Tips to Get Kids Outside and Away From Screens

(Family Features) Remember taking off for a day of adventure on your bike, returning home only for dinner? Kids these days don't have the same incredible experience of exploratory, unstructured play. According to a new survey commissioned by Nature's Path, 54 percent of moms say their kids spend more time playing in front of a screen than playing outside.

"Playing outside in nature is critically important for kids' development. Research shows it improves everything from problem-solving to cognitive ability to social relations," said parenting expert Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions. "Between screen time and the busy schedules of both parents and kids, today's children are spending less time outside and missing out on this fun and beneficial part of childhood."

According to the survey, the majority of moms try to regularly get their kids outside to enjoy the lifelong learning and health benefits of playing in nature. The biggest barriers that prevent this are: fear of letting kids play outside alone, being too busy juggling other priorities and not having the time to supervise outdoor play.

Here are five fun ideas to get you and your kids outside and exploring nature:

1. Get crafty. Let your kids collect leaves, flowers, stones, pinecones or anything that strikes their fancy - and then craft together. Make leaf prints, press flowers between plastic sheets to create placemats, paint stones or sticks to look like animals or make a terrarium in a bottle. The possibilities are as endless as their imaginations.

2. Schedule it. Kids are used to planned sports and activities, so schedule an hour of outdoor play that they will come to expect. That's where the planning ends - give them some ideas, but let them use their imaginations and engage in unstructured free play.

3. Explore at night. Turn a simple walk around the neighborhood into an adventure by going outside in the evening. Let kids take flashlights and glow sticks to help explore nature in a whole new way. Talk about the sights and smells at night and look at the stars together.

4. Share your favorite activities and make new memories. When you were young, did you love to skip stones on a pond? Build a fort? Jump in to piles of leaves? Tell your kids about your favorite pastimes and experience them together.

5. Get schools involved. According to the survey, the vast majority of moms (94 percent) agree it's important that schools also help kids discover nature. Moms can help schools by bringing them a program that's easy to implement. Nature's Path EnviroKidz Ecokeepers is a hands-on, exploration-based program that blends a traditional activity passport for kids to fill-in with a modern-day treasure hunt that uses GPS on smartphones to find hidden caches. It's free for schools and camps, and complements science and physical education curriculum. Parents can also download the Ecokeepers explorer guide and resources featuring activities to do with the family. The geocache app can be downloaded free from geocaching.com or your smartphone's app store.

While busy schedules don't always make it easy for moms to do everything they'd like to do with their kids, a little planning can help to get kids outside to experience all the benefits of outdoor play.

SOURCE:
Nature's Path

Elevate Your Camping Experience

(Family Features) If a break from the sights and sounds of the city is calling your name, it may be time for a camping getaway to rest and recharge. Fortunately, if roughing it isn’t your idea of a good time, there are several ways you can elevate your campsite for a less primitive experience.

Screen out pests. Even the most avid nature lovers can appreciate the need to keep pests away from their sleeping area. Using a tent with a screened patio area is one way to help cut down on the flies, mosquitos and other guests inside your sleeping quarters. The screen helps keep the majority of potential pests away from the main tent entrance so you can come and go more freely.

Power it up. A generator makes it possible to enjoy some comforts from home while you’re soaking up the fresh air. Electricity can help power practical uses (fans and phone chargers, for example) and other nonessential but enjoyable purposes such as personal electronics and cooking devices. If you’re thinking your camping neighbors may balk at the large, noisy version you use for emergency backup power, you’re probably right. Fortunately, inverter generators, like Briggs & Stratton’s PowerSmart Series, are designed for quiet operation – perfect for a campsite. Some inverters operate as low as 59 decibels – quieter than a normal conversation. Look for models with technology that allows you to power mobile devices safely and offers campers multiple power options and outlets for greater versatility.

Keep comfy at night. Many campers pack with a minimalist approach, but your bedding is no place to skimp. Even one night of uncomfortable sleep can put a damper on your getaway and leave you achy and irritable. If a cot or inflatable mattress isn’t practical, at least consider an extra layer for a softer cushion below you.

Cut cooking time. There’s something hypnotically calming about the sight and sound of flames dancing in the night. But when your stomach is growling, the fire pit can be your worst enemy. A propane or electric stove can help ensure you won’t go hungry.

Clean things up. After a hot, sticky day of hiking, a shower may be just what you need to refresh and revive. Fortunately, if your campsite doesn’t offer a bathhouse, there are dozens of options when it comes to portable showers. Make sure you have a dry towel at the ready by using a microfiber blend that is not only lightweight for transport but also dries quickly between uses.

Portable generators emit carbon monoxide and are dangerous if not operated properly. The only safe place to operate a portable generator is outside and away from the campsite. To learn more about how to safely operate a portable generator, visit takeyourgeneratoroutside.com.

Camping doesn’t have to be a rugged affair, especially with the variety of accessories available to help create a home away from home. Learn more about options to help power your next camping excursion at briggsandstratton.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (family of four)

SOURCE:
Briggs & Stratton