting or pulling weeds? The options are endless, so it is important to narrow down your choices and focus on projects that your family will get the most out of.

Organization’s Mission

Do your research before you sign up with a specific organization. Find out the group’s history and how it got started, the goals and mission, who its leaders are, and how it is funded. Check their website, search online for press coverage, and visit sites like www.charitywatch.org and www.charitynavigator.org. If possible, ask a current or past volunteer about the pros and cons of the organization. Getting a referral from someone you know is the best option, especially because your children will be participating.

Location

Next, you will want to make sure you search for projects that are close to home so you do not have to drag your kids far to volunteer. Use Eventbrite’s search tools to find the perfect places for kids to volunteer in your area. Also, if you’re someone that hosts events in your area and looking for new ways to raise money, check out Eventbrite’s fundraising ideas!

Cost Of Family Volunteer Activities

Although rare, check to see if there are any fees to volunteer. You may also want to consider any other costs involved like travel, equipment such as certain clothing required, or requested products or monetary donations.

Time Commitment

Decide how much time you have to volunteer. It could be once a week, once a month, or once a year. Start slow and gradually increase your involvement if the project is working out well. Or you may choose to volunteer with different organizations each time to expose your children to a wide variety of experiences.

Age Range Guidelines

Look for activities that your whole family can participate in. Before you commit to a project, check to see if there are any age requirements listed. It may take some hunting around, but you should be able to find age-appropriate options. Even babies can take part in nursing home visits, charity walks, and beach clean ups.

Activity Expectations

Before you show up, find out exactly what you will be doing. Will there be heavy lifting involved? Will you have to get down and dirty? Will the project be a boring and repetitive task that will make your kids annoyed?  Make sure the activity is something that your kids will actually enjoy before you invest your time.

Safety

No matter what, safety needs to come first when children are involved. You may want to avoid going to activities in neighborhoods that make you uncomfortable. Your kids may be scared to talk to strangers, so consider starting with familiar people and places. As they get older, you can start to venture out and expose them to more mature situations.

Fun Factor

Finally, if it isn’t an enjoyable experience for your kids, then what’s the point? Choose projects that involve your children in a fun way, but also teach and inspire them. Avoid topics and activities that are too serious and sad for young children. Be sure to engage with them afterward and ask what they thought, and if they would be willing to do it again.

What type of family volunteer activities do you enjoy?

3 Simple Ways Water Can Calm Your Children

Nature

Are your kids hyped up and driving you nuts? You will never believe it, but you can actually calm your kids down using something as simple and available as water.

Water is everywhere. Our bodies are 70 percent water and about the same percentage of the earth’s surface is covered in water. It’s no surprise that throughout time people have been attracted to water for its many beneficial properties – like beauty and tranquility.

Now, science actually shows that being in and around water can calm our bodies and minds. It is clear that water demonstrates the importance of nature in our life. Here are three ways that water can help your children relax.

 

Observe It

Have you ever lost yourself in the beauty of the ocean, a flowing waterfall, or even an aquarium? You are certainly not alone. Water is known to give us a sense of peace and serenity. In fact, medical studies have found less cortisol (the stress hormone) and more serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine (the feel-good hormones) in people as they spend time in, on, or around the ocean.

A couple years ago, marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols dove into this topic in his book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected and Better at What You Do. He believes that we all have a “blue mind,” which he describes as “a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment” that’s triggered when we’re exposed to water.

When we’re around water, our brain becomes engaged in our environment and we enjoy pleasant sensory stimulation. We become so focused on the water that we enter a mindful state. As a result, we enjoy lower stress levels; relief from anxiety, pain, and depression; improved mental clarity and focus; and better sleep.

Water also inspires a sense of awe, as we take in the vastness of the ocean or swim in a large lake. These experiences make us aware of and appreciate our place in this immense world. Such awe-inspiring experiences boost our mood, making us feel happier and calmer. This happens because our nervous system reacts in the opposite way to awe than anxiety. Instead of the “fight or flight” response kicking in, awe keeps us still and relaxed, benefiting both our body and mind.

Water also provides soothing sounds that help us feel calm, as evidenced by all the relaxation and sleep aids that use sounds of water – whether it be crashing waves, the pitter patter of rainfall, or the rush of a flowing river.

