Go Outside and Play!!
Just a gentle reminder today to throw your kids outside!!
I have been a pediatric occupational therapist for over 25 years and a homeschool mom. For the past year I have been living the dream. I stopped working in a clinic, I didn’t work in a school. I brought my therapy to people’s backyards around my home base in Mountain View.
It’s an amazing experience! I am outside all day long. I come home and I feel invigorated even after an eight-hour day. I love working with the kids, the families are amazing! I come home feeling like I’ve made a difference!
The Power of the Outsides Was Even More Clear After Working Inside
I know this because recently, I took a part time tele-therapy job; to make ends meet. My first day was this past Friday. I spent 8 1/2 hours downstairs; in my basement; on zoom.
I trudged up the stairs at noon and thought, “I am never going to make it.”
The clock dragged from 12:30 to 4:30 I watched the minutes tick by. I couldn’t wait until the day was over. I emerged from my basement. No energy, my battery depleted.
The first thing I did at 4:31pm on Friday afternoon was I stepped outside into the sunshine and immediately began to recharge.
It took me about 4 hours before I felt better. And then the next day too.
It got me thinking about how important being outside is for our kids.
And for us. And being on screens all day is so energy-depleting.
No wonder our kids are exhausted! No wonder they can’t think! No wonder they’re not motivated! No wonder they’re not attending classes!
They don’t have movement, they don’t have stimulation, engagement, socialization, sunshine.
How can we make this better?
Carla Hanniford wrote an amazing book that I read a many years ago called “Smart Moves, why learning isn’t all in your head”. It really brought to the forefront the importance of how movement helps us to learn.
So, may I suggest that you get your kids outside for at least 4-6 hours a day.
Heck, we are in a pandemic; I hope you’re teaching them outside!! They should be outside just to recharge.
Go for a bike ride, kick a ball around, fly a kite, go for a hike, go look at some ducks, have a picnic in the backyard, write spelling words with sidewalk chalk on the pavement, jump rope your math facts, role play that story you read today during reading time!
