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Kids are spending an exorbitant amount of time glued to their electronics these days. The latest survey by Common Sense Media found that American teenagers ages 13 to 18 spend an average of six and a half hours of screen time per day on social media and other activities like video games. Screen time continues to increase as kids are online more during the school day and for socializing with their friends. With this boost in screen use, we have also seen a rise in mental health concerns with tweens and teens. The increase in young girls’ digital technology use, for example, is often linked to the rise in depression and suicide since 2012 in the U.S.

One way to balance out all this screen time is to get outside and engage with nature, which has been shown through scientific research to have an abundance of health benefits. All of us need healthy breaks away from screens throughout the day to recharge and get back to a balanced state, both mentally and physically. Spending some time outside will help kids relax and then come back energized and inspired as they continue with their day. If they do not get these necessary nature breaks in between school, homework, and their other commitments, they could burn out before they even have the chance to receive their high school diploma.

Every year, the organization Fairplay organizes Screen-free Week to shine the light on the importance of taking breaks from screens. Screen-Free Week is an annual invitation to play, explore, and rediscover the joys of life beyond ad-supported screens. During the first week of May, thousands of families, schools, and communities around the world will put down their entertainment screens for seven days of fun, connection, and discovery.

Even though this week is about turning off screens, Screen-Free Week is not just about going without technology. As we all know, much of our lives these days depend on screens: paying bills, ordering food, filling out forms before visiting the doctor, keeping up with family and friends, communicating with our children’s school, our own work, our kids’ schoolwork, and more.

Instead, let’s spend time during Screen-Free Week recognizing how we can start building a nature habit to turn some screen time into more green time. An hour once dedicated to YouTube becomes an hour spent outside on a family bike ride; ten minutes scrolling on social media turn into ten minutes taking care of a pet or plant; a movie on a rainy afternoon is replaced by time spent reading and learning about nature.

You can celebrate Screen-Free Week at home, in your school, in your community, or anywhere – just put down those entertainment screens and choose an activity that helps you connect to nature because, as we discuss all the time here, it will help you and your loved ones feel happier and calmer.

Here are some other ideas for replacing screen time with green time all year long:

• Instead of eating dinner in front of the television, take your meal out back or on your balcony.
• Instead of planning birthday parties where kids watch a movie or play video games, suggest getting a group together for a barbeque; swimming; outdoor sports game; or an exciting adventure like camping, boating, kayaking, river rafting, mountain biking, or doing a ropes course.
• Instead of your kids locked away in their rooms with their computer doing homework, suggest they head outside to get some of their work done to enjoy the fresh air. Maybe they even want to draft an essay the old-fashioned way with a pencil and paper to get a much-needed screen break.
• Instead of your kids making TikTok videos all day, get their creative juices flowing while engaging with nature outside by doing activities like nature photography, drawing or painting nature scenes, nature journaling, writing nature poetry and stories, and even listening to music while relaxing in the backyard.
• Instead of hosting family holiday dinners at your dining room table, set up your gathering outdoors.

As you can see, there are so many ways to swap screen time for green time. Get started by taking the Screen-Free Week Pledge. You will also find other amazing resources over on the Fairplay website, including a Screen-Free Bingo Game and a list of 101 Screen-Free Activities.

You can also learn more about this topic by listening to my interviews on the Mom Enough Podcast and the Healthy Screen Habits Podcast.

 

This guest post was written by Lisa Reichelt, M.ED, Parent Coach at Champion Your Parenting. She is an educator, wife, mother, and grandmother with over 40 years experience helping families. She believes parenting is a daunting task and is eager to help strengthen family relationships. Find her at www.ChampionYourParenting.com.

You hear it all the time: “Kids need to spend more time outdoors!” Great advice, but have you ever wondered how to really make it happen? Your kids want to be on devices, watch TV or just lay around the house. They complain that “there’s nothing to do outside.”

Unless you are blessed with the perfect neighborhood full of kids, you probably need help getting your child out the door and into nature. It may not be as simple as telling them to go outside and play.

Here’s the help you need. Start adding One-On-One Time to your weekly activities. One-On-One Time consists of 8-15 minutes set aside to spend with just one child. You spend time with them doing something they enjoy. This practice strengthens your relationship by letting your child see how important they are to you.

Your child feels special because they have you all to themselves. It improves your communication with your child and helps you to really know how they think and what they feel. Your children becomes mentally and emotionally stronger as your relationship deepens.

Ideally, One-On-One Time would happen every day. That is a good goal to shoot for, but not necessary for beginners. Start with 3-5 times a week. Also, depending on how many children you have, One-On-One Time may need to be less frequent. But don’t give up on it just because you can’t do it everyday. Time spent with each child individually is a powerful parenting tool. It’s like putting money in the bank for when you have to discipline or correct them.

How To Get Started

Basically you get started by just doing it! Choose today to spend 8-15 minutes with each child giving them your undivided attention. Tell them this is their One-on-One Time. See how it works and be ready to adjust your time as needed.

One-on-One time can be a casual time together or a short activity you do with one another. Ask your child to pick something to do and join them in that activity they enjoy. If necessary, set a timer because ending One-on-One Time is important so that it doesn’t become burdensome. Remember that the goal is to make good connections with your child in short, repetitive encounters. You can still engage in activities that take more time, just don’t call it One-on-One Time.

One-on-One Time is quality time and the “quality” part of it depends on your level of attention. Children are very insightful; they recognize when adults are giving them their full attention or not. During your time together, be sure to leave devices off and out of sight. That helps you avoid multitasking. Listen carefully so that your child knows you are not distracted. Make good eye contact and give your child the highest quality attention possible. They will respond with joy!

