NATURAL RESET Get Outside and Play (Everyday)
WEEK 1:
FEB 20th - FEB 26th
Make sure to "officially" join the challenge by entering your email in the JOIN US box on the right!
The definition of "adventure" is "an unusual and exciting experience". Yet there is room for everyone to carve out their own idea of what "adventure" means to them based on their normal day to day activities. Walking around the block may be an adventure to a two-year-old, while a seasoned mountain climber may have to take on a thrill much larger in scale to get the same sense of the word.
With that said, the "Get Outside and Play (Everyday)" challenge, asks you to take your kids on an outdoor adventure everyday for a week, based on THEIR idea of what an "adventure" might be.
These do not have to be long / complicated endeavors. The goal is to challenge yourself to step outside of YOUR normal routine. We are not going to compare and contrast when we share our tales from the week. Instead we are here to support and inspire. That is the whole point.
So whether you go out for 10min. or several hours, it counts.
AND IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR DAY!
Who are these challenges for?
They are for anyone and everyone who is looking to deepen their children's connection the outdoors. Anyone who is curious about the benefits of doing so. Anyone who already gets out everyday and just needs a fresh perspective. Anyone who can't seem to get out much for whatever reason and wants a little push out the door.
These challenges are as challenging as you want them to be. So don't be intimidated. Plus, they are only for 7 days at time. You can do anything for 7 days, right?
Benefits
Yes, I suspect that you may be energized. They might inspire future conversation with your kids about whatever they experienced. It may frustrate you if you are not used to getting the kids all dressed for the winter weather. But since I am treating these as EXPERIMENTS, and I suggest you take on that kind of curiosity as well, the benefits are yet to be determined. Make note of what you notice, both good and bad, and share it with the group at the end of the week!
What should you DO outside (especially if you live were it happens to be freezing out!).
Well, again this all depends on your comfort zone and ambition
but here are some simple yet meaningful suggestions. And remember, kids CAN get out in any weather, BUT you have DRESS FOR THE WEATHER. : )
If you have the ability to get out with the kids during the day:
- Feed the backyard animals AND get to know your backyard birds. Simplest way is to give the kids a bag or small pail full of birdseed and let them throw it around the yard or park. You could also make a simple bird feeder out of a left over orange rind or pinecone and go out to hang it up. (Maybe by the window!).
- Step outside to check and record the weather conditions. Have them describe the weather using as many of their senses as they can. Ask leading questions and write it down each day for the week.
- Collect snow to bring in a container to take inside as a sensory play type of thing. I posted pics earlier of us doing this. We used watercolors and Legos to interact with the snow.
- Collect snowflakes by letting some fall on a black sheet of construction paper. When you come inside with your snowflakes examine them under a magnifying glass.
- Take a container of water outside and check on it daily to see how the water changes.
- Read about trees and then go out and talk about them. I did this with my son for our advent calendar and he still goes out even now and talks about the differences between deciduous and coniferous trees. We collected as many different pine needles as we could find.
- Go for a walk!
- Collect sticks, stones, or whatever they can find.
- If there is snow the possibilities are endless, right?
- Drink hot cocoa outside.
What should you do if you can only get out after dark?
- Of course, look up. Take advantage of any clear nights and take the kids out (even if it's just in the yard or on the steps) to see the stars and / or moon.
- We were lucky enough to catch a beautiful snowfall before the kids went to bed this week so we bundled them up and walked a few houses in either direction to watch the snow come down.
- Walk outside at night and listen. This works well if you live in the country. I don't . But at the same time we can still hear wind rustling the leaves or other sounds that are somewhat mysterious because of the darkness.
- talk about the power of the sun and charge up solar power lights. At night go out and see the magic happen when those lights use what they gathered during the day.
- make a fire outdoors
- use a flashlight outside at night to make shadows on the garage
- take a short night walk around the neighborhood.
- just step out and take a breath of fresh air!
So, what do you think? Are you up for the Challenge? I hope so....
Looking forward to seeing posts on the group page at the end of the week. I will check in with you via email mid-week to see how things are going!