Why does the sound of water cause this reaction? Studies show that it’s based on how our brain interprets different noises. These slow, rhythmic whooshing sounds are non-threatening, which is why they calm us down. Also, the sound of water is a type of white noise that helps drown out other noises that might cause us concern. 

Find ways to expose your children to awe-inspiring water scenes and sounds, such as:

  • Plan trips where you can appreciate the importance of nature in our life; visit impressive water sights like Niagara Falls, the turquoise sea in the Caribbean, waterfalls in Hawaii, and the Great Lakes.
  • Visit marine nature centers and aquariums.
  • Spend time at the beach and encourage your children to express how the scene makes them feel in creative ways like writing, painting, or singing about it.
  • Go fishing or on a boat ride or cruise.
  • Listen to water sounds to calm your children at bedtime.

Immerse In It

Spending time in water has a tremendous soothing effect. Some believe this is because it is reminiscent of the time we spent in our mother’s womb surrounded by amniotic fluid. It may also be related to how the water makes us feel weightless and free.

Studies show that floating can actually change our brain waves and reduce cortisol levels, therefore making us feel more relaxed. There is an actual floating therapy now where individuals can visit a float center to spend time in a dark, private room floating in water as a form of meditation. A 2001 study in the Journal of the Canadian Pain Society found that spending time in a flotation tank effectively decreased anxiety and depression, and increased optimism.

Swimming is also known to boost endorphins that increase feelings of well-being. Plus, the rhythmic strokes and sound of water make swimming very relaxing. Research shows that swimming produces the same relaxation response as yoga, increasing calming chemicals and allowing us to enter a meditative state. When we swim laps, we can focus simply on our strokes and breathing, making it easy to shut off all the noises and activity going on outside the pool.

Baths and showers have been used as ways to escape daily stress for ages. By practicing some mindfulness during a bath or shower, we can really focus on the sensations on our skin and the sounds of the trickling water. This helps us be in the moment and forget our worries.

Look for opportunities for your children to spend time in water:

  • Sign them up for swim lessons or join a swim team.
  • Encourage them to practice floating on their back in the pool.
  • Choose vacations where you can enjoy swimming and water sports.
  • Turn bathtime into a mindfulness moment by asking them questions about how the water feels and sounds.
  • For older children and teens, visit a spa or float therapy center together. 

Drink It

Let’s also not forget how critical water is to our health. By simply drinking enough water throughout the day, children can minimize feelings of stress and anxiety. Water plays such an important role in how our body functions. All of our organs, including our brain, need water to work properly. If we’re dehydrated, our body is strained and we can become stressed and edgy. Dehydration can actually cause symptoms that feel like anxiety, such as dizziness, muscle fatigue, headache, feeling faint, increased heart rate, and nausea.

Dehydration has also been linked to higher cortisol levels. According to the Calm Clinic, water appears to have natural calming properties. Drinking water can be soothing, and our body can benefit from the added hydration when we are stressed.

It is so important that we encourage our children to drink enough water every day to help them stay balanced. The amount of water a child needs depends on several factors like activity level and local weather, but in general children should drink at least six to eight cups of water per day.

Your children will probably need more water if they’re participating in sports. It’s suggested that they drink a half cup to two cups of water every 15 to 20 minutes while exercising. For specific recommendations, see the Dietary Reference Intakes(DRIs) developed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

As one of our most important natural resources, water provides so many benefits including improving our health and happiness. Have fun exploring new ways for your children to enjoy water through their senses – and you will be grateful for how calm they are as a result.

How do you use water to calm your children? 

3 Ways Camping Helps Your Children Appreciate Nature

Nature

This guest post was written by freelance blogger and writer Emily Folk. She feels passionately about conservation of wildlife and natural resources and living a greener lifestyle. 

There is no better way to get your children to value the importance of nature in our life than to immerse them in it with a camping experience. Or maybe you want to buy a kayak online and worry you’ll never get a chance to use it. If you tremble at the thought, I don’t blame you. Setting up and taking down tents in the pouring rain is only one of the many obstacles you will face while subjecting your family to leaving the comforts of home and sleeping in the woods. You will also have to pull your kids away from their electronic gadgets. Oh my! But all of these sacrifices will be well worth it. No matter what happens, you will come home with lasting memories that you and your family will cherish. Here are some ways that camping helps your children appreciate nature:

Living Off The Land

Living off the land requires responsibility and hard work. Camping gives you the opportunity to show your children how much we depend on our natural environment. Ask them to take on some tasks to ensure a safe and happy camping trip. They can gather firewood and pile it away from the fire pit. Ask them to fetch water, either from a lake or a pump at the campsite. They will quickly learn to appreciate their municipal water system after doing it the hard way.

