Ecohappiness Project

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Try Cow Cuddling To Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Nature

When you think of cows, what comes to mind? Maybe milk, ice cream, cheese, chewing cud, and eating lots of grass? Well, did you know that spending time with cows can also be comforting to both us and the animals?

A variety of domesticated farm animals are used for therapeutic purposes, and a great deal of research has confirmed how effective this can be for those struggling with emotional and mental health issues. While there are formal therapeutic programs called Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), there are also cutting-edge activities like cow cuddling getting attention these days.

What is Cow Cuddling?

This practice began in the Netherlands and is slowly spreading around the world. Called “koe knuffelen” in Dutch (which means “cow hugging”), it focuses on the healing that results from humans and animals snuggling. While cow cuddling is not considered formal animal therapy since participants are not working towards a specific goal, just sitting with the cows can be extremely therapeutic.

Cow cuddling takes place at a farm in a controlled environment and typically lasts about an hour. (Don’t just try to cuddle a cow on your own without guidance of an expert.) A cow cuddling appointment typically begins with a tour of the farm and learning how best to safely and calmly approach the animals. It is done in very small groups of no more than four people at a time.

A session begins with gently petting the animals. Cows typically lie down in a half circle, which creates a cozy couch-like spot for someone to snuggle up in. Cow cuddlers are welcome to stroke the cow’s belly as they digest their food and chew their cud, and scratch underneath their chin. The cow will literally fold into a person, almost embracing them. Some people will even start talking to the cow during this relaxing moment.

Both adult cows and calves can be cuddled. At Horse and Goat Yoga farm in Drescher, Pennsylvania, visitors are invited to bottle feed and cuddle with calves. The farm rescues these calves from being slaughtered for veal. According to Kristin Sutch who runs the farm, “Calves fall asleep next to people in their arms. They like to snuggle and they love to be around people.” She also explained how therapeutic the experiences is. “It’s great for kids with autism and people with any kind of stress. I find this to be one of the few ways to get people to truly be present.” The baby animals especially have a soothing effect on people. She has seen people transform from miserable and stressed to happy and laughing from some time cozying up with the calves.

At Krishna Cow Sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii, they also include milking the cows as part of the experience. People get to taste the fresh, warm milk as well. The entire experience takes about two hours as visitors cuddle with the cows, milk the cows, and learn how to make their own butter and cheese.

Why It Works

Cow cuddling is relaxing, meditative, and allows participants to engage in something special and unique. Most people have never been on the other side of a fence that close to a cow. In fact, many people live in cities and suburbia and rarely get to see or visit a farm, if at all.

It might sound bizarre to think of these large farm animals being comforting, but there are some scientific reasons behind it. When cows are digesting their food, they like to lie down and become very quiet. This is the perfect time for people to snuggle up and connect with them. Plus, cows have a slightly slower heart rate than us, so when our body is in contact with theirs, our heart rate naturally slows down as well. Their body temperature is higher than ours, which also helps us feel more relaxed.

Cow cuddling is also effective because is spurs mindfulness and a sense of awe. It creates an opportunity to be solely focused on touching and being around the animals in a gentle way. It is a great time for people to leave their technology behind and just be in the moment with the impressive animals. There are numerous stories about children who typically can’t focus or sit still being transformed by this experience. They relax and engage in the moment with the animal and all the nature around them.

As a result, our stress level decreases. Many people are craving affection, and this is a way to snuggle and connect with another living creature. It is also part of our history as humans to work with animals, so being with the cows calms and nourishes us.

And don’t worry, studies show that the cows also appreciate this human affection. According to James Higgins of Krishna Cow Sanctuary, the interaction is positive for the cows as well.

Can Children Do It?

You will have to check with the farm because some have age restrictions. For the most part, cows are gentle, sweet, and welcome the loving attention during a cow cuddling session. Of course, make sure there is a cow expert there to monitor your children’s interactions with the cows. Kids love the experience and find petting, snuggling, and milking cows very calming (and fun!).

Where You Can Try Cow Cuddling

Cow cuddling originated in the Netherlands and is pretty popular there. Check out this video all about cow cuddling from a farm in the Netherlands.

If you are looking to try cow cuddling in the United States, here are some farms offering it. Keep searching for places by you as well.

Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary in Queen Creek, Arizona
The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita, California
Krishna Cow Sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii
Mountain Horse Farm in Naples, New York
Sunset View Creamery and Farm in Odessa, New York

Send Your Stories! I have not yet been cow cuddling, although it’s on my list. I would love to hear your stories in the comment below if you have done it.

To learn more about how animals help us feel happier and calmer, check out my book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer.

Why Your Kids Will Love Animal Yoga Poses

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With all the technology during the past year, kids need a much-needed mindfulness break away from their screens. Fortunately, we have many effective tools to help our children practice mindfulness, such as yoga.

Yoga offers so many incredible benefits to our children including a time for inner focus, a way to connect to their bodies, a retreat from the pressures and stress of daily life, and even an opportunity to enjoy a bit of silliness to lighten the moment. Studies in recent years have shown how yoga can reduce stress and anxiety and boost mood. Children need relaxing breaks like yoga to help keep them happy and balanced. When we tie in nature with yoga, the benefits are even more impressive.

