5 Ways Nature Can Help Your Kids Disconnect from Technology

Today’s article is a guest post from author and mom of two, Sandi Schwartz. Sandi understands the struggle of getting your kids off their devices, she’s here to give us some encouragement to help us get our kids to connect with nature instead of technology. Read her tips below and check out her bio at the bottom of the post to learn more about her and her new book.

We hear about the negatives of technology a lot these days. Sitting all day staring at screens can take a toll on our children’s physical and mental health. Physical effects can include headaches, neck problems, eyestrain and other vision issues, and obesity. Kids can also struggle with stress and anxiety, loneliness and depression, feelings of isolation, trouble focusing, and even addiction. Doctors recommend paying attention to posture and taking breaks to stretch and move around, but there is also another incredible way to balance our kids’ tech time—nature.

Spending time in nature is so beneficial to our kids’ health and well-being. It calms them, reducing feelings of stress, anxiety, and anger. Research studies in recent years have also shown that spending time in nature can improve focus and attention, and reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension.

It is important to carve out time for our kids to enjoy the great outdoors so they can get a break from screens. This helps them refresh and recharge in so many ways. We can give them nature breaks throughout their day. My biggest advice is to start with what they already love. If they are athletic, get them outside playing sports. If they are artistic, consider nature art projects like nature photography, collages, drawing, painting. If they love to cook, start a family garden and enjoy cooking your own produce together. The options are endless.

Here are five fun ways for your kids to disconnect from technology by connecting to nature:

Play Nature Games

Children need unstructured free play to be creative and let loose. Here are some fun nature games to enjoy together as a family.

· Play the Cloud Imagination Game. Ask your children what they see in the clouds, such as animals, shapes, people, or other objects. Take it one step further and challenge them to create a story about the cloud images or to paint a picture of what they see.

· Watch for Wildlife. Look for birds, ducks, squirrels, rabbits, insects, and even friendly neighborhood cats. See if you can spot different types of birds, and feel free to use a bird guide or look them up online.

· Play Nature Bingo or do a scavenger hunt. These are great ways to encourage children to be mindful of nature.

Go Exploring

There are so many places to visit to explore the outdoors, such as parks, botanical gardens, sculpture gardens, nature centers, wildlife refuges, hiking trails, and fountains. Depending on where you live, maybe you can head over to the beach or a lake to enjoy the sights and sounds of the water. Even a quick walk around your neighborhood keeping an eye out for wildlife or attractive gardens can lead to some nature-filled moments.

Get Creative

Consider bringing art projects outside. Nature is filled with so much beauty to spark creativity, so your kids will be inspired to paint or draw flowers, trees, and animals they see. What a wonderful way for them to enjoy being creative while spending time outside! Here are some art projects to take outdoors:

· Let your child decorate your sidewalk or patio with chalk.

· Bring art supplies outside in your backyard or on your balcony such as an easel, paint, and paint brushes and let them have a blast getting creative.

· Encourage them to have a Play-doh picnic by setting up a blanket and asking them to make some pretend food out of clay or Play-doh.

· Ask your children to collect nature items like leaves, sticks, and pine cones and have fun making all kinds of nature artwork.

Work on Science Experiments

Kids love being scientists and discovering new things outdoors. Ask them to collect rocks, look for bugs, or study the stars at night. You can also sign up to do some citizen science projects, which involves volunteering to collect scientific data. Kids can gain science experience and directly help the scientific community. Check out the following resources for citizen science projects: CitizenScience.gov, SciStarter, and Zooniverse.

Take a Pet Break

Pets can have a profound impact on our children’s well-being by reducing stress and anxiety and boosting mood. Pets offer comfort and companionship, provide a healthy distraction, increase social interaction, and encourage exercise. If you have a family pet, making time for a pet break away from screens can give your kids a happiness boost. Petting a furry animal or even watching swim fish around are soothing activities. If you don’t have your own pet, see if you can spend time with a friend’s or neighbor’s pet or if you can volunteer at an animal shelter or nature center to help with the animals.

All these ideas direct our kids away from technology to more soothing, awe-inspiring nature that is beneficial to their health and happiness. To discover more fun, relaxing nature activities, take the free Nature Habit Quiz.

Be sure to save these ideas for later.

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Author Bio: Sandi Schwartz is an author, journalist, and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. Her new book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, comes out in the spring. Learn more at www.ecohappinessproject.com.

I’m including links to our favorite tools for exploring nature. These are affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.