Tips To Make One-on-One Time Work

• Keep other children occupied.
• If other children interrupt, dock time during their One-on-One Time (enforce this and they’ll quickly learn).
• Put younger children to bed first.
• Praise good behavior and ignore minor misbehavior (One-on-One Time should be a positive interaction).
• Have a few ideas handy in case your child can’t think of anything.

If you need a way to “kickstart” your One-On-One Time, check out this 21 Day Challenge. You’ll receive a reminder email each day with great activity suggestions for younger and older kids. It will become a new habit in your family.

One-On-One Time In Nature

You may wonder how One-On-One Time helps you get your kids outdoors. Well, here is the connection. You can decide that being out in nature is the best way to spend your One-On-One Time. Your child can still choose what you do, but think of ways to take the activity outdoors. If they want to read a book, take it to the porch. If they want to play a board game, set up a card table in the yard. The options are endless.

The more you spend time outdoors, the more you’ll want to find other ways to enjoy nature. Connecting with nature has many benefits. It calms us, teaches us to experience the awe of nature and reduces stress.

Combining your One-On-One Time with time spent in nature gives you a triple benefit. In the end, your child grows to love the outdoors, you deepen your relationship with them, and you both create wonderful memories. It will make a world of difference in your family life and your long-term parent/child relationship. Give it a try today!

This guest post was written by Michelle McCarthy of Fresh Flowers + Spilled Milk. She is an entrepreneur, digital marketer, and mom of two. Michelle started her blog in 2019 with her sister and mom. Together, they have started a motherhood lifestyle blog and created an online printables store to help you “decorate + celebrate baby” with beautiful designs for nurseries, baby showers, and birthday parties.

With nicer weather approaching, it is the perfect opportunity to plan an outdoor birthday party with a nature theme for your kids! Combine the benefits of nature with the gathering of close family and friends, and you are sure to have a special party that will be remembered for years to come.

The greatest part about a nature-themed birthday party is that nature itself provides beautiful decor and endless entertainment – so the party planning is relatively easy. Here are 10 of the best nature-themed birthday party ideas for your family and friends to enjoy. We’ve even included sample invitation text to go along with each theme.

 

#1: Birdwatching

“How Time Flies! Max is Turning 4”

Birdwatching would make such a fun and unique children’s birthday party theme. For locations, we recommend a local bird/Audubon Center, a park, or simply your backyard. An easy and creative activity to incorporate would be to make your own binoculars. Just provide toilet paper rolls, glue, string, and markers/stickers. For featured foods, make bird nest treats using pretzel sticks and egg shaped candy (secure with icing). This party wouldn’t be complete without a DIY pinecone bird feeder party favor.

#2: Gardening

“A Little Dirt Never Hurt! Join us for Liam’s Garden Party”

Gardening is an educational, active, and calming activity for children. Why not turn this into a fun birthday party theme? For locations, we recommend a backyard or a local plant nursery. The kids can create their own egg carton gardens by scooping dirt and planting seeds. When the lid is closed, it retains moisture and acts as a greenhouse. Featured foods at your garden party could be dirt cups, fresh vegetables, and flower cookies/cupcakes. Since they will be taking home their egg carton gardens, you can keep the party favors simple with gardening stickers to decorate their egg carton.

#3 Animals

“Calling All Party Animals…Ansley’s Turning 3!”

There are amazing benefits for children who spend time with animals. Plan an animal birthday party at a petting zoo, local farm, or in your backyard. If you are throwing it in your backyard, try making an animal footprints sensory station by setting up hard toy animals and clay for the children to stamp the footprints into. The featured foods for this party are a fruit plate in the shape of an animal, animal cupcakes/cookies, and cheddar bunnies. Let them “adopt a party animal” on their way out by taking home a little plush friend!

#4 Camping

“Our Happy Camper is Turning 3”

Camping is an immersive nature experience that helps your children learn survival skills and disconnect from the always-on world. For a camping party, try having it at an actual campsite or in your backyard. Have a fun sleeping bag race to feed their competitive spirits and a “Happy Camper” nature scavenger hunt so they can appreciate the nature around them. Featured foods at a camping themed birthday party are s’mores and pigs in a sleeping bag (blanket). Decorate with fun tents for the children to play in and lanterns hanging from the trees. A unique party favor (that is also functional) is their own mini flashlight.

#5 Hiking

“Hike on Over to Celebrate Jaclyn’s 6th Birthday”

Hiking is an amazing way to promote exercise and encourage your children to explore the wilderness. This is a fun spin on the more popular camping birthday party theme. The locations for this party could be a hiking trail, a county park, or your backyard! This is another opportunity to do a nature scavenger hunt. For your featured food, set up a build your own trail mix bar. Similar to the camping theme, another functional party favor is a mini wooden whistle.

#6 Fairy Garden

“Celebrating a Fairy Special Girl, Charlotte”

This whimsical fairy garden birthday party theme encourages children to use their imaginations and pay attention to the details. The best locations for a fairy garden birthday are a butterfly garden or your backyard. Hit up the local craft store to set up a DIY fairy garden activity. Just get a plate, a little wooden house, beads, stones, paper butterflies, and some greenery. Featured food at a fairy garden party could be butterfly crackers, mushroom cookies, and strawberries dipped in white chocolate with shimmery sprinkles. Send them off with their fairy garden and some fairy bubbles as a party favor.

#7 Bugs

“We are Buggin’ Out for Henry’s Birthday”

Bugs are a part of nature and an important part of the ecosystem. Plus, they are fascinating and cute (at least some of them!). Throw a bug themed birthday party at the local bee center, bug zoo, park or your backyard. Do some fun bug printing in clay and use bug catching kits. There are endless ideas for bug foods, but the easiest featured food ideas for a party are ladybug strawberries (use chocolate icing), caterpillar grape skewers, dirt cups, and bee cupcakes. Give them little bug headbands as a party favor.