Whether you practice yoga together at home as a family or look for children’s yoga classes in your community or online, the important thing is to make sure that it is fun. We know that kids love animals. Whether they are learning animal sounds as a toddler, reading stories about animal characters, enjoying watching animals at the zoo, or spending time with a lovable pet, animals bring tons of joy to most children.

We can also incorporate fun animal themes into their yoga practice, such as:

  • Children pretend that a small furry animal is moving from one part of their body to another when they do a body scan.
  • Rename poses: Cobra pose becomes Carmen Chameleon, Pigeon pose is Eagle, Garland pose is called Chicken.
  • Ask children to meow during Cat pose and moo during Cow pose.
  • During tree pose, they can envision birds or squirrels sitting on their branches (i.e., arms and shoulders).
  • Focus on fun poses that mimic animals, such as lion pose (they get to roar, too!), cobra pose, downward facing dog, and fish pose.

Giselle Shardlow, children’s author and founder of Kids Yoga Stories, develops books, card decks, posters, games, and teaching resources for children to explore yoga. To make yoga really enjoyable for kids, she creates yoga poses based on the movements of animals. For example, she has a set of yoga pose cards about animals with tails that include the following: stingray (Warrior 3 Pose), scorpion (Dancer’s Pose), zebra (Triangle Forward Bend), kangaroo (Chair Pose), and chipmunk (Squat Pose).

She finds that kids relate more to the names and images of animals than the traditional yoga pose names. This also opens the door for children to develop their own yoga moves based on their experiences in nature, which helps them be in tune with nature through their body, senses, and breath. You can find all of her animal yoga pose cards here. There are tons of themes to choose from!

The other terrific part about incorporating animals into our children’s yoga routine is that it helps them connect to nature, which can improve their overall well-being. Even better, if they can practice these yoga moves outdoors, they will reap the incredible healing benefits of nature. According to mothernatured.com, doing yoga outdoors helps children build animal empathy, strengthen their connection to their surrounding environment, enhance their knowledge of the natural world, and stimulate their senses.

To learn more about animal yoga poses for your family, check out these adorable books:

Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses by Paige Towler
Yoga Animals At the Seashore and Yoga Animals In The Forest by Christian Kerr
You Are a Lion!: And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo
Animal Yoga by Sarah Bradshaw and Anna Kubaszewska
Kid’s Yoga (Animal Poses) Coloring Book: A Fun coloring book Filled With Cute YOGA Lover Theme by We Kids

Beach Cleanup Volunteering Can Help the Planet and Boost Our Mood

Blog, Nature

Don’t you just love relaxing on the beach? The sounds of the crashing ocean waves and seagulls flying above are so soothing. We know how powerful water is in helping us feel happier and calmer. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved walking the beach to search for precious seashells and staring out in awe at the horizon and water glistening in the sun.

The ocean is filled with so much life and beauty. It is critical that it stays pristine and garbage-free. One way that we can help to ensure this is by participating in beach cleanups. With increased awareness of the abundance of trash in the oceans being ingested by marine life and washing up along the shore, beach cleanups have become more frequent in coastal communities.

While it can be frustrating and disheartening to see trash in the ocean and along the shoreline, the great news is that we can do something about it to both help our environment and our own mood. My family has participated in a number of beach cleanups over the last few years and have gotten so much out of these experiences.

Benefits of Beach Cleanups

When we engage in volunteering to improve our environment, we feel more connected to nature and less stressed after spending time outside. These actions can actually change our brain activity and trigger positive emotions, helping us feel happier and calmer by reducing stress and anxiety and feelings of sadness, loneliness, or depression. In fact, a Marine Conservation Society assessment found that beach cleanup volunteers had a more meaningful experience than other coastal activities, like simply walking along the beach. They felt refreshed, a stronger connection to the natural world, and a sense of satisfaction that the beach was visibly cleaner.

I recently conducted my own research to see if there is a connection between emotions and beach cleanups. I surveyed 100 people who participated in one or more beach cleanups. For a third of the respondents, it was their first or second time doing a beach cleanup, while another third had done ten or more cleanups. I provided them with a list of emotions and asked them to indicate how they felt during the beach cleanup. Joy was the most popular emotion felt. I then asked them if their stress level changed during the cleanup, and forty-two percent said their stress level decreased. The majority (seventy-four percent) said they would definitely clean up the beach again. Here are some of the comments provided by survey participants about how the beach cleanup made them feel:

  • “A very ‘Zen’ calming feel!”
  • “Stronger connection to nature through the ocean—peaceful, reflective, and enjoy the exercise at the same time.”
  • “Time being outside always makes me happy.”
  • “The beach is such a serene place. It was great to have our toes in the sand and do something good for our area at the same time.”
  • “The ocean is immense and endlessly awe inspiring—can’t get that indoors!”
  • “I enjoy being outdoors whenever I can. Being in nature makes me feel happier and calm.”
  • “Walking barefoot on the beach is the most relaxing thing for me. It gives me a peace of mind. Searching for ocean debris also grounds me. It is my treasure hunt, which is one reason it is a great family event and a challenge for your kids. Getting outside clears your head!”
  • “Ocean brings peace and calming.”
  • “Fresh air and being outdoors is always more relaxing.”
  • “It was a very relaxing and rewarding experience.”
  • “Being outdoors makes a positive difference. Knowing that I am contributing to the well-being of marine life makes me feel like I am doing something impactful.”
  • “I love the ocean. It always energizes me. To know I am helping to protect something I love that supports so much life and belongs to the world helps me feel a sense of purpose and filling a responsibility to protect our earth.”
  • “Being a part of a beach cleanup makes me feel good that I am helping our local environment. I also enjoy teaching others about the importance of not littering.”

