Are your kids feeling restless?
Trouble with attitudes?
Feeling a little gloomy?
Want to encourage a love of nature and science?
Need to add in some healthy movement for you or your children?
Trouble focusing?
Benefits of Time Outdoors
Time outside can be the remedy for all of those concerns and more. Spending time outside in the fresh air and sunshine can make a tremendous difference in the atmosphere of your home and homeschool. This is true for both parents and children.
(Please note that I am not a doctor, and I am not trying to treat health problems. If you are having serious depression, etc, please seek medical care.)
I have noticed that when we are super busy, or the weather has been less than ideal, and we have not spent much time outside, my children struggle to focus on schoolwork, their attitude and behavior suffer, and they tend to be more sedentary.
While I do not start “bouncing off the walls” or appear like I’m vibrating because I’m restless like my children, I also notice that my attitude and focus are better when I spend some time each day outside. The sunshine brightens my mood, and the fresh air helps clear my mind. I try to go for a walk each day, and that 45 minutes of time outside gives me more focus and clarity for the rest of the day.
Educational Benefits
In addition to the physical and mental benefits of time outside, there are also educational benefits. Time spent outside in nature helps students learn by observing the vast world around them. As they begin to look and learn, they tend to become more appreciative of God’s beautiful creation.
While we sometimes take nature walks specifically to observe and study, I find that once you show children how to look for things around them, they begin to do it naturally during their free time outside. We might go for a walk and look for birds one day, but months later, they are still pointing out different types of birds as they spend time outside.
I will not discuss all the research on spending time outside, though I will include a list of good resources at the end of this post. Instead, I want to focus on simple ways to add more outside time to your schedule.
Strategies for Spending More Time Outdoors
1. Dress for the season
While there are some days when the weather is too bad to get outside, most days the key is just being well-dressed. When it is cold, it is easy to decide to stay inside, but I often pay for those days with challenging attitudes and bouncing children. It really is worth the effort to layer up and spend some time outside. In the summer, we use lots of sunscreen, light clothes, and water activities to battle the heat.
2. Take the books outside
Sometimes, going outside would be wonderful, but there is no time. You need to get reading, math, etc. done, as well as whatever else life throws at you. Taking school outside to a picnic table or blanket on the ground is a great option. The novelty and fresh air can make school a little more fun, and it is time you would already be spending with the added benefit of sunshine and fresh air.
Specific nature study is another great way to spend time outside while checking off the educational boxes. It can be as simple as observing what is around them and choosing something to learn more about. If you like to have ideas and more resources for nature study, check out the Homeschool Nature Study Membership.
3. Keep it Simple
We love to do fun things, try new parks, gather with friends, and explore different nature projects. However, spending time outside can be as simple as allowing children to play in the backyard, ride bikes, or walk in your neighborhood. Do not feel like every day or every time outside has to have a plan or special activities.
4. Think Outside the Box
Finally, field trips are a great way to add some time outside. We enjoy going to our state and national park sites to learn more about science and history while exploring the outdoors. There are also local parks, conservation programs, and more that offer outdoor experiences. Sometimes, these fit into our curriculum; other times, they are just fun educational opportunities. If you are in North Carolina, our state parks offer an amazing assortment of outdoor events that you can learn about on their website.
Resources and Research
Until the Streetlights Come On
Homeschool Nature Study Membership
Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure
When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library you will get a link and password to the library, we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you up to date on what we have going on.
This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.
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