Welcome to A Sampling Bee! Today, I have teamed up with Joe from Nature Rated to bring you 15 Summer Activities to Help Your Kids Appreciate Nature. Read below and check out the cute activities that you can do with your kiddos this summer!
Failing that, your kids might spend all their time in front of a computer, tablet, phone or other screen and research has shown that spending too much time in front of a screen can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of children. Studies have shown that taking part in nature-based activities helps people who are suffering from mental ill-health and can contribute to a reduction in levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. In fact, a daily walk in nature has showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.
One in four people are estimated to experience bouts of mental ill health and it's on the rise. Prescription medication of antidepressants are also at a record high level and the demand for more invasive treatments are also on the rise. Health and social care commissioners are examining and commissioning different options for cost effective services for mental health and one of these options is a daily walk of 90 minutes or more. We need to learn from the past when kids got excited to spend their time climbing trees and building dens rather than spending hours inside.
Joe at Nature Rated understands this all too well and has put together an infographic on 15 Summer activities to help your kids appreciate nature.
Bio:
An outdoor enthusiast, Joe is the lead editor at Nature Rated; a website which rates and reviews the best outdoor gear for people who quickly want to know what to get. He believes in no fluff, to the point reviews, which help you choose the right gear for your next adventure. Whenever daily life gets him down he heads to the nearest lake or river with his kayak and camera spending time recharging his batteries.
I hope you enjoy creating these activities with your kiddos! I plan on making the Nature Table with my boys! Be sure to follow Nature Rated for more fun activities. Please share your creations with us!
I hope you enjoy creating these activities with your kiddos! I plan on making the Nature Table with my boys! Be sure to follow Nature Rated for more fun activities. Please share your creations with us!
~Melissa~
These are all such great ideas! I totally need to make a summer activity list for my kids.
ReplyDeleteLovely tips! I need to incorporate these since my daughter loves playing on her kindle fire.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you so much that kids need more opportunities to connect with nature. Some of my kid's favorite memories is going hiking and exploring doing "nothing" but discovering nature. Have a fun summer!
ReplyDeleteOne of our activities every summer is going in a beach. My kids loves swimming so we do this every summer.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to expose the kids to the great outdoors and just do things with them during the summer instead of having them sit in front of the TV all day! These are great tips, to be honest!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so important that