Imagine how a beach cleanup will help your family feel!

How To Get Started

Beach cleanups are a simple activity to do with your kids either on your own or through an organized group. You can find beach cleanup events by contacting your city or county’s sustainability or environmental director or through Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, 4Ocean, Ocean Blue Project, and volunteercleanup.org.

You can also do a beach cleanup on your own. All you need is a bucket or trash bag, gloves, and possibly some trash grabbers. Be sure to stay safe with sunscreen and hats, and to avoid touching anything sharp or hazardous. Also, remember to separate recyclable items and to put them in the appropriate recycle bins. Check out Ocean Conservancy’s Do-It-Yourself Cleanup Tool Kit for more guidelines.

How have beach cleanups helped your family feel happier and calmer?

Mindfulness Techniques Using the Colors of Nature

Nature

Have you ever become so transfixed by a brightly colored flower or bird? One of my favorite miracles in nature is the bird of paradise flower. The colors are exquisite, and it really does look like a bird.

Nature is filled with beauty, and color plays a huge role in what attracts us to it. Nature’s hues can trigger a sense of awe in us. Some colors make us feel more energetic and happy like yellow, orange, and red. There are incredible combinations of colors in nature that wow us, such as peacocks, parrots, and some types of fish like the emperor angelfish and rainbow parrotfish.

We can also find calm by gazing at nature. In fact, the most calming colors stem from nature. Creams, tans, pale blues, and pale greens help create a quiet atmosphere. According to color psychology experts, blue calms the mind and body, lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. It also minimizes feelings of anxiety and aggression and creates a sense of well-being. Interestingly enough, blue is overwhelmingly chosen as a favorite color by people around the world. The color green promotes a serene and calming environment and is associated with health, healing, and well-being; soothes the body and mind; and reduces anxiety. Neutral colors—tan, beige, ecru, cream, light brown, taupe, and gray—manifest an organic, earthy feeling.

Mindfulness Color Activities

Color is all around us, but how often do we simply stop to enjoy it? We can tap into the many colors found in nature to practice mindfulness. We just need to open our eyes and soak in the gorgeous shades of nature.

Here are some simple ways for your family to be more mindful by enjoying nature’s colors:

  • Go on a walk or bike ride and take time to look at and discuss the attractive colors you find all around in nature.
  • Visit a garden or flower shop and soak in the beauty of the colorful flowers and plants.
  • Observe the many colorful foods in your vegetable garden, at the grocery store, or right inside your refrigerator.
  • Draw or paint a picture of a vivid nature scene.
  • Focus on the colors around you as you relax in your sit spot.

Nature Color Meditation

You can also practice meditation using color. I once took a restorative yoga class in which the teacher led us in a beautiful, relaxing color meditation. She asked us to envision natural dust in different shades that coordinated with our chakras.

According to the Chopra Center, Chakra is a sanskrit word that refers to the wheels of energy throughout the body. There are seven chakras from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. To give you a sense, purple is for the top of our head, green is for our heart, and red is for our root or the bottom of our body.

During that meditation, I became totally lost in the visuals within my mind. She asked us to sense the smell and temperature of each color. Red felt warm to me and yellow smelled like lemons.

Here are five ways to bring nature’s colors into your family’s meditation time:

  • Practice the nature lovingkindness meditation by focusing specifically on the colors of the natural elements where you are sending your love.
  • Think how each color corresponds to a fruit and how that fruit tastes, smells, and feels.
  • Visually paint or draw a picture in your mind using a variety of colors. Try painting a rainbow or a nature scene with a yellow sun, green tree, blue pond, etc.
  • Link each color to a flower and imagine smelling each one. What does a red rose or a yellow sunflower smell like? You could enhance this practice by using essential oils.
  • Try the Rainbow Breath meditation, which asks us to breathe in each color and provides an emotion to feel along with each one.

What other ideas do you have for using nature’s colors to practice mindfulness?

How a Nature Sit Spot Can Help Your Kids Find Silence and Serenity

Blog, Nature

Silence.

We all need silence once in a while to unwind and sort through all that mental chatter. Silence has a profound calming effect. It settles the many emotions we experience that are activated by talking and listening. As our mental and emotional lives calm down in a quiet space, our bodies can relax as well.

We need silence to bring us back to the present moment, helping us relax and not worry about what happened in the past or what may happen in the future. It is a wonderful way for us to take a step back, find peace, and recharge. It also helps us think more clearly and truly be in touch with our own thoughts and feelings. As our mental and emotional lives calm down in this quiet space, our bodies can finally relax.

Silence also helps us more effectively connect to the world around us. Essentially, all our senses are heightened when we are quiet. We may hear sounds that we never did before and view our surroundings with a fresh perspective. For example, we may notice how lovely the birds are singing as we wake up in the morning.

Our kids especially need silence more than ever. So many kids these days are connected to their electronics and affected by the noise around them. These constant, loud distractions can shift their mood from happy and calm to stressed and irritated in an instant.

So, what can we do? Look to nature for the answer.

Benefits of a Nature Sit Spot

Being silent may sound like an odd concept, but more research comes out every day highlighting the importance of quiet time for both us and our children.