Take the kids to search for berries to eat. However, be sure to know what you will be picking in the area. If you know you are among blueberry bushes, that’s fine, but beware of poisonous berries that may look appetizing. Getting sick won’t make them appreciate nature!

If possible, do some fishing so they can experience catching and eating their own food. Fishing will teach them where food really comes from and give them more appreciation for what nature provides. Once they make these connections, they will really understand the importance of keeping our environment clean. Be sure to highlight the Leave No Trace Seven Principles for keeping the outdoors pristine.

Finally, camping gives our kids the chance to solve problems that come up when we are away from the resources and comforts of home.

Appreciating Simplicity

After just a few breaths of fresh air, your children will begin learning about the environment we live in. Modern conveniences are wonderful, but they keep us sheltered and cut off from nature. When you are in it, you start noticing the sounds, the scents, and the vivid colors of nature. Use this time to do some family meditation focusing on your senses like the gorgeous colors around you.

Your children will learn to appreciate the simplicity of nature and just being a part of it. You don’t have to leave 45 minutes early to get somewhere because there are no appointments or deadlines while out in the woods. Encourage your children to spend some time resting in a hammock, and they may never want to leave. Give them a good book to read or a coloring book while they are relaxing and let the hours pass by without a worry. They might want to go on a hike or run to the beach, but they will enjoy a break from structure for a while.

Finally, turning life down a bit without all the technology is good for the soul. No television, no computers, no phone calls. Disconnecting gives them the opportunity to get creative. They will have to use their own imaginations to entertain themselves. You will be surprised how they use rocks, sticks, leaves, animals, and cloud formations to create their own games and stories.

Taking In The Beauty

Camping is a lot of work but it is also tons of fun. Living outdoors exposes your children to many things they may not have thought about before. They will squeal with delight when they see their first deer, shudder at signs of bear or bobcat tracks, and jump for joy with they catch their first fish.

You can guide your children to discover different varieties of plants and trees. Bring along nature reference books and tools like binoculars and magnifying glasses to make nature walks more exciting. You will enjoy seeing your children experience nature on their own, rather than watching it on TV or through a device.

Sunrises and sunsets are everyday occurrences, but your children will marvel at their beauty. Always be on the lookout for rainbows and clouds in all types of interesting shapes. Bring along some notebooks and art supplies so they can document all the natural beauty they witness.

As night approaches, you can have your children help you build a cozy campfire. Teach them campfire safety and show them the proper way to light and maintain a fire. Sitting around a campfire is such a wonderful way to strengthen family bonds. Get a comfy spot by the campfire and enjoy the warmth along with entertaining stories everyone has to share. You will find times where you just stare into the fire and enjoy the peace of the night together as a family.

Happy camping!

What family camping stories can you share?

How Children’s Poetry Can Instill An Appreciation For Nature

Nature

When we witness the beauty and vastness of nature, it can cause us to feel a number of powerful emotions. There is nothing more special than watching our children see a rainbow or waterfall for the first time. They look on in utter awe of these natural phenomena.

When we are in awe of nature, we are inspired to be more creative because it causes us to view the world in a broader sense. One way to capture this creativity is through poetry. Writing colorful prose allows our children to reflect on what they experience in nature so they can hold on to those moments forever.

Throughout history, poetry has fascinated readers and inspired them to understand the world in a deeper way. Many nature lovers have used poetry to communicate their connection to the environment. Some of the most famous nature poets include:

Robert Frost. His works connected everyday life to nature. These words from the poem “The Road Not Taken” are one of the most celebrated lines of English poetry: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–I took the one less traveled by.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson. He was Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during the reign of Queen Victoria. His poems use references of nature to describe philosophical themes.

William Wordsworth. He is one of the most famous poets of the Romantic era. He used nature to bring about nostalgia and admiration. He connected with nature in a deep, yet simple manner. One of his poems is titled, “To A Butterfly.”

