During this virus season and with a lot of scare mongering in the press we have had a look around to summarize what the experts say we should be doing in order to keep happy and healthy during this viral and flu season.
Read MoreThe practice of forest therapy (know as forest bathing in certain circles) has been known to calm the nervous system, lower your blood pressure, soften mood disorders and significantly reduce the level of cortisol in your system. Cortisol is also know as your stress hormone.
Read MoreNature is good for you, again and again we are reminded of the positive benefits of being outdoors and to have a cautioned approach towards screens/phones.. British doctors say leave phones outside the bedroom. Screen-free meals are a good idea. When in doubt, don’t upload. And get more exercise.
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Valentine’s Day Contest February 14, 2019! Spread some HeART Rocks or Natural Hearts and win! Making heart rocks is super easy, or just find hearts in nature. Stop and notice, and suddenly you’ll see hearts everywhere outside!
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It cannot be refuted that exposure to the natural world can induce positive physiological effects. Walking, sitting in, or even looking at nature has been proven to decrease stress hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate, while simultaneously inducing relaxation effects noticeable within the nervous system. So, it’s no wonder that as the seasons change, we can feel a response, both emotional and physical, when observing nature transition from one state to another. In a way, it feels that our own states are changing with it side-by-side, seeming as though we are acting both as a witness and a partner in the transformations taking place.
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We’re all spending too much time on our phones, so the argument goes, and Apple finally did its part to do something about it. In this case it’s “Screen Time,” a new feature on iOS 12 that tells you how long you’ve been using certain apps on your iPhone or iPad at its simplest, and which lets parents place numerous limits on app usage for kids at its most complex. (Or, if you feel like you’ve been spending too much time on, say, Twitter, you can place those limits on yourself.)
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As the winter holidays approach, we might be finding ourselves spending more and more time indoors with the drop in temperatures outside. During this time of year, though, there are so many fun and exciting ways to spend time in nature! Here are some of our favorite ways to spend some quality time in the elements with the people we love.
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As the seasons change and the temperature drops, we might find ourselves outdoors and ill-prepared for cold air. In manifesting the Swedish saying, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes,” we can prepare ourselves and our little Explorers for whatever nature has to offer!
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We love to encourage our Explorers to explore their creativity, and we can practice crafts with resources all around us. This fall, make use of natural materials for fun arts and crafts! Here are some our favorite nature-inspired art projects for the autumn season
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Friluftsliv: a Scandinavian term directly translating to “open-air living.” First popularized by Henrik Ibsen in the 1850s, this term has been used to describe “the value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing.”
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We love that Vitamin N (for “nature”) provides readers with simple and accessible ways that adults and children can reconnect with nature. Vitamin N is a comprehensive and practical handbook that readers of Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle have been looking for. This is the perfect children’s book for parents who value spending time outdoors and recognize that that spending time in nature is imperative to health of our children. We agree with Publishers Weekly, who describes the book as:
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As grown-ups we have our own ways of connecting with nature. Typically, our relationship with nature stems from the experiences we have as children and is shaped by the different directions are lives take us. Adults tend to be set in their ways, and have developed perspectives on everything from political views, to family and to the environment around us. While it is hard for most of us to change these preconceived patterns, most adults strive to keep an open mind.
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We can’t stress enough the importance of being outside. But what many parents are not aware of are the many benefits of getting outright dirty.
Germs and dirt are serious concerns for anxious parents, but some experts say we need not worry.
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Continuing on last post’s theme, screen time…what can we as parents do to convert that screen time to green time and get the kids outdoors?
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There are countless factors such as the home environment, social economic status and school which can negatively impact a child’s development. But one unavoidable fact is that too much screen time is preventing our kids from doing sports, reading, playing outdoors, and being with siblings.
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I think we can all agree our children are spending more and more time indoors, iPads and TVs being major culprits. This has led to a number of studies being published looking at the negative impact this is having on the health and development of children. Research has also shown there are numerous benefits to children playing outside, here are seven of them:
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Staying trapped indoors has created what health experts call a "nature deficit disorder" -- depression or anxiety resulting from too little time spent outside. Getting outdoors can do great things for your health. Reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and improving immune function are among nature’s health benefits. What's more, incorporating elements of nature into your workday can also give your brain a boost, resulting in increased productivity, focus and creativity.
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A survey conducted by United Minds showing 7 out of 10 parents want their kids to spend more time outside.
The survey asked a little more than 1000 parents about their attitudes to children spending time outdoors. 69% of the responding parents want their kids to spend more time outdoors, and 75% said that they themselves want to spend more time outside.
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10 Great Reasons Why You Should Spend Time Outdoors
Whether it is in organized form or not, spending time outdoors is essential to our health. This list gives you some of the benefits associated with time spent outside and reconnecting with nature.
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