Being able to sit in silence may be challenging for some children. However, if they are able to sit quietly outside surrounded by nature, this practice can be incredibly beneficial to them. In the world of nature meditation, it is recommended that we choose a sit spot to both savor the silence and absorb all that nature has to offer.

A sit spot is a favorite place in nature that we visit regularly to cultivate awareness of our surroundings as we expand our senses and observe local plants, birds, trees, animals, and other natural elements. By choosing one place outside that we visit repeatedly, we can develop an enhanced sensitivity to nature and the ability to be more mindful overall. I often spend time on the balcony of my house overlooking my backyard and the plush tropical trees behind our fence. It is always shady there and gives me a perfect view of both the palm trees and bright blue sky.

How to Find a Sit Spot

A sit spot can be anywhere that connects you to nature. If you have a backyard, each member of your family can find their own sit spot. This could be a tree stump, small bench, chair, or even on a blanket or towel you bring outside with you. If you do not have a backyard, you can choose a spot in a nearby park, in a schoolyard, by a community garden, or on an apartment balcony. Another fabulous sit spot idea for children is a treehouse or part of their swing set where they can sit for a few minutes.

Encourage your children to choose their own sit spot—a place where they feel most calm and comfortable. This can be really fun for them as they go exploring to find their special spot. If they are too young or need some guidance, you can identify a place where you can sit together. Feel free to try out a few different sit spots until you find the most relaxing fit.

What To Do In a Sit Spot

So, once you find your sit spot, what do you do there exactly?

This is a great way for you and your kids to practice mindfulness skills like deep breathing, listening to nature sounds, and other nature-related meditation activities like looking for certain colors or shapes. It could also be a great time to engage in some nature art.

The amount of time you visit your sit spot can vary. Children can benefit from just five minutes. As they get older and more used to it, they can work their way up to sitting for thirty minutes or more at a time.

The best part of having a sit spot is that children learn to go to that special, peaceful place when they are feeling stressed or uneasy. It helps them quiet their mind and focus on nature as opposed to other distractions and stressors like schoolwork and technology.

Where is your favorite sit spot?

How Nature Can Help Improve Children’s Mental Health

Nature

Are your kids struggling? If so, they are certainly not alone.

Even before the pandemic, kids and teens were experiencing higher rates of stress, anxiety, and depression than in prior generations. Many are super stressed in this 24/7 pressure-cooker culture.

From too much screen time, to navigating social media, to obsessing over grades and extracurricular activity overload, kids face a number of challenges that can trigger emotional issues. Then add Covid-19, racial tensions, and shootings, and our kids are constantly on edge as their sense of safety and security is challenged on a daily basis.

We know that all these stressors are taking a toll on our children. In fact, child and adolescent mental health disorders are the most common illnesses that children will experience under the age of eighteen. Each year one in five American children ages three through seventeen (over fifteen million children) are diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over 17 million young people in the US will have a mental health disorder by age 18. That’s more than the number with AIDS, asthma, diabetes, and cancer combined, Child Mind Institute notes.

And, of course, this continues to get worse with Covid. According to a recent study by Child Mind Institute, more than two-thirds of parents who sought help since the start of the pandemic said they had witnessed a decline in their child’s emotional well-being (72%), behavior (68%), and physical health due to decreased activities and exercise (68%). Anxiety (40%) and depression (37%) are the most common mental health challenges leading parents to seeking help for their child.

How Nature Can Help

Have you ever gone on a walk just to clear your mind or taken a “mental health day” from your job to visit the beach, woods, or local park? Or maybe you enjoyed closing your eyes and listening to a recording of ocean waves or birds chirping?

Spending time connecting to nature is a safe, effective tool to help minimize the effects of stress and to boost mood. Tons of scientific research over the past few decades show the importance of nature in improving our health and happiness. These studies cover a wide range of topics that we also cover here: green exercise, gardening, nature-related mindfulness and meditation, volunteering outdoors, nature art, contact with animals, and more.

Nature is one piece of the puzzle. There are a number of ways to address stress and anxiety in children including therapy, medication, and natural remedies. If your child is suffering from a serious anxiety or depression disorder, I recommend that you seek help from a trained medical professional. While nature can have a profound positive effect on our mood and stress level, it is not a substitute for professional guidance and medication if needed.

On the other hand, nature can help manage stress before it gets too serious. It can also be very effective in addition to therapy and other approaches to ease mental health challenges. Indeed, nature is a powerful tool to keep in our toolbox.

A New Project

After experiencing how nature helps me better manage my stress and anxiety, I decided I wanted to share this special tool with others. I especially want children to have nature tools in mind when they are feeling anxious or down.

Nearly six years ago, I launched my blog Happy Science Mom to help parents raise happy, balanced children by using a science-backed toolkit based on positive psychology. During those years, I researched and wrote extensively about broad topics like mindfulness, kindness, and gratitude.

But I kept coming back to my roots–a strong passion for the environment. Now, I am focusing on many of those same positive psychology tools through a nature lens. Hence, the Ecohappiness Project is born!

What is ecohappiness? It is about connecting to nature to feel happier and calmer. On a deeper level, it involves realizing how important nature is to our well-being so we do what we can to protect it.

This transition is so exciting, and I am thrilled to share it all with you! I have a new logo, and some really cool gear to showcase it.

