How We Squeezed Time Outdoors Into The First Week Back at School

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.

His name tag reads: “Hi, My Name Is: Crazy Eyes, Nature Guy.”

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?