               

#8 National Parks

“You’re Invited to Madelyn’s National Park Adventure”

Since most of us can’t actually bring our friends to a national park, let’s bring the park to them! The best location for a national park themed birthday party is your own backyard. Incorporate a large Smokey the Bear pinata and make a trout fishing water hole out of a kiddie pool. There are lots of options for national park decor that look just like the signage at the actual parks. Give the kids a national park coloring book as they head out.

#9 Rocks

“Rowan rocks! Join Us to Celebrate His 5th birthday”

From an early age, there is something about rocks that is fascinating to children. Throw a rock themed birthday party in your own backyard. You can set up a DIY rock mining activity by burying rocks in a sandbox or dirt bucket, providing a little sifter and a water station to rinse them. For featured foods at this party, serve donut holes and mini chocolate bundt cakes with raspberry cream (as mini volcanos). Hand out some rock candy as a party favor to your little geologists!

#10 Picnic in the Park

“Join Us for a Picnic in the Park to Celebrate Mia”

Find a picnic table at a park and lay out some blankets for this easy birthday party theme. There may be a playground at your park, so you can just bring some trucks and shovels and make a little bubble station. In authentic picnic form, sandwiches are your main featured food. Add in a popsicle or ice cream stand to help cool the kids down from all the playing they will be doing! Let them leave with mini picnic baskets that have a little treat inside.

 

April is Citizen Science Month. Citizen science is the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. Citizen science involves volunteers collecting scientific data like counting the number of a certain type of bird or flower seen in their neighborhood or taking pictures and submitting them through an app. It is a wonderful way for children to gain science experience and directly help the scientific community while also spending time outside in nature.

This time outside working on citizen science projects can help kids feel happier and calmer. These activities are very engaging for children as they take pictures or count a specific type of plant or animal, so they become very focused and lost in the moment. Therefore, citizen science can stimulate mindfulness, which has been shown to tremendously improve well-being. In addition, volunteering outside in nature, helps us feel better as we give back to others and our community.

Citizen Science Month offers thousands of opportunities for families to turn curiosity into impact. There is something for everyone, no matter your age or where you live. Join others in learning about and participating in real (and fun) ways to help scientists answer questions they cannot answer without you. Learn more about Citizen Science Month.

While April is a special month for citizen science, you can participate in citizen science projects all year round. You can find citizen science projects using the following resources:

• CitizenScience.gov: This searchable database provides a government-wide listing of citizen science projects.
• SciStarter: Provides a database of more than 3,000 vetted projects and events searchable by location, topic, interest, and more.
• Zooniverse: The world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered volunteer research.

During the month of May, you can get involved with BackyardBio. This is a global nature campaign that encourages the public, and especially kids, to get outdoors exploring and looking for all the wildlife that lives near them. The goal is for people around the world to document what they find through photographs, sketches, and stories and share them with others to help foster a worldwide appreciation for local biodiversity everywhere. The campaign is inspired by the NatureForAll movement, the largest collaboration of nature education organizations in the world all pushing for a world where everyone has access to nature and recognizes its true value.

BackyardBio will help you spend quality time outdoors exploring your backyard, front yard, neighborhood, school yard, local parks, conservation areas, and more to find as many different species of plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, fungi (you name it!) as you can. This can be a big family or classroom project or just ten minutes looking and listening to see what you discover. Every minute engaging with the natural world is valuable and healing!

There are three ways you can share what you discover:

1. On social media using the #backyardbio. Share images of wild creatures or of your family/classroom getting out enjoying nature.
2. Via the INaturalist App. By joining the BackyardBio INaturalist project, your observations will be collated together to provide a snapshot of all the living things around the globe. For younger kids and classes, you can use the Seek App instead since it makes nature learning an engaging game and prevents location data from being collected.
3. For teachers, there is the option to register your classroom on the BackyardBio.net website where your class will be partnered with others of the same age around the world to join in a shared backyardbio experience.

It couldn’t be easier to join the adventure and take part in BackyardBio! The program is a fun and easy activity to get your family or students exploring biodiversity and sharing their passion for nature with the world, while also feeling happier and calmer.

 

Earth Day–my favorite holiday, of course–is an annual event to show support for environmental protection and to highlight how nature can benefit our health and well-being. On this day, participants all around the globe come together in their campaigns for plastic waste elimination, sustainable fashion, climate change, and other green initiatives to help make a difference and protect our precious planet.

You can celebrate Earth Day in numerous ways—by attending events in person and online, organizing your own events, participating in environmental volunteer projects, or simply spending time outside as a family. In fact, a family trip or a picnic might be a fantastic idea. But shouldn’t you do more than that for the environment? How exactly would nature benefit from you spending a fun day outside with your family? Well, let’s find out.

Brings You Closer to What You Want to Protect

To understand why we want to protect nature, we need to fully absorb it on an emotional level. That means actually going outside and experiencing nature in all its glory. We feel much more passionate about preventing deforestation, for example, if we frequently take walks in forests. When we admire oceans, seas, and lakes, we want to make sure they stay clean and pristine without plastic waste floating in them. And as we breathe in the fresh mountain air, we begin to understand how important it is to minimize air pollution for both our physical and mental health.

More importantly, though, exposing your kids to nature and its beauties from an early age may instill in them awe and appreciation for our planet. At first, that appreciation wouldn’t be entirely conscious, but that changes over time. Eventually, they will likely grow up feeling passionate about environmental protection and have a genuine love for nature.

Helps You Feel Happier and Calmer

As we talk about all the time here, spending time outside in nature can drastically improve your mood and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. The sunshine, greenery, and fresh air can do wonders for your mental health, giving you a much-needed boost of energy. What’s more, doing fun activities in nature will help you feel closer to your family and community. For that reason alone, you will want to look for opportunities to spend as much time outside as possible. And Earth Day provides the perfect chance, so don’t miss it!