Check out my new 100% certified organic cotton Ecohappiness Project t-shirt gifted to me by Rush Order Tees. This is a wonderful way to spread the critical message of how nature can help children’s mental health. I hope you’ll join me by sharing the valuable information you find here with your friends and joining in the conversation in my special Facebook group Stress Relief with Nature.

Why Is Citizen Science Important For Our Well-Being?

Nature

Earlier this month, my children and I spent an afternoon at a local park helping the science community by taking pictures of local plants and animals. We used the Seek app by iNaturalist (a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society) to explore the variety of species in the park. And, I have to say, my kids were so engaged in this activity and they didn’t want to go home. They found it so fascinating that the app would identify for them the details about a plant or animal just by taking a picture of it.

This experience opened our eyes to notice new flowers, leaves, trees, and wildlife around us that we may have missed before. The app also makes it fun for kids because they can earn badges for recording more observations of different types of species and participate in special challenges. Not only does iNaturalist help kids learn how to identify wildlife and plants and encourage them to spend more time outside, but they are also helping experts collect data through citizen science.

What is Citizen Science?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, 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 volunteering to collect scientific data and is a way for our children to gain science experience and directly help the scientific community.

Through citizen science, government offices and other organizations engage the public in addressing societal needs and accelerating science, technology, and innovation. With citizen science, we can play a role in the scientific process to help address real-world problems like climate change and biodiversity.

Volunteers have varying levels of expertise, from kids in their backyards to members of high school science clubs to amateur astronomers with sophisticated home equipment. Technology like apps make citizen science more accessible today than ever before. Projects typically involve volunteers collecting data like counting the number of a certain type of bird they see in their neighborhood or taking pictures and submitting them through an app like iNaturalist.

One of the oldest examples of citizen science is the Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Since 1900, the organization has organized the bird count that runs from December 14 through January 5 each year. An experienced birder leads a group (called a circle) of volunteers as they collect information about local populations of birds. More than 2,000 such circles operate across the United States and Canada. This wildlife census contributes to bird conservation efforts.

Benefits of Citizen Science

Although most people don’t realize it, citizen science can help us feel happier and calmer for several reasons. Most citizen science projects take place outdoors. We know that spending time outside around nature can help reduce stress and boost our mood. When we are engaged in a project to take pictures or count a specific type of plant or animal, we become very focused and lost in the moment. Therefore, citizen science can stimulate mindfulness, which also has been shown to tremendously improve well-being. Finally, volunteering, especially outdoors in nature, helps us feel better as we give back to others and our community.

According to researchers Karen Makuch and Miriam Aczel, citizen science projects can benefit both the physical and mental development of children, and lead to increased levels of environmental stewardship and protection. They explain that part of this results from children being part of a team and community, having a purpose and role, and being involved in a structured activity when working on citizen science projects. These experiences tend to boost self-confidence, advance self-efficacy, and improve mental health in general.

Overall, citizen science projects that provide an avenue for children to connect with nature lead to many educational, psychological, and personal benefits. Seeking out citizen science projects in your community can help both your children and the planet thrive.

Where to Find Citizen Science Opportunities

There are citizen science opportunities for kids of all ages and levels. Your family can get involved from your own backyard or through a more organized group like a school nature or science club. Besides the national programs included below, you can check with your county or state Department of Natural Resources for ways to get involved.

Databases:

  • 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.

Projects:

Citizen Science Month takes place every April. Check out these amazing resources all year long.

What citizen science projects have you done?

How Farm Animal Therapy Can Help Your Family Feel Better

Nature

Nature lovers and environmentalists come in all shapes and sizes. While there is a robust homesteader movement to get back on the farm and work on activities like raising chickens and growing one’s own food, I am admittedly a suburban environmentalist through and through.

I have only ever lived in suburbia, by the beach, or in a city, so my interactions with farms and farm animals are pretty minimal. As a child, they were mostly during special events like my father’s company picnics. I remember riding ponies, enjoying hay rides, and participating in potato sack races out on the farm. Over the years, we have visited farms to pick berries. I also remember how amazing it was to tour a pineapple farm in Hawaii during my honeymoon.

Just in the past year, I have picked up a box a fresh produce from a local farm and taken the kids to a pumpkin patch on a farm and an orchard to pick apples. As far as interacting with farm animals, I have gone horseback riding several times and recall volunteering at an agricultural fair in Maryland several years ago where I was around the most farm animals I have ever seen in one place—sheep, goats, pigs, and cows galore.

What I never realized until recently, however, is how beneficial farm animals can be to our well-being. A variety of domesticated farm animals can be used for therapeutic purposes, and research has confirmed their effectiveness to help those struggling with emotional and mental health issues. While  children and adults who need help can take part in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), everyone can benefit from time with farm animals.

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

AAT is a type of therapy that utilizes animals to help heal and rehabilitate patients. Specific goals are outlined for treatment so that progress is clear. These goals can be physical, mental, emotional, and/or social.

Using AAT is considered beneficial since the animals have a natural tendency to create a bond with people. This approach often helps therapists overcome some limitations of traditional therapy that rely on talking, which may not be the most effective way for children and adolescents to address their issues. Essentially, the therapist communicates with patients through the animal, reducing pressure for them to talk about their feelings.

Common Therapeutic Farm Animals

The most common therapeutic farm animals are horses, goats, and cows.

