Because I write this website and read lots of articles about time outdoors and the importance of play and unplugging for kids and adults, I'm ultra-aware of how the time ticks away in our day. Getting in our Green Hour is a high priority. I find it's as valuable for me as it is for the kids. As an illustration, I thought I'd share how we did it the first week back at school:
Monday
- We walked to school together. It's the same walk, but we see something different every day. The wildlife spotting varies and the weather changes.
- Kids played at school recess.
- I walked outdoors with a friend while the kids were in school.
- Kids played outdoors when they got home from school.
Tuesday
- We walked to school together.
- I walked home for exercise.
- Kids played at school recess.
Wednesday
- We walked to school together.
- I walked/ran around two different parks while they were at school.
- Kids played at school recess.
- Kids played outdoors when they got home from school.
- We did a simple nature craft which took them almost an hour. [I gave them containers and they collected "nature scraps" from around the outside of our house. No live stuff! Then they got some glue, glitter and googlie-eyes to make a creation on a paper plate.]
- Free play in the community pool.
Thursday
- We walked to school together.
- Kids played at school recess.
Friday (No school)
- Wandered around Irvine Regional Park.
- Visited the OC Zoo and talked about all the local animals.
- Played frisbee in the park.
- Searched for the NSI marker - and found it!!
- Ate dinner outside. Kids played outside while we prepared the meal.
- Went on a guided night hike.
Saturday
- Nature Play Club met at Shipley Nature Center with a picnic and played frisbee after.
- Free play in the community pool.
Sunday
- Today is a lazy day for us. We will probably visit the park during the day or the kids will play outside while we read on our deck.
- This evening we're hosting our KaBOOM.org Play Day for the neighborhood.
Our Tuesday/Thursdays are definitely more stuffed with activities. The kids were active after school those days, but their unstructured play happened indoors in shorter spurts. I also had a PTA meeting on Thursday night which crammed our schedule that much more. I'd like to think we make up for those two busy days -- on our Friday/Saturday/Sundays.
Need More Ideas?
Check GreenHour.org for all sorts of suggestions on how to get in some simple outdoor activities.
How did you get outdoors this week?