Provides Fun for the Entire Family

There are tons of fun and relaxing Earth Day activities for kids that you can also enjoy year-round. You could build birdhouses, spend time in a garden, go for a hike or bike ride, visit a park or nature center, or organize an Earth Day-inspired scavenger hunt. If organizing a scavenger hunt feels like too much work, you can try a simpler activity. Take your children for a walk and let them take pictures of animal tracks and whatever else catches their interest. Allow them to explore as much as they want, but make sure you’re around to guide them and keep them safe. Or set up some art supplies outside and encourage your kids to draw or paint the nature all around. The options are endless.

If you can’t find an event or activity in your local area, take things into your own hands and organize an Earth Day celebration for your family. It could be a small one just for you and your kids, or you could invite relatives, neighbors, and other people willing to participate in the special day. As for the kind of event you can organize, that’s entirely up to you. But we suggest doing something beneficial for the environment—for instance, collect and recycle the garbage in a public park or do a beach cleanup if you live near the ocean. At the end of the day, remind your kids to not leave any trash lying around. Ask them to help you collect the garbage and carry it to a nearby recycling bin. If you do that frequently enough, your children will surely remember that it’s important.

Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our beautiful planet and remember that it’s the only one we have, and it needs our help. How you choose to do that is up to you. Even just enjoying the lovely weather outside with your family is enough, and it may have a lasting impact on your kids.

And remember, although we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, I invite you to support environmental protection and connect to nature every single day. If you are looking for more ideas on how to build a nature habit, check out my book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer.

 

Whether you are a brand-new parent with a newborn or have been around the parenting block a few times, there is always something new to learn with each age and stage. Parenthood can be quite isolating and frustrating if we try to do it alone. Joining or starting a parenting book club can be a wonderful way to find support while having fun and garnering a whole host of additional benefits.

Here are five reasons you should consider either joining or starting a parenting book club: 

Get a break from your family. First and foremost, a book club is an enjoyable social activity that provides a chance for you to get out of the house for a bit. All parents need a break from their kids and the other responsibilities at home, so a book club is a great excuse to have some time away and recharge your batteries. Book clubs usually only last a couple hours once a month, so they are not a big commitment. Be sure to add your book club meetings on your calendar way in advance to set up childcare, whether it’s your co-parent or a babysitter.

Meet new friends. Books have the incredible ability to bring people together. Book clubs are a wonderful way to reach out and make new friends, whether you are new to the area, new to parenthood, or looking to connect to other parents in your neighborhood, school, etc. Many parents struggle with either being stuck at home with young children all day or feeling far removed from the parenting world if they work. By joining a book club focused on parenting, you can connect with others in your same situation to talk about issues that impact all your lives. If you already enjoy reading, you know it can feel like a solitary hobby, but when you read a book to discuss with others, it brings the experience to a whole other level for you to form new relationships.

Bond with other parents. Besides initiating new friendships, you will find that you can also deepen bonds with others in the book club over time. Attending a parenting book club consistently will help you get to know others in the group as you dive into more personal topics that arise from book discussions. You may discover fascinating stories and interests of other members that lead you to get to know them even more, such as inviting them to get together outside of the book club. The next thing you know, you might be vacationing or sharing holidays with book club friends.

Discover new parenting approaches. Another benefit of being part of a parenting book club is that it helps you learn about new parenting approaches you were not aware of and to see situations with a different perspective. Each book that you read provides unique and interesting ideas from the author. Plus, by being part of a book club, you will get exposed to books and viewpoints that you otherwise may never have even considered. Also, often during conversations about a book, participants will offer parenting tips and tricks that work for them. If you are struggling with a specific issue that comes up in the book or during the discussion, you can ask for advice and walk away with ideas to try at home with your own kids.

Build a healthy habit of reading. If you are already an avid reader, you are probably aware of the many positive benefits of reading. In fact, reading is one of the best ways to help us relax, according to a research study out of the United Kingdom. Reading is a healthy distraction and helps us feel calmer as we focus on the words in front of us and escape our mental chatter and worries. We may even become so engaged in a book to the point of reaching a calm, meditative state. When we are part of a book club, we have an extra push to read and finish the book so we can participate in the fun and stimulating discussion with the group.

How to Find a Parenting Book Club

Now that you know all the benefits of participating in a parenting book club, you are probably wondering how to get started. If you are looking to join an existing book club in your area, then you can look for one at the following: local libraries, bookstores, your school’s PTA, houses of worship, community centers like YMCA and JCC, and other community groups like children’s museums or non-profits focused on parenting and children’s issues. You can also try to find local groups using online tools like Facebook, Meetup, and Nextdoor.

If you are having trouble finding an in-person parenting book club or prefer an online option, you can also search for virtual groups. Facebook is a good place to start, as is just googling “parenting book clubs.” You can also check out Goodreads.com and BookBrowse.com. Some parenting bloggers and authors organize book clubs. Dr. Nerissa Bauer of Let’s Talk Kids Health offers a Read & Grow Parenting Book Club in which participants read popular parenting books and interact with other readers in her exclusive Facebook parenting discussion group. You might also be able to find parenting book clubs in a specific niche. For example, on Facebook there is an Outdoor Parent Book Club/Discussion in which members read nature-related parenting books.

How to Start Your Own

Not having any luck finding a parenting book club that works for you? Then start your own. You can grab a few friends and get reading or build up a community from scratch by announcing your group to some of the places mentioned above. You can also include information in your neighborhood newsletter if you have one or reach out to local businesses or organizations to see if you can put up a flyer or add information about book club meetings on their website or in their newsletter. Writing groups can also be a good resource. The Women’s National Book Association supports book clubs and sponsors literary events around the country.

Before you launch your book club, you will want to consider how many members you want and if you will set any limits on attendees, when you will meet, where you will meet, who will choose the books, who will lead the book discussions, and who will bring food and refreshments. You might also want to pick out a specific theme for the books you choose, such as teen-only or nature parenting books.

