1,000 Hours

That's it. I'm moving to one of the Scandinavian countries. They seem to do everything right from universal healthcare to year-long maternity leaves. From their environmentally conscious culture to their high standards of clean water. From their later-start formal schooling (preschool starts around 6 years old, not 3 like in the U.S.) to their student-centered classrooms. From their simplistic and clean style to their concept of Hygge. I LOVE it all! But one of the more fascinating concepts they hold true to is their love for the outdoors. It is cold and dark for big chunks of the year over there, but that doesn't seem to stop them from being outside. In fact, the Norwegians commonly have their babies (as young as 2 weeks old) nap outside, even in the cold. How cold is too cold for babies napping outside? They recommend bringing them inside when it gets below -4 degrees. NEGATIVE FOUR. Meanwhile, the preschool I taught at didn't let the kids go outside when it got below 32 degrees. The University of Finland has a pretty interesting study on the benefits and reasons behind this idea too. You might read that and shudder at the idea of throwing your kid out in the tundra like that, but rest assured the Scandinavians know how to dress and prepare for the weather too. They have coined the term: "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing". But I'll get into that.

So while I can't move to Sweden, I can adopt many of those philosophies for our family. This concept of spending time outside popped up recently in my favorite parenting podcast (Your Parenting Mojo). The research-based findings the host shared were astounding. Better school performance and ability to focus longer were both associated with spending time outside. Other benefits include better sleep (I can personally attest to this one. The Vitamin D affect on Isla's melatonin is crazy!), more creativity/imagination, less depression and anxiety, more confidence, health benefits (decreased findings of obesity, stress, certain disorders/diseases), and a wide array of sensory experiences (sound, touch, smell, sight). 

But more astounding than the benefits of outdoor play is the reason children aren't spending time outside. There are many reasons ranging from our culture's move to industrialized cities to the conveniences the indoors offer. One of the biggest contributing factors, however, is... you guessed it... screens. We live in a technology-driven world. More and more children are spending more and more hours in front of screens. And while it's not possible to escape our technology-filled culture, it is something to be extra conscious about. The average American child uses 3 hours of screens a day. Some studies found children using up to 7 hours of screen usage A DAY! The average child in the U.S. spends 1200 hours a year watching t.v. In the book "How to Raise a Wild Child", the author Scott Sampson claims by the time a boy has reached 21 he has racked up more than 10,000 gaming hours. There has been a steady incline in ADHD diagnoses in children and the science behind that has clear links to the screen time a child receives. While it's not always the "reason" behind such diagnoses, it is often something that greatly contributes. When everything is at the touch of a button and instant gratification is so prevalent, it's no wonder a child can't sit still, focus, and slow down. I could write a whole post on screens. It's such a heavy, heated topic. If you spend any amount of time in a mom's group on facebook, you'll quickly learn screens are the one topic we do not speak of. The general sense is "yes, we know screens are bad, BUT how else do you get things done? or what is my child supposed to do all day? or screens give me a break! or that's the only way I can get them to (fill in the blank). or it's an "educational" show, don't worry. or they have to know about screens some day. or it's my babysitter so I can accomplish (fill in the blank)." While none of those things are actually said, it's oftentimes the truth behind why parents use screens, I believe. And although it does make for a more, shall we say, "hands-on day", it's not impossible to have little to no screen time. We do it in our family and I'm proud of that fact. Our grandparents and their parents were able to parent without screens. It's not impossible. But I digress. 

So what is the answer to the screens, the rise in behavior disorders, the loss of curiosity and imagination, the fast-paced society we live in? OUTSIDE. That is the answer. The more we get our kids outside, the better it is for everyone. Not only for our children, but for the attitudes and well-being of adults too. We all know those mountain-climbing, nature-loving people that seem to connect with nature and be at peace (my husband is one of those gurus). Nature does something to us. We were made to be in it, with it, and among it. After all, weren't Adam and Eve placed in a garden? Nature is for us to enjoy and take care of. Unfortunately, our world is destroying nature as we speak. So why not raise up children that appreciate it, want to take care of it, and ultimately glean a little benefit from it too? Scott Sampson (mentioned above) expresses that Earth has an end-date, especially with the way we treat it. How are we to take better care of it if we don't already love it? You can't expect children to grow up and become environmentalists if they don't know anything about it. We have to start getting our children outside. 