Horses

Horses are widely recognized for their therapeutic benefits, including helping children cope with emotional challenges like anxiety and depression. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) involves using a horse as a therapeutic tool in which a licensed therapist and a horse professional work collaboratively with the children. Horses tend to have a non-judgmental nature, which helps create a relaxing environment. Having a horse around offers both emotional and physical comfort, thereby developing trust and confidence between the patient and therapist.

During EAP, a variety of activities can have a positive impact on a patient. Caring for the animal by feeding and brushing it can be quite soothing and builds confidence and patience in the child. Learning to ride a horse has tremendous benefits, such as figuring out how to calm oneself down, building focus and mindfulness, and working collaboratively with the animal. The physical contact with the horse and the rhythmic movement while riding can also be relaxing.

Goats

Goats are another type of animal that can help relieve stress. More farms are now offering goat snuggling to the public. Many people are finding that holding and feeding a baby goat can be calming. Visitors often go from feeling miserable to blissful—even laughing—after their time with the goats. Since most people do not live near a farm anymore, this gives them a chance to connect with the farm animals that are unique to them. It helps them feel more energetic and better emotionally overall.

There is also a physical change that occurs. When they look at, hold, and snuggle with the baby goats, oxytocin is released. This feel-good hormone acts as natural mood booster and pain reliever. Finally, being in the moment with these animals allows people to be mindful, which we know improves well-being.

Children especially love to spend time with goats, just staring at and petting them. It helps them feel calm from developing a special connection with the animals. Plus, the animals themselves love being around people and getting the attention.

Cows

Cows are another type of farm animal used for comfort. Believe it or not, college students at Michigan State University pay money every semester to brush the school’s dairy cows to reduce stress before finals because they find the quality time with the animals very soothing.

Cow cuddling, which can involve milking and/or cozying up to a cow, is an innovative experience gaining traction with several farms now offering the experience. It might sound bizarre to think of these large farm animals being comforting, but there is science behind it. When cows digest their food, they like to lie down, and they become very quiet. This is the perfect time for people to snuggle up and connect with them. Plus, cows have a slightly slower heart rate than us, so when our body is in contact with theirs, our heart rate naturally slows down as well. Their body temperature is also higher than ours, which helps us feel more relaxed.

Cows typically lie down in a half circle, which creates a cozy couch-like spot for someone to snuggle up in. Cow cuddlers like to stroke the cow’s belly as they digest their food and chew their cud, and scratch underneath their chin. The cow will literally fold into a person, almost embracing them. Some people will even start talking to the cow during this relaxing, mindful experience.

Finding a Therapeutic Experience

While there are several therapeutic farms focused on helping individuals with mental health issues, there are also some for the general public to visit for a fun, relaxing experience. Happi Farm in Florida, for example, has a variety of activities for children such as therapeutic horseback riding; equine activities like feeding and grooming horses; and a petting zoo where they can pet, feed, brush and/or hold the animals. Simply search online for places in your area offering goat snuggling, horseback riding, horse grooming, cow cuddling, and similar activities for your family to enjoy.

How Mindful Eating Connects Us To Nature and Reduces Stress

Nutrition

It is not only what we eat, but how we eat that can affect how we feel. How often do you just go through the motions of quickly eating without really stopping to savor the moment and considering the special attributes of the food?

When we rush and inhale our food mindlessly, we can feel anxious and experience some physical health issues like an upset stomach. On the other hand, eating mindfully as a family can help us reduce stress, maintain healthy diet habits, and improve our relationships. It also gives us the space to appreciate the delicious, nutritious treats that come from the earth.

 

What Is Mindful Eating?

So, what is mindful eating? According to the Center for Mindful Eating, this practice allows us to realize the positive, nurturing opportunities that can come from preparing and eating food. Instead of shoving food into our mouths and never really thinking about it, mindful eating awakens us to an entirely new experience with food. We can take a moment to savor and truly enjoy what we are eating.

How Children Can Learn Mindful Eating

We can introduce some simple activities at mealtime so that our children can slow down and eat mindfully.

  • Invite your children to help prepare a meal. Focus on the range of colors of ingredients and how they smell and feel. Talk to them about the changes in foods when they are cooked, such as boiling vegetables to make them softer.
  • Eat together as a family at the kitchen table and engage in positive, interactive conversation.
  • Ask children to use their five senses to describe the food on their plates: color, texture, smell, taste, sounds as they chew.
  • Talk about where the food comes from, such as farming, fishing, or your own garden.
  • Consider taking a meal outdoors to soak in the nature while you eat. This could be on your balcony, out on your back patio or deck, or head over to a local park for a picnic.
  • Lead a mindful eating exercise, such as this one with an orange. You can adapt this process to any type of food.
    1. Start by holding an orange in your hand. Roll it around. Touch different parts of it. Notice how it feels. Is it hard or squishy? Is it smooth or rough?
    2. Inhale the fruit’s scent. What does it smell like? Do different parts of the fruit have different smells?
    3. Look at the fruit closely and from various angles. What colors do you see? Is the skin smooth or bumpy? What shape is it? What does it remind you of?
    4. Slowly peel your orange, paying attention to how it feels in your fingers. Notice the juiciness, wetness, and any distinctions between how the inside and outside feel.
    5. Take a whiff of the inside of the orange. Does it smell differently now that it is peeled?
    6. Now it is time to taste the orange. Take a slow bite and notice how it feels on your tongue, on the inside of your cheeks, and against your teeth. How would you describe the flavor? Sweet, sour, bitter, etc.? Notice the texture of the piece of orange in your mouth and any juiciness as you chew it. Does it take much effort to chew it? Take your time and be mindful as you chew, taste, smell, and feel each bite of your orange.
    7. Have fun reflecting on this experience together.