Some other helpful ideas to enhance your book club are to download a book discussion guide from the author. Get your free book club discussion guide for my nature parenting book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer.

Finally, you can even invite authors to join in the conversation, either in-person if possible or virtually. That is sure to be a hit! Please contact me if you would like me to make an appearance at your upcoming book club.

 

Art is healing, and every time I turn to it to ease my feelings of stress and anxiety, I immediately feel better. This is especially the case when a creative project involves nature. It is simply not as soothing to paint a building as it is to paint a flower.

Children can also benefit tremendously from engaging in nature-inspired arts and crafts. Creativity has been shown to develop many positive characteristics and help children lead happy, successful lives. When children are creative, they tap into curiosity, intuition, and playfulness to help them solve complex problems. Creativity can also be an important stress buster to help kids feel happier and more relaxed. It provides a healthy outlet for them to express and cope with their emotions in a safe, calm manner. In fact, art has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels.

Creativity can have a major impact on a child’s health and well-being. If your children are feeling stressed, you can teach them how to channel their anxious energy into a creative project or hobby. How does this help? Nature is one of the best sources of inspiration for creative endeavors since it is filled with so many sights, sounds, smells, textures, colors, and other stimuli. Children soak up what is in their environment, so it is important for them to be stimulated by natural elements to increase their creativity. By the same token, the arts can also be a path for connecting children to nature. Since both art and nature are such effective (and fun!) stress reduction tools, we can look for ways for our kids to connect with nature and be inspired by it to create a masterpiece.

There are endless opportunities for us to engage our children in various forms of environmental art. Creating nature crafts from nature stories is one of my favorite ways to do this!

Phillipa Warden, author of Rupert’s Snowman and Emma’s Sunflower, is the expert at creating calming, yet fun, nature crafts for kids inspired by children’s books about nature. She has been teaching craft activities for elementary school students for over 12 years. Phillipa has developed craft-based lesson plans for her books that numerous parents, teachers, librarians, storytellers, and of course children, enjoy creating. She believes that these types of craft activities bring a book’s characters to life and let the story live on in the reader’s mind.

Both of her stories involve time spent in nature as a central theme. They reflect her deep-rooted love of nature and are designed to encourage children to go outside into a garden, park, forest, or anywhere they can interact with nature. Phillipa’s books are set in the countryside surrounding her cottage in Cambridgeshire, England. Whether building a snowman in the depth of winter or refilling the bird feeders at the apple tree during springtime, her family is happiest when they are outside.

She developed so many lovely activities that help children enjoy the wonders of nature. A bird template allows kids to make a beautiful hanging mobile; a flower shaped ‘lens’ asks children what they hear, see, smell, and how it makes them feel; and a sunflower diary reminds them to water and log the growth of a planted sunflower. Here is a sampling of her nature craft activities for you to enjoy. You can download them, plus so many more, at www.phillipawardenbooks.com.

 

Be sure to grab your copies of her books today!

     

 

And please check out our activities page to help your kids find some ecohappiness.

 

Children love a good story before bedtime to help them unwind and put a smile on their sleepy faces. As it turns out, reading is the best way to relax, according to a research study out of the United Kingdom. Overall, reading is a healthy distraction and helps kids feel calmer as they focus on the words they are listening to or reading.

Books also help our kids escape from the present moment into a world of imagination that captures all their attention. They may become so completely engaged in the story to the point of reaching a calm, meditative state that is great for dozing off. Additionally, bedtime stories bring you closer to your child and help them feel safe and secure so they can get to sleep easily.

 

Nature-related children’s stories are the perfect choice for bedtime, as they transport kids to a magical natural environment filled with animals, flowers, trees, water, and more. Here are some additional benefits of reading a book about nature to your kids.

Offers a Healthy, Positive Distraction

Reading can help children experience mindfulness as they focus on the story they are either reading or listening to. Reading about nature in particular can help kids experience, think about, and visualize the beauty of nature. Stories with natural, whimsical imagery can transport your kids to gorgeous, serene locations, such as a garden, tropical rainforest, or beach. This relaxing escape is more important than ever for kids (and for the parents reading the story aloud) as we face stressful times.

Sparks Awe and Wonder

Reading about nature helps spark awe and wonder in children, which ultimately makes them feel happier and calmer. Awe is an emotion that has a powerful effect on our body and mind. It is a feeling that can be hard to put into words. Essentially, awe allows us to transcend the ordinary, tests our concept of time and scale, gives us the sense of being small in a grand universe, and helps us to truly be in the moment. We might feel chills up our spine, goosebumps, or even tears in our eyes during an awe-inspiring moment like seeing a rainbow, gazing up at the stars, or reading about a fascinating new animal species discovered.

Feelings of awe boost our mood and reduce worry. Our nervous system reacts in the opposite way to awe than it does to anxiety. Instead of the “fight or flight” response kicking in, awe keeps us still and relaxed, benefiting both our body and mind. As you can imagine, if anxious children can experience a bit of awe before bedtime through a nature book, then they will sleep better at night and wake up more refreshed the next day.

Provides Beneficial Attributes of Nature

Another really wonderful benefit of reading a book about nature is that it allows kids to experience the aspects of nature that are proven to be so relaxing. Colors are a great example. Color experts have found that blues and greens are known to be particularly calming. Many nature books are filled with blue and green nature illustrations or photographs, so having this colorful imagery swirling around in their minds as their heads hits the pillow can help them get a good night’s sleep.

Patterns are also key. Scientists have discovered that one of the reasons why nature is so soothing to us is that many patterns naturally occur in our environment. Known as fractal patterns, these repetitive, aesthetically pleasing aspects of nature help reduce stress. Our minds are naturally attracted to and soothed by patterns in leaves, tree bark, tree rings, waves, clouds, shells, feather, snowflakes, and more. There are so many amazing patterns of nature to look for both outdoors and in children’s story books.