P.B. Shelly. He used nature to describe deeper things like society and people’s inner thoughts. Nature was described in a more mystic and sacred manner in his works.

John Keats. He provoked readers to imagine his descriptions of nature. Though his poems focused on the environment, they brought about feelings pertaining to his life.

Inspire Your Children With Nature Poetry

There are so many ways to use poetry to instill an appreciation for nature in your children. After you spend time outdoors like going on a family hike, playing at the beach, or even gardening in your backyard, encourage your children to write down their thoughts and feelings about nature as poetry.


You can also enjoy nature poetry on their level by reading several wonderful children’s books together. One of our favorites is The Green Mother Goose: Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time by Jan Peck and David Davis. Not only is it a great tool to teach about environmental issues, it is also quite hilarious. The authors take traditional Mother Goose rhymes and turn them into poetry with a green theme. Old Mother Hubbard shops with cloth grocery bags. Old King Coal works to keep our air free of pollution. Humpty Dumpty gives a lesson on global warming and worries he will get fried from all the heat. And the Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe makes her home more energy efficient with insulation, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and solar panels. Just brilliant!

Children’s Nature Poetry Books

Enjoy some of these other children’s nature poetry collections:

 

Please share your children’s nature poems or favorite nature poem books with us.

5 Ways To Make Hiking Fun and Engaging For Your Kids

Nature

This guest post is written by Kimberly Yavorski, a freelance writer with a passion for learning. She writes frequently on the topics of parenting, the outdoors, and current events. More of her work can be found on her website www.kimberlyyavorski.com. She is also on Facebook and Twitter. This article was originally published at www.letsgetoutside.us.

We are all used to traveling to get to a destination. It is a change of mindset to think of the journey as the destination, which is very difficult for young children to grasp as we often hear them ask “Are we there yet?” They have learned that there are schedules to meet and they need to hurry up and get moving so that we can reach our destination on time.

Hiking, however, does not always have a destination. Sure, you may be hiking to a waterfall, picturesque overlook, or other awe-inspiring scene, but many times hiking is simply a walk in nature.  Children new to hiking may find this boring and want to get back to their electronic entertainment as soon as possible. Try these fun tips to get them more excited about your hike and the importance of nature.

Alphabet Hike

Challenge them to search for each letter, consecutively. This can be in the form of an item that starts with the letter or finding the letter itself in nature. Tree branches curve and break, forming patterns above them. Leaves, especially in the fall, may have patterns that resemble letters. If you are creative enough, you may even see letters in wildlife, in the curve of a leg for example. Besides giving them something to do, it also encourages them to pay attention to their surroundings.

Artist Hike

Bring along a sketchpad or notebook and pencils, crayons, or markers to inspire creativity in your kids during the hike. Find a comfortable spot to stop for a break and ask your children to draw something interesting that they observed. You can also make it more challenging by sitting back to back with your child and describe what you see while he or she draws what you describe. These pictures can also be a lasting memento of your journey.

Sensory Hike

Encourage your child to use his or her senses to see how many things can be observed. Make a section of the hike silent to better hear the sounds of nature (being quiet may also enable you to see more wildlife as they will not be frightened off as easily). Breathe in the air and see if it smells different than at home. Can you identify where the smell is coming from? Ask your children to spend a few moments being mindfully aware of the many gorgeous colors around them in nature. You can add touch, but remind children that some plants can cause an itchy reaction so they should choose carefully. (This could be a time to add a lesson about plants such as poison ivy.) While taste could be interesting as well, this is not advised unless you know for certain what you are tasting and that it is not toxic.

Identification Hike

Teach your children how to identify the many amazing plants and animals that you find along your hike. You can focus on trees, birds, flowers, insects, or whatever seems to be in abundance in your hiking location. There are many good guide books that can help you identify species. If you do not have a guide book with you during your hike, you can take pictures and then research them later at home or at the library.

Scavenger Hunt

Do some research about where you plan to hike to get an idea of what you are likely to see. Make a list of items for your child to find. Add some creative ideas to make it more interesting, such as a tree hugging another or a rock that resembles a face. If you have children of varying ages, you can also adjust the difficulty so that the older kids are still challenged and engaged. Keeping Leave No Trace principles in mind to enjoy our natural world in a sustainable way that avoids human-created impacts, simply check off that these items were found or take pictures. Always leave nature as it was when you found it.