Remember These Five Steps

During the Mrs. Mindfulness Summit, Dr. Susan Albers of the Cleveland Clinic, an expert on mindful eating, suggested a five-step program for changing the way we eat. She gave a clever quote for each step so we can easily remember them.

  • Sit down: “Only eat off your feet”
  • Chew slowly: “Pace, don’t race”
  • Savor food and take mindful bites: “We eat…just eat”
  • Simplify and place healthy foods in accessible places: “In sight in mind, out of sight out of mind”
  • Smile between each bite and take a pause: “Take a breath to manage stress”

How have you incorporated mindful eating into your family meals?

7 Meaningful Activities For Earth Day That You Can Do From Home

Blog

My favorite holiday is coming up! Earth Day is held every April 22nd. Are you ready to celebrate our incredible planet?

It’s particularly an important time to stop and engage in our natural environment because spending time in and around nature is so beneficial to our family’s health and well-being. It calms us when we are feeling stressed and boosts our mood when we are feeling down. Although many of us are still social distancing, there are still plenty of fun, meaningful ways to show our support and love for our precious planet. Check out these Earth Day virtual activities!

 

Spend Time Learning

There are so many ways to get your kids excited about environmental issues. Many of us are looking for ways to keep our kids busy these days, so take advantage of this time to teach them new skills and explore new ideas. Read books; recite and write nature poetry; watch environmental shows and documentaries; take virtual and in-person trips to nature centers, gardens, and scenic destinations; and participate in online science education programs.

Be sure to check out both my parenting book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities To Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, and children’s book that I co-authored, Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness. They are the perfect reads for Earth Day!

               

Host a Virtual Earth Day Party

Earth Day is a great excuse for a virtual party. You can send an online invitation, get a group together through a number of online platforms, and celebrate our planet together. Some activities that you can do together online include: making an eco-craft, reading environmental poetry or books, writing letters to elected officials to support the environment, and playing nature-themed games like charades or jeopardy. You could even have everyone give a tour of their backyards or do a backyard scavenger hunt. My daughter’s birthday falls right near Earth Day. In 2020, her party was originally scheduled to be at a marine life nature center. Fortunately, the director still did a live animal show for her and her friends online and they absolutely loved it.

Join an Online Earth Day Event

Everyone is getting creative now and going online. Look out for environmental-related Facetime Lives, webinars, and online Summits for your family to enjoy. Lots of libraries are still offering webinars that you can tune into from anywhere. You can also search earthday.org for events.

Make an Earth-Friendly Feast

Every celebration needs a delicious meal, right? Take this opportunity to spend time together in the kitchen cooking a nutritious meal that supports our planet–whether that means vegetarian, vegan, or organic to your family. By savoring nature’s bounty, you can stop and appreciate how much we rely on the Earth to provide the many nutrients we need to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.

Support Environmental Organizations

When we give to others, we feel better and experience what is known as a helper’s high. Spend some time this Earth Day choosing one or more environmental organizations (local, national, or international) to either join or send a donation to. Some of my favorites include Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy, and Earthjustice. There are also a few groups specifically for moms that are doing amazing work: Moms Clean Air Force, Moms Rising, Mothers Out Front, and Climate Mama.

Shop Sustainable Businesses

This is an excellent time to support both local and national sustainable businesses, whether it be your neighborhood organic grocery store or large corporations with a history of doing incredible environmental work like Patagonia and Rothy’s. Not sure where to shop? Check out the B Corporation directory to identify green businesses.

Take the Ecohappiness Challenge

During the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, I started a daily Ecohappiness Challenge. It was the best way I knew how to manage my stress and anxiety during that unprecedented time. I tapped into the power of nature to feel calmer and happier by finding one way every day to connect to nature. These activities range from reading nature poetry with my kids to going for a mindful bike ride in my neighborhood to taking awe-inspiring virtual field trips to view nature online. You can now download your own FREE 30-Day Ecohappiness Challenge Calendar filled with activities that can be done from inside your home, on your balcony, or in your backyard. Let us know what you and your family are doing to connect to nature.

How will you celebrate Earth Day this year?

Nature-Related Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness

Special Events

Random Acts of Kindness Day takes place each year on February 17th to help spread love and kindness throughout the world. Even the smallest act of kindness can improve someone’s day or even change their life. When we tune into kindness happening around us, the day seems a little bit brighter. This is especially impactful in times like these when we are socially distant and struggling to stay positive during a global pandemic.

Benefits of Spreading Kindness

Scientific evidence shows us the positive effects of doing kind acts for others, as well as receiving or even witnessing kindness. We are all born with an instinct to give. In fact, humans have evolved over time to be compassionate, and our brains are now wired to respond to those who are suffering.

Studies show that infants as young as eighteen months old who are not even talking yet choose to help others (even strangers), although they are too young to have learned to be kind and polite. There is also evidence that children continue to show compassion as they grow. In one study, toddlers who were asked to give away their own treats expressed greater happiness when they shared with others.