Finally, lots of children’s books—about nature and otherwise—feature animals in them. Most children love animals, and numerous studies show that animals can help relax children, bringing them so much joy and awe whether this is a pet or an animal they see in their backyard, at a zoo, or in a story.

Inspires an Appreciation for Nature

Choosing to read books about nature topics to your children can help them understand more about the environment, build their interest in and curiosity about nature, and may even lead them to want to take action to help protect the planet.

In Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness, the main character Sky is feeling blue, so her mother encourages her to head outside to see what her friends are doing. She finds her friends connecting to nature in positive ways that help them all feel happier and calmer. She meets up with Coral, who is practicing mindfulness by enjoying the ocean waves. She is intrigued by her friend Parker painting a colorful sunset. And she participates in a beach clean up with her friend Sunny. All of these activities not only help boost Sky’s mood, but it also builds her appreciation for nature.

Nature books are magical, calming, and inspiring. Your kids will love them!

Grab your copy today of Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness. Check out the book trailer.

 

Libraries used to only be filled with hold-in-your-hand printed books, but over time, their offerings have expanded to so much more. First they added movies, then e-books, and now many local libraries let you borrow puzzles, cake pans, American Girl dolls, science kits, and more. They also provide so much training to the community and organize incredible events that bring stories alive. Many of these events involve connecting to nature, so I wanted to highlight some ways you and your family can enjoy nature through your local library.

Nature Book Readings

Nature books can be showcased during story times for little ones, book clubs for all ages, and guest author events. Reading about nature is especially soothing. You can look for nature-related books at your local library and suggest they offer programs centered on your favorite ones. If you are looking for nature book suggestion, check out my Resources page.

Did you know you can request your library to add a book to their collection? Just ask a librarian or look for a book request form on your library website. I would be forever grateful if you requested my books to be at your library. Thank you!

                                           

StoryWalk®

StoryWalk® programs promote literacy, reading, health, exercise, and movement in communities. A Storywalk® consists of a children’s book placed on boards that are spread out so readers can walk (or run) from one page of the book to the next. It is a very interactive way to read a book while also enjoying being outdoors.

My children and I recently discovered a StoryWalk® at our local library. Behind the library is a lake with a trail circling it. On one side of the lake, there is a hidden trail that we never knew existed. The first story board is found at the entrance to this secret trail. We continued to follow the meandering path through the native sawgrass marsh to read the story that was about nature, of course.

My daughter was so excited because it was like a treasure hunt. We did not know when the next page of the book would appear. As we strolled from one board to the next, we spotted birds, insects, and native plants. As soon as she saw the next page of the book, she pointed, shouted, and ran as fast as she could to find out what happened next in the story. We had such a blast during our hike. I highly recommend trying to find a StoryWalk® by you. If you cannot find any, consider recommending the idea to your local library since they are successful in many communities.

Walk and Talk Book Clubs

Lots of libraries are now offering ways to get moving as well. This might look like yoga and other fitness classes; walking, running, and biking clubs; and walk and talk book clubs. Imagine being outside surrounded by the beauty of nature while you are discussing a nature book you just read. That sounds like pure bliss to me! Ask if your library has a walking book club or start your own. This is such a great idea for kids’ book clubs as well.

Science Kits and Outdoor Exploration Backpacks

At our local library, they now have all types of science kits and outdoor exploration backpacks for families to borrow and enjoy. Many of them include a book on a particular science topic, materials for an experiment or project, and of course instructions. Topics range from biodiversity to weather to insects and more. These kits are a wonderful way to encourage kids to connect with nature, and some even provide the opportunity to participate in a citizen science project.

Dog Reading Programs

Library dog reading programs are a popular way for children to relax and sharpen their reading skills while connecting with a lovable dog at their local library. Children are fond of reading to therapy dogs because it is less intimidating than speaking in front of their teacher or classmates. Dogs can be some of the best listeners; they are non-judgmental, friendly, and will not laugh at a child who makes a mistake. Being that the reading session takes place in a quiet library, it also offers a calm, comfortable environment for children.

Typically, children pick out a book of their choice and sit down next to the dog and its handler to read. Over time, the children’s reading ability and confidence improve. Reading in itself is one of the best ways to reduce stress. So, reading with a furry friend provides double the benefits!

Keep an eye out for fun nature activities at your local library. For more information, visit Let’s Move in Libraries.

We know that nature has tremendous healing benefits for our family, but what if we cannot get outside or travel to experience the magnificence of nature? Sometimes we face challenges that prevent us from leaving our home or town, whether they be financial constraints, scheduling concerns, health issues, or even a pandemic like COVID-19.

Fortunately, we do not necessarily even have to go outside to experience the awe and beauty of nature. We can turn to various media tools such as videos, photographs, slideshows, 3-D or 4-D movies at an IMAX theater, and virtual reality (VR) to stimulate a sense of awe and relaxation. But can nature on a screen be as healing as the real thing?

Virtual Nature Research

Scientists are working hard to answer that question. So far, there is very good news if you enjoy VR and nature videos. VR is a technology that combines multisensory stimuli to provide the perception of being “present” within computer-generated environments. It also allows us to interact in a 3-D world, resembling real-life events. What is also intriguing is that it can give us the chance to enjoy experiences that we otherwise would not have access to, such as flying or walking on the bottom of the ocean floor.

In an analysis of over thirty studies that reviewed the effects of spending time in nature versus urban environments, researchers found that being exposed to nature led to people feeling happier whether they were outdoors or viewing nature on a screen. They also discovered that simulated environments with realistic images of nature, such as interactive VR, led to greater psychological benefits than less immersive choices like photographs.