So what does nature have to offer? Let's look at the benefits of being outside:

Academic Benefits

So, circling back to Scandinavia, did you know they don't start formal education in reading until 7 years old? Meanwhile, we are pushing 3 year olds to memorize letters and understand beginning concepts of reading. I'm ashamed to say the school I worked at had a curriculum that forced 4 year old children to read. It was something we were proud of when we gave tours of our school!! Seven might sound like a late start, but did you also know Finland is one of the most literate countries in the world?? There is something to be said about holding off on academics and letting a kid be a kid. The concepts you can learn from play, especially play outside, is far more reaching than the 2 dimensional, measurable worksheets we hand our preschoolers. Think about how all-encompassing play is. After all, "play is the work of children" according to Mr. Rogers. It is so important. And while I'll never discourage any type of play for children, I believe outside play is the most beneficial. Just think about what being outside does for academic skills needed in the future: gross and fine motor skills, muscle building, eye sight strengthening, and the slower pace of nature help with things like muscle control, cognitive development, focus, executive function, reasoning, problem solving, logic, and so much more. These abilities aid in writing (you need to focus, have fine motor skills, reasoning, planning), reading (you need good eye sight, ability to focus, ability to string ideas/thoughts/concepts/characters/themes together, vocabulary), math (reasoning, logic, problem solving... the grounds for successful math education), classroom functions (sitting still in a desk, listening abilities, focusing abilities, following directions, speaking with others, holding a pencil, using scissors, and so on). The more we let a child play outside, the better they are able to focus when it matters (like in an academic setting). There's a quote I love by Erin Kenny that says "you cannot bounce off the walls if there are no walls.", meaning get outside! Perhaps this is the answer to our children's difficulties to focus in an academic setting.

Maybe it's strange that I touched on eyesight a few times. The reason for that is studies have found a large increase in myopia within children in recent years. Myopia is essentially nearsightedness. Do you know why this is? You guessed again, screens. When a child spends all of their time looking at something a few feet or inches from their face and that thing is a bright 2-dimensional light, it's no wonder they are nearsighted. Nature forces a child to use their eyes for both near and farsightedness. That's just one example of the battle screens and nature have. Nature always wins. And nature 100% benefits the future academic success of a child. 

Health Benefits

When children are outside they are running, leaping, swimming, climbing, exploring, pushing, building, throwing, carrying. This strengthens muscles, organs, bones, and brain. Studies have found time and time again that being outdoors has crazy health benefits for your body (adults and children alike). Heart rates slow down, stress levels drop, blood pressure decreases, and the nervous system calms. Being outside has proven health benefits with a decrease in chronic illnesses, obesity, heart and lung disease, behavioral disorders, and mental disorders (depression/anxiety). There has even been clear links between nature and immunity boosts. Sunlight stimulates the pineal gland, which controls moods and immunity. Strengthening this can strengthen your wellbeing. That's why depression rates increase in the winter. The more time you spend inside with artificial light, the harder it is for your body to produce those feel-good hormones. Being outside is good for the body, mind, and soul. 

Social-Emotional Benefits

Like I stated previously, being outside seems to greatly contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-worth. This is likely due to the decreased stress levels (just consider how stressed today's children are- always rushing to the next event, lots of homework, exhausting school days, and very little time or space to release this stress), confidence in abilities, and access to imagination. When a child is playing outside they are using sticks and rocks as play tools, they are assessing and weighing the risks of jumping, building, climbing, they are focusing on details or large concepts, they are enjoying free play and fresh air. All of these things contribute to the way a child feels about themselves. There is no room for comparisons, pressures, and stress which all greatly contribute to self-esteem, emotional-regulation, self-confidence, and social skills. Along those lines is this idea of risky play. There are so many benefits to a child involved in risky play. Risky play means a child pushing themselves to do things outside their limits. This allows them to develop boundaries, resilience, control, management, and executive function development (see next point). Studies have found children that are involved in risky play rather than "safe" or safety-imposed play are actually safer because they know their own limits. There is a philosophy out there that goes something along the lines of "if you can do it, then you can do it." Meaning, if your body is able to do that thing, without my help, then it is safe to do. I try to remember this every time Isla wants to climb the large play structure at our favorite nature preserve. 

Executive Function

 I didn't know whether to stick this point under academic benefits, health benefits, or social-emotional benefits because honestly, executive function interweaves through all those aspects. If you aren't familiar with this child-development term, executive function is "the cognitive abilities needed to control our thoughts, emotions, and actions." (child-encyclopedia). Basically, it is what is needed to run a person's life, from childhood to adulthood. These functions help us work with others, think critically, adapt to new situations, regulate and identify our emotions, plan, have self-control, and manage areas of our life. Everyone has areas of this where they are great and areas that need help. As you grow, your executive function does. A child is not born with the ability to think logically about a situation (hello prefrontal cortex!). That is why tantrums are such a prevalent thing in toddlerhood. All of this has to develop over time. Executive function is often what determines a successful adult, whether that is success in relationships, a job, or life in general. And for those children who have parents doing things for them, or people controlling their every move, or people not setting limits, or a disorganized living situation, or limited access to helpful resources that teach these skills, or tons of time mindlessly watching tv, or lack of play/outdoor, time or so many other like factors then their executive function can be poor. Fortunately, there are ways to help this. And being outside is literally one of the treatments for poor executive function. Being outside allows a child to plan, troubleshoot, multitask, and enjoy imaginative/creative play. 