When hiking with kids, remember to take frequent breaks for water and a healthy snack. Let them set the pace and emphasize the fun factor. Point out the blazes on the trail and explain that we use those to determine which way to go. You can also bring along binoculars or magnifying glasses to examine nature in more detail. Make sure any trash from your snack gets packed up to take home–or to the trashcan in the parking lot. You might also want to be a good nature citizen and pick up any trash or non-natural objects you find on the trail for disposal (bring along a trash bag for this).

7 Clever Ideas To Get Your Kids Excited About Gardening

Nature

This guest post was written by Shannon Brescher Shea, the mom of a one-year-old and almost four-year-old who is learning to be kinder, more adventurous, and more sustainable. She writes about parenting, growing up, and exploring this big, beautiful world at We’ll Eat You Up, We Love You So. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Messing around in the dirt is a classic childhood activity. Gardening is just messing around in the dirt with a purpose. Growing fruits and vegetables together can actually be one of the most fun and engaging activities that you do with your kids. In addition to the general benefits of being outside, gardening connects kids with their food, provides them with a sense of accomplishment, shows them the importance of nature in our life, and is a great way to teach a variety of important skills. In my own life, I have seen my son get so excited about the cherry tomatoes in our garden that he eats them right off the plants!

Here are some easy tips on how to introduce young children to gardening:

Involve Them From The Beginning

I have fond memories of going to the garden store with my mom. They had all sorts of fascinating tools and displays, especially the spinning racks with seed packets. While you are there, ask your kids what kinds of vegetables they would like to plant. If you buy from a catalog, sit down with them and look through it together. They may want to grow some of their favorite foods like watermelon, peppers, or corn. Or you may find they have a fondness for a vegetable that you never would have considered. We are going to grow edamame this year because my son loves it. If you want to plant some fruit trees, get some expert advice from the following tree experts: https://www.thelocaltreeexperts.com/wa/seattle/.

Buy Them Their Own Tools

Garden tools are often large, heavy, and not well-suited for little hands. Fortunately, a number of companies make children’s garden tools that they can use to do real work. Green Toys sells a sturdy plastic set that is made in the USA of 100 percent recycled materials. Having their own tools will allow kids to participate more easily and minimize the chances of whacking themselves or you. No guarantees that they won’t steal your tools anyway though.

Give Them A Job

Small children love feeling useful. (Don’t we all!) If possible, try to find a job they can do without too much help from you. It should be something that if they do it wrong, it won’t cause major damage to the garden. In our house, common tasks for my three-year-old include putting dirt in a flowerpot for starting seeds and pulling weeds outside our garden fence. If you compost, shredding newspaper to put in the composter is also a perfect, easy task for kids.

Incorporate Play To Teach About Nature

I practice what is called “lasagna gardening,” or sheet mulching. This is a technique where you layer several types of organic matter on top of each other and then plant straight into it. Because I do not live on a farm where I would have access to straw, I use leaves instead. In the fall, my son and I work together to rake up huge piles of leaves. But it is far from a serious affair. He jumps in them happily and I even plop down a few times myself.

Give Them Their Own Space

Some of my fondest childhood memories were sitting in my backyard and digging in the dirt. If you can, designate some garden space that your child can have just to themselves. This year, I hope to build a raised bed that my kids can use as a play space. If that is not possible, try to designate a corner of the garden for them where nothing is growing.

Explain What You Are Doing And Why

While gardening sometimes seems like magic to kids–food from the dirt–it actually has a lot of science and math involved. Planting seeds can lead to a conversation about plants’ life cycles. Measuring out where to put plants can help kids understand both competition for resources and how to use a tape measure. Talking your kids through what you are doing will help them build their own skills as gardeners as well as provide a practical application for much of what they learn in school. Get them excited by planting an edible garden or a tasting garden so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Read Books And Listen To Music About Gardening

Because vegetable gardening can be so colorful, it lends itself well to children’s books. For very young children, Growing Vegetable Soup is a lovely introduction. For older children, Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt provides a poetic overview of the tasks that each season brings. It also has a glossary that gives information on some common garden pests and helpers. Rachel’s Day In The Garden is an adorable book that teaches kids about both yoga and enjoying nature. PBS also has a fairly comprehensive list of other children’s books about gardening.