In 2020, researchers found that watching nature programs on television can uplift people’s moods and reduce negative emotions. Experiencing nature with VR could have even larger benefits, boosting positive feelings and increasing people’s connection to the natural world. During an experiment, individuals viewed scenes of an underwater coral reef in one of the following ways: on television, using a 360-degree VR video, and via VR using computer-generated interactive graphics. All three viewing methods minimized negative feelings such as sadness; however, only the interactive VR experience led to increases in positive emotions like happiness.

In Your Brain on Nature, authors Eva M. Selhub and Alan C. Logan conclude that “we have no doubt that simulated nature can have medicinal effects, and while these may not be as strong as nature in its complete form, the scientific evidence supporting isolated elements of nature does exist. Sitting in a virtual forest has been shown to reduce stress, although in head-to-head duals, actual nature experience appears to have the edge on mental energy, vitality, and restoration.”

How To Enjoy Virtual Nature

While VR may not completely replicate being outside immersed in actual nature, it offers an opportunity to connect with images of nature that can still help us feel happier and calmer. I can envision a future in which we visit virtual nature-filled places to de-stress on days when we may not be able to get outside. So, although I encourage you to always choose authentic nature when you can for your family, it is exciting that virtual nature can also provide key health benefits to us.

Using VR to connect to nature is a fun, unique activity for children. My family and I had the pleasure of feeling awe in a nature-themed VR experience a few years ago at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had never tried VR and was feeling a bit nervous that I would fall over or bump into a wall. But once I put on the VR headgear, I was transported to a gorgeous underwater world. I remember feeling like I was actually floating through the water among the colorful fish. I was smiling and oohing and ahhing the entire time. The best part was when a giant virtual whale swam by me, and I tried to reach out my hand to touch it. We talked about the experience for days.

Get Started

Here are some ways to start exploring nature virtually:

• Search for virtual reality experiences focused on nature at your nearby science museums and theme parks.
• Rent some virtual reality equipment and host a virtual nature exploration party.
• Invest in your own virtual reality system and choose programs highlighting nature scenes, such as Greener Games. You can have a blast going on a virtual nature walk.
• Participate in the Virtual Nature research project at the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health based at the University of Exeter.

Having trouble getting your kids to sleep soundly at night? The bedtime battle is a real struggle for many families. When kids don’t get enough sleep, it can affect brain development, mood, and learning.

Besides sticking to a consistent routine, there are some other tips and tricks that can be helpful. It is important to consider the surrounding environment in which children rest and the activities they engage in before heading to bed. Nature is a compelling tool that can create a calming bedroom space to help your children relax, unwind, and fall asleep easily without any fuss.

Here are some ways you can incorporate nature into your family’s bedtime routine.

 

Nature Bedroom Décor

There are so many visual elements of nature that can help children feel calmer, such as patterns, colors, and animals. Consider hanging art on the walls that present calming nature images, like trees or birds in the sky, to create a tranquil atmosphere in their bedroom. Try choosing nature art with patterns, since scientists have discovered that naturally occurring patterns—called fractals—are aesthetically pleasing and help reduce stress. Examples include clouds, leaves, tree branches, flowers, shells, and feathers.

Next, the colors we choose for our kids’ bedroom can also play a role since the most calming colors stem from nature. According to color psychology experts, blue calms the mind and body, minimizes feelings of anxiety and aggression, and creates a sense of well-being. The color green also promotes a serene and calming environment and is associated with wellness and healing. Neutral colors—tan, beige, ecru, cream, light brown, taupe, and gray—manifest an organic, earthy feeling that soften the edges and warm up a space in a soothing way.

Of course, many types of animals bring joy and peace to children. You can add animals to your home décor by hanging photographs and artwork of animals in their natural environment, choosing furniture containing animal motifs, or painting an animal mural on the wall.

Nature Sleep Sounds

Some sounds are clearly more relaxing than others. When we step outdoors and listen mindfully to nature, we often feel more relaxed as a result of the restorative effect of natural noises. We can replicate that experience in our kids’ bedrooms by playing recordings of nature sounds like birdsong, wind, rain, ocean waves, and trickling water. Besides masking disruptive noises that might keep our kids up, such as traffic or airplanes flying overhead, natural sleep sounds reduce stress and anxiety.

The best nature sounds are those that provide a sense of natural space and mimic the biorhythms of an ecosystem like a forest. Loud screeching and croaking are just not going to result in the same calming feelings as sounds of water, for example, which are very soothing because of their slow, rhythmic whooshing noises. So, stock up on nature music CD’s or download some apps to help your kids relax at night. You can even record your own nature sounds from times you spent at the beach or went on a hike.

Nature Meditation

Another way to get your kids ready to doze off is to try nature meditation. These visualizations target one or more of the senses to help kids feel still and relaxed as they gently engage their imagination. A simple one would be to ask your children to close their eyes and see in their mind the different colors of a rainbow. You can ask them to think about how each color smells, tastes, and feels. Another idea is to have them paint a nature scene in their mind, such as a sunset or jungle. If you need some guidance, you can search for nature-related kids sleep meditation online, including Green Child Magazine’s guided meditations for kids.

Nature Stories

Every child loves a good story before bedtime. As it turns out, reading is the best way to relax, according to a research study out of the United Kingdom. Reading is a healthy distraction and helps kids feel calmer as they focus on the words they are listening to or reading. Books also help our kids escape from the present moment into a world of imagination that captures all their attention. They may become so completely engaged in the story to the point of reaching a calm, meditative state that is great for dozing off. Additionally, bedtime stories bring you closer to your child and help them feel safe and secure so they can get to sleep easily.