Helping others through activities like community service and random acts of kindness makes us feel good and triggers a fascinating biological phenomenon called a “helper’s high.” This distinct physical sensation—sometimes described as euphoric—is associated with performing acts of kindness. It happens after our brain releases endorphins including dopamine, which give us a rush and make us feel elated. This positive energy in our body is similar to how we feel after we exercise.

Spreading kindness can also reduce our stress level. The simple act of doing something for another can change our brain activity and lead to positive emotions. Studies show that thinking about, watching, or practicing kindness stimulates the vagus nerve, which is linked to the production of oxytocin in our brain. Oxytocin is a hormone that soothes us, making us feel calmer and happier. It’s the same hormone released when we give or get a big, warm hug from a loved one.

Kindness can also improve our physical health and longevity, since it helps decrease stress and related physical symptoms. As a result, we experience positive health changes including lower blood pressure, stronger immune system, and fewer aches and pains.

Kindness ends up being a win-win for both the giver and receiver as we all enjoy a boost in happiness when we spread and receive acts of kindness. The positive feelings that our kids can experience from giving to others helps make them happier and healthier by reducing stress and anxiety and feelings of sadness, loneliness, or depression.

Nature-Related Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness

Given my focus on nature and mental health, I am putting a special ecohappiness spin on Random Acts of Kindness Day. There are many small acts of kindness that your children can partake in on any given day that involve nature. Here are 10 ideas to get you started:

  • Rake or weed a neighbor’s yard.
  • Walk a neighbor’s dog.
  • Grow your own flowers and give them out at a nursing home.
  • Compost and then give the rich soil you created to a local community garden.
  • Grow your own vegetables in your garden and donate them to a local food bank or soup kitchen.
  • Cook or bake using produce from your garden and surprise a neighbor or friend with the special treat.
  • Give out seeds, plants, or tree saplings to neighbors or people who live in areas lacking greenery.
  • Clean up a community area like a park or the beach.
  • Create a nature-related video with soothing outdoor scenes and send it to others to brighten up their day.
  • Take your kids on a nature walk to collect items like sticks, fallen leaves and flower petals, pebbles, etc., and ask them to use what they find to create get-well cards to distribute.

Want more ideas for volunteering outside in nature? Check out this post.

Why Nature Lovingkindness Meditation For Kids Is So Calming

Nature

When we are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it can be tremendously helpful to slow down and focus on what is happening in the present moment. This is called mindfulness. Being “in the now” teaches us how to be less reactive to negative thoughts and emotions and brings more peace, ease, and balance to our lives. It also helps us accept what is happening without thinking about whether it is right or wrong, good or bad. This ultimately empowers us to feel more in control of our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.

Science shows the incredible impact mindfulness can have on our lives by helping to reduce stress and anxiety and increase attention and focus. By redirecting our attention towards something that relaxes us, we can change the way we respond to and interact with the world around us. This can reduce stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions that impact our lives.

Nature is a simple way for us to find mindfulness. Can’t you just get lost in the moment when staring at a gorgeous sunset, rainbow, or the dancing ocean waves? Nature fills us with so much curiosity, awe, and pleasure that it helps us feel a deep sense of stillness and peace, easing our overactive minds.

Benefits of Lovingkindness Meditation

One type of meditation that can help us feel more mindful is the lovingkindness meditation. Also called Metta or compassion meditation, it is one of the most commonly practiced types of meditations out there. Quite simply, it is the practice of directing positive thoughts and well wishes to ourselves and others.

Practicing lovingkindness meditation can cause us to feel less isolated and more connected to the world around us as we shift the way we view ourselves and others to kindness instead of negativity. The meditation actually leads to positive changes in the brain, bringing benefits such as reducing stress and anxiety and lifting our mood. Just as performing acts of kindness gives us a natural high, sitting and practicing lovingkindness meditation can cause the same positive changes in our bodies and minds.

Like other types of meditation, lovingkindness meditation brings so many amazing benefits to our lives such as:

    • Reducing stress and anxiety
    • Lifting our mood and producing more positive emotions
    • Increasing feelings of hope
    • Decreasing physical and emotional pain
    • Reducing anger
    • Increasing positive social emotions toward new people as well as loved ones
    • Activating empathy
    • Improving social connection
    • Increasing self-love and how we feel about ourselves

Nature Lovingkindness Meditation For Kids

After learning about all the benefits, don’t you just want to share some lovingkindness with your kids right now? We can tweak the traditional lovingkindness meditation practice by sending love and kindness specifically to nature. Ask your children to sit comfortably with their eyes closed, imagining what they wish for in that moment. The four phrases that they can either say out loud or think silently during the practice are typically:

May I/you be safe.

May I/you be healthy and strong.

May I/you be happy.

May I/you be peaceful and at ease.

Have them repeat these wishes, first directing them to themselves and then toward different aspects of nature like a tree, butterfly, or animal. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Start by directing the phrases to yourself.
  2. Next, direct the Metta towards something in nature you feel thankful for. (Example: pandas)
  3. Now visualize something in nature you feel neutral about—you neither like nor dislike. Direct the thoughts to that object. (Example: grass)
  4. Next, direct the thoughts to something in nature you do not like. (Example: spiders)
  5. Finally, direct the Metta towards the entire planet: May all beings everywhere be safe…

By practicing lovingkindness meditation directed towards nature, our children will feel happier and more connected to their natural environment and more relaxed as a result of focusing on something beautiful, awe-inspiring, and positive.