For music, The Garden Song communicates the simple beauty of growing food. The version with John Denver and the Muppets is particularly charming. The band Formidable Vegetable Sound System has swing-funk songs for kids that focus only on environmental topics, including gardening.

Nothing quite connects people like growing food together. Gardening can bond young and old, parent and child. I hope these tips help you get started on growing food with your kids!

What are your experiences with growing a family garden?

5 Entertaining Ways To Get Your Kids To Play Outside

Nature

Having trouble pulling your kids away from their electronic gadgets? It’s getting harder and harder everyday to convince our children to turn off their iPhones, iPads, and video games to step outside and enjoy some fresh air and old fashioned running around. And maybe they will also get to interact with other human beings as opposed to virtual friends or by “talking” to their friends by texting and posting on Instagram.

If we want to raise successful and well-rounded children, it is absolutely necessary that we entice them to spend more time outdoors and appreciate the importance of nature in our life. Besides being fun, this time outside offers numerous benefits including reducing stress and improving their health. What can you do to get your kids outside more often? Try these five entertaining ways that will be sure to give those electronics a run for their money.

Outdoor Games

When it comes time for birthday or holiday gifts, choose some fun games to play outdoors. Try tetherball, hula hoops, jump ropes, or get a few water squirters and let your kids loose on each other out back. Or, if they prefer skill-based games, check out some Let’s Play Cornhole products. These games are a blast to play as a family or invite a few neighborhood kids over to play.

Your children will also love doing an obstacle course in your backyard. You can set it up yourself or have them help you. Go through your house and garage and gather several pieces of fitness equipment. Create several stations for different activities, such as jump rope, cones to run around, a box to jump over, and a basketball net to shoot a ball into. You can also have some stations that do not require equipment–they can do jumping jacks, push-ups, or hop on one foot. With older children, you can even incorporate swimming or bike riding into the obstacle course. Each unique course gives them a new challenge they will love.

Swing Sets

Swing sets are still so popular for backyard fun after all these years. They can be a great form of exercise and hours of entertainment for your little ones. You can purchase swing sets that are part of wider play areas, giving your children something to climb on and hang from. Just make sure that you install the equipment over a soft surface so your kids do not hurt themselves if they fall off.

Believe it or not, swinging can be an effective form of exercise, helping to condition their joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. The monkey bars are also a wonderful way for children to gain strength and help them reach new goals as they learn to move from one bar to another on their own. And who can forget the slide? Every child loves the thrill and freedom they get when sliding.

Team Sports

Signing your children up for team sports is probably the best way to get them involved outside and a chance to give them new skills to use throughout their lives. Besides all of the physical fitness gains, team sports are also a wonderful opportunity for kids to meet new friends and learn how to work within a team. They will want to go to their practices and games to see their friends.

Deciding which sports to sign up for can be overwhelming. Before registering, research all your options and be sure that your child tries the sport at home first to gauge their interest and abilities. If you have to force them to play, then it will not be beneficial to them in the long run. But know that it is okay for them to try (and fail) at a few different sports before they find what they love. However, it is important to stick through the season. Even if the sport you signed up for does not turn out to be your child’s favorite activity, there is an important lesson to be learned about commitment and teamwork, and finishing an activity for the good of others.

Swimming Pool

Spending time in water has a tremendous soothing effect, making us feel more relaxed and refreshed. It also provides hours of enjoyment and exercise for kids of all ages, whether they are swimming laps, doing cannonballs into the water, playing Marco polo, or engaging in water sports like basketball, water gymnastics, or volleyball.

You do not need to purchase an expensive in-ground pool; a large inflatable one will also do the job. In the summer, pools can be the best way to entice your kids to spend more time outside to cool off in the heat. Besides, swimming is one of the best, safest forms of exercise since it does not put strains on our bodies. Just make sure you can fit the pool in your garden before you buy it, as they can be surprisingly large.

Make It A Group Event

Another way to lure your children outside is to set up a playdate that involves one of these outdoor activities. Your kids will tend to want to play outside if they have friends to spend time with. Make it even more exciting by hosting a pool barbecue party for your kids and their friends. Or set up an obstacle course, water balloon toss, or other sporting events and invite a few friends over for some impromptu backyard Olympics. The more the merrier–and the happier your kids will be enjoying the outdoors.

What is your trick to getting your kids outside more often?