Early Education Advisement Services

​There are a plethora of reasons why nature-deficit disorder is quickly becoming a trending topic. This unofficial diagnosis is one way that experts communicate the problems associated with poor urban planning, reliance on technology, and a diminishing emphasis on time spent outdoors. Unfortunately, all of these are harmful to both adults and children alike, but there are ways to combat this ever-growing problem.
 
Spending time outside is the cure for nature-deficit disorder. This does not mean that you have to devote every waking hour under the sun, but you should plan for ample outdoor time every single day as weather permits. Even if you only take a stroll around the neighborhood, every moment you expose yourself and your children to fresh air and sunshine puts you one step closer to beating this disease of modern times. Below, you’ll find several ideas on how to push your new outdoor agenda, brought to you by FamilyFactor.org.
 
Things to Do in Your Backyard
 
When you want to spend more time outdoors, you really don’t have to look beyond your own backyard to get started. The following tips and resources will help you and your family discover the many things you can do without leaving home.
 
9 Great Outdoor Learning Activities for Springtime
How to Grow Strawberries Successfully in Containers
8 Photo Projects in Your Own Backyard
Teach Your Child How to Ride a Scooter in 10 Simple Steps
10 Fun and Unusual Ways to Play Tag
 
Things to Do Beyond Your Backyard
 
Of course, you don’t have to stay in your own backyard if you don’t want to! There’s an entire world out there that’s ready to explore. The following resources can help you discover things you can do when you’ve had enough of your own yard.
 
Astronomy for Beginners: How to Get Started with Stargazing
How to Make Hiking Fun with Kids
4 Tips When Mountain Biking with Your Child
Introducing Kids to Fishing
Five Outdoor Volunteering Opportunities to Help Give Back in the Sun
 
With the above ideas, you don’t have to suffer a deficit of nature. And neither do your children. So get ready to enjoy life in the sunshine and all of the health benefits that go along with it.

Twice a day for 15 miles I look in my rearview mirror and I see little pigtails, swaying to Raffie, bouncing along to every perfectly silly lyric and in that moment there is nothing more perfect to look at. I could drive for hours just knowing that I can look in my rearview mirror and see little pigtails swaying back and forth, up and down.

 know I write about the swiftness of time and the element of awareness around looking back one day and knowing how precious these moments are. I like to share these simple moments because it is a reminder of how the complexity of it all can be boiled down to nothing more than tiny pigtails blowing in the breeze. So when something that simple can bring so much pure joy into my life, I feel as though every hard, exhausting, mind-breaking moment is absolutely worth it.

Take a moment today and look in your rearview mirror so that you will always have a moment to remember.