The benefits of being outside are endless. And honestly, the more I read and research, the more overwhelmed I become at just how backwards our society is. I grew up playing in the woods. My brother and I were outside all the time. We had a pile of favorite sticks that weren't quite logs, but were large enough for fort building. They were sacred sticks. I had a favorite tree that lined our driveway where I used to hide things in a glass jar. I remember climbing trees and jumping off into the snow. I once read about a group of Native Americans that would hunt barefoot so as not to disturb the animals; so, one summer I spent my time running barefoot and doing my best to stay as quiet as possible. I caught snakes, turtles, frogs, and bugs. We would wade through the creek that ran through our woods and find tadpoles to raise into frogs. I once saw a snake give birth in the pond and another snake devour a toad. I learned to recognize different sounds of birds and bugs. It was not abnormal to see deer, foxes, rabbits, hawks, squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, and all sorts of animals roaming the woods. I used to hike to the far end of the woods and lay down in this seemingly random meadow and watch the clouds. We would eat the icicles off the trees and build forts of ice and snow. My fingernails always had dirt under them from digging around and I don't remember playing inside too often. I have amazing memories of being outside as a child. I memorized those familiar woods. I have always thought my brother and I had the most wild imaginations and I now attribute our time outdoors to this. I don't think my parents realized what kind of gift they gave to my brother and me. It's the same gift I hope to give to my children in our next house (although buying land in prime farmland is expensive. So I may be waiting awhile for that dream). Did you know the average U.S. child can identify over 1,000 company logos, but less than 10 common plants in their area?? I want more for my children.

Now let's look at the logistics of getting outside. 

What we wear outside:

So you may read this and think "great! but it's too cold for 3/4 of the year here." Well, like the Scandinavians say, "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." When you dress for the weather, your adventure will be successful. Nobody wants a crying toddler and screaming baby because everyone is wet and cold. Here is what we are aiming to do to make our time outside more enjoyable (these ideas are taken right from the Scandinavian's closets):

• Start with a base layer. My husband knows about this being an avid mountain climber. A merino wool base layer is what is suggested. This is material that will trap your body heat and keep you warm from the bottom up. We are asking for some wool base layers for Christmas and buying large in hopes of using them in the future. 
• Add a mid-layer. This layer should be something like fleece that can keep you warm, but is light enough for layering. Isla has a few fleeces. For me, I am using my Patagonia pullover or Columbia fleece-lined jacket. You can add fleece lined pants or leggings here too. 
• End with a top layer. Ideally this is a lightweight, but insulated jacket (something like a puffer). I have had a hard time finding something like this for Isla that doesn't cost a fortune. For me, I'm getting a Nano Patagonia. 
• Snow pants or an insulated and waterproof suit are best for heavy-duty snow play and cold temperatures. 
• Waterproof boots or shoes that are insulated, waterproof gloves, and a hat that covers your ears (ties beneath the chin for littles) are a must too. Baklavas would be a good alternative. 
• For warmer weather that is still wet (or for creek exploring and puddle jumping) we are getting a waterproof suit! 
• For Ewan, I am on the hunt for a wool base layer for him, too. Then an undershirt, outfit, and sherpa suit. I usually wear him when we are on adventures and use a blanket over top of the baby carrier. Depending on my coat, I can usually zip him into it. He also has fleece booties to go over his socks, mittens, and a tight hat for colder weather. He has several weights of suits to wear. 
• Layer, layer, layer seems to be the theme of the professionals. You can add or take away depending on how hot or cool you get. 

What our time outside looks like: 

So what do you do outside? My suggestion would be let the child lead. We spend a lot of time in our backyard, but it is very small. So when we are out back, I have some fun tools for aiding in exploration. We like to use the sensory bin with water or messier materials (like sand and water beads). We have a small garden that I let Isla dig around in with her easily accessible tools. I often bring the paints outside and let her go nuts. We read together, enjoy snack, share our morning basket, or bird watch (she loves birds!). We love to go on neighborhood walks too and do this almost daily. We have a small neighborhood park with a huge green space for exploring, as well. Isla spends her time looking at the trees, listening to birds, finding logs and roots on the ground, and running around. Ewan spends his time sleeping in the stroller or on me. 