Nature-related stories are the perfect choice for bedtime since kids can think about and visualize the beauty of nature. Stories with natural, whimsical imagery can transport your kids to beautiful and serene locations, such as a garden or beach. Having positive, colorful imagery swirling around in their minds as their heads hits the pillow can help them get a good night’s sleep. Nature poetry also does a wonderful job capturing the beauty of nature. Consider reading some of the most famous nature poets like Robert Frost and John Keats or looking for children’s nature poetry books.

By trying some of these nature tricks, hopefully your kids will sleep tight tonight. If you are not sure how much sleep your kids should be getting, check out this handy kids sleep calculator.

I will never forget seeing eagles flying overhead during my trip to Alaska. I could not take my eyes off those powerful creatures. When encountering all types of birds in the wild or even in our own backyard, we often feel as though time stands still and we get lost in the moment while observing their every move, size, color, shape, and birdsong.

There are a multitude of reasons why birds specifically lead to emotional benefits, such as feeling calm and at peace. Birdwatching is a very special hobby that can help boost our mental and emotional well-being, while we enjoy the great outdoors. Here are the key reasons birdwatching is good for our mental health:

 

Leads to Feelings of Awe

We tend to be intrigued and in awe of the many vibrant, impressive birds gliding across the sky. Awe is an emotion that has a powerful effect on our body and mind but is sometimes hard to put into words. It is an overwhelming mix of wonder, joy, amazement, and even magic. We might even get goose bumps on our arms, feel a tingling up and down our spine, or have tears flood our eyes when we experience awe. Nature is known to trigger feelings of awe, and seeing a wondrous bird—whether it’s a flamingo, peacock, cardinal, or crow—can lead to these extraordinary moments. One of the aspects of birds that makes me feel so in awe is that they can fly so easily, while we cannot. I sometimes get lost in the moment thinking about how wonderful it must be to fly like a bird to have the freedom and lightness.

Helps Us Be More Mindful

There is so much about birdwatching that helps us feel more mindful. Seeing animals in the wild heightens our senses as we move into a state of flow where our thoughts and actions focus on spotting, watching, identifying, recording, and appreciating the wildlife around us. In a sense, birdwatching is a form of mindfulness meditation that can help us feel calmer as we focus on finding the birds soaring through the sky or perched up on top of a tree branch. It requires patience, stillness, silence, and slow breathing to be able to catch a glimpse of their vibrant feathers or beady eyes. Being immersed in nature watching birds helps us step away from our day-to-day worries, making us feel more relaxed.

Stimulates Creativity

Birdwatching can lead to creative endeavors like nature photography and drawing or painting nature scenes since it involves being outside experiencing the beauty of nature. When we are trying to capture or a picture of a bird in the wild, we focus intensely. This allows us to become distracted from negative emotions like stress, anxiety, and sadness. It also gets us in a state of flow, which means becoming so absorbed in our creative project that we reach a near-meditative state. When we are in a state of flow, we forgot about all our thoughts and lose track of time. In addition, the entire process of shooting photography, from choosing a subject matter to discovering new angles to manipulating the light, requires a great deal of focus and attention. This process ends up being meditative, so we feel more relaxed as a result. A large part of photography involves capturing the colors that we see with the naked eye, which also sparks imagination as we process what we capture through the camera lens. Plus, we will feel so proud when we share our incredible creative projects from our birdwatching endeavors.

Expands knowledge and curiosity

Birdwatching takes a quite a bit of knowledge to be able to identify the types of birds you observe. During my time volunteering at a local nature center, I had to study up on birds using a bird guide. I learned so much and still enjoy pointing out the birds I discovered during that time, such as the ibis. Birdwatching gives us the chance to expand our knowledge and be curious about our surroundings, which ultimately helps us feel happier and calmer as we discover new things. Plus, it’s fun to be able to go out with others and share with them what birds you see and hear based on the details you notice like their behavior, feather colors and patterns, beak size, and birdsong.

Birdsong is Soothing

When we step outdoors and listen mindfully to nature, we can feel more relaxed due to the restorative effect of natural noises. Birdsong, in particular, is especially comforting. I find chirping birds to be extremely peaceful—and I am not alone. Scientific studies show that listening to birdsong can help restore attention and decrease stress. In fact, birdsong was found to be the natural sound most commonly linked to stress recovery. Birdsong also help mask intrusive noises like airplanes flying overhead, leaf blowers, and construction sites, and undo the tension we feel from listening to them. During a recent birdwatching class I took, the instructor gave us fun tricks to learn how to identify different birdsong. There are some great apps and websites to learn birdsong such as https://www.bird-sounds.net.

How to Get Started

Here are a few tips to get started with your birdwatching hobby.

• Bring along binoculars, a camera, a bird guide, and some birding apps to help you identify the different species you see and hear. For more information, check out National Audubon Society.
• Get your feet wet by first looking for birds in your own backyard and neighborhood.
• Visit public gardens, zoos, nature centers, aviaries, wildlife refuges, and animal-focused theme parks to search for birds.
• Take a trip to local, state, or national parks to go hiking in the wild to look for birds.
• Try birdwatching in different habitats, such as the beach, forest, and around a pond or lake.
• Look for a local birdwatching class or club to get involved with.
• Try to learn different birdsongs so you can identify them while you are out in the field. Some of the most uplifting birdsongs come from blackbirds, curlews, skylarks, nightingales, willow warblers, wrens, robins, and oystercatchers.
• Get involved in a citizen science project that involves observing and collecting data on birds. Some popular bird-related citizen science projects include Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count and Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch, Project FeederWatch, and Great Backyard Bird Count.
• Plan vacations to include birdwatching in your itinerary so you can observe diverse species in various locations.

Resources

To learn more about birdwatching, check out these helpful resources:

• National Audubon Society
• American Birding Association
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Environment for the America’s Bird Education Resource Directory
• Birdwatching Magazine
• Birds and Blooms Magazine
• eBird
• Tons of books—just search online or look for them at your local library or bookstore.