One of our favorite things to do is explore our nearby nature preserve. We are fortunate to have a preserve that also includes a play space for children. It has logs for balancing, a sandbox for getting dirty, a large climbing fort in the trees, a tire for running in and out of and climbing, and a creek with pots and pans for making mud soup. The nature preserve also has plenty of trails and woods to explore, as well as, hundreds of maple trees that they tap every winter. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to enjoy the programs they offer for children due to Covid, but we look forward to the day we can do that. Our area has other State parks and nature centers within driving distance to explore too. I encourage you to find the nature around your area! 

Other things we've enjoyed have been playing at parks (our county has 50+ parks), playing at splash pads and pools, and exploring Nana and Pop Pop's big yard. Within driving distance we have so many other opportunities too like State/National Parks, Horticulture Centers, farms for exploring, camping, rock climbing, swimming, and hiking. And I'm 100% expecting my husband to take Isla and Ewan on his mountain adventures as soon as possible. 

Going outside does not have to be extravagant or grandiose. When we think of "escaping to nature", we often think of peaceful and serene places like the mountains or forests. But nature is simply the ladybug crawling across the stick at the park or the changing leaves of the tree in your backyard. Those things can be observed and enjoyed if only we teach ourselves how to look for them. And the more we "attend" nature, the more we are invited in. 

Along those lines, if you need more of a push or motivation there are hundreds of resources available for getting outside and enjoying what's around you. While I think I fall more in line with the Scandinavian way of prolonging "formal education", I do plan on purchasing the curriculum "Exploring Nature with Children" this January and beginning with Isla as our form of "preschool". Although, I look at it rather as a tool for our outdoor time. I already loosely follow their weekly units. Each week has a new nature theme with activities and books to go along with it. This month we've explored mushrooms and lichens with books and our time at the preserve. There are also so many resources online for outdoor scavenger hunts, books and videos to follow up on any observations your child makes, geocaching, and so much more! 

1,000 Hour Challenge:

So all of that being said, I have set out on an important journey. We are devoting 1,000 hours of our time to being outside in the year 2021. There is an amazing woman named Ginny (who happens to live in southeast Michigan) who developed this idea of attaining 1,000 hours of outdoor time in a year. If a child is spending 1,200 hours a year watching television, than surely we have the time to get outside. The concept comes from the great Charlotte Mason, an educational pioneer in the homeschooling arena from the 19th/20th century. Charlotte Mason recommended a child spend 4-6 hours outside every day in order to promote the best learning. The 1,000 hour challenge is now a global movement in the effort of getting kids outside more often! This equates to about 3 hours a day. If I'm being really honest, that sounds HARD! By the time we get up and moving, do diaper changes, eat breakfast, get dressed, do another diaper change, eat a snack, do another diaper change, get geared up, and finally get outside it's about 10:00. I have tried really hard to get out sooner and sometimes we do, but it is hard with a toddler and a baby. Then it's back inside for lunch (although sometimes we do this outside) and naps. By the time Isla is up from nap, she eats a snack, another diaper change, bundle up again, then we only have about an hour or two of daylight (unless of course, it's summer). Charlotte Mason would suggest sleeping outside too, but if you've been around you know we do not mess with Isla's sleep. So that being said, I'm trying to creatively think of ways to get us outside more often. One of the mini challenges offered within the 1,000 hour challenge is outside time before noon. The morning sun is different than the afternoon sun. It affects your hormones and bodily functions differently than afternoon sun does (although both are great). So if we can get out earlier, I think that might be the key. I'm also not opposed to being out after the sun goes down, but bedtime interferes too. I would LOVE to attain 1,000 hours, but realistically I am hoping for 500. I think the point of the challenge is just to GET OUTSIDE and I love that. I was going to start in January, but we've been outside so much lately that I thought "why not start now!". So here we are. 7 hours in. Only 993 to go! Who else wants to join?! Let's all welcome the dirt and sun together! 

Great Resources (and citations for all this info)

• Your Parenting Mojo- many episodes on nature play, free learning, time outside, screen detriments, education systems, homeschooling, and risky play. Each episode is backed by 10-15 hours of evidence-based research on such topics. 
• How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott Sampson
• There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda McGurk
• Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-deficit Disorder by Richard Louv 
• 1000hoursoutside.com- this is the challenge we are participating in. It includes hour trackers, as well as, an amazing blog chalked full of more info like this. 
• Sanford Health
• Harvard Health 
• Child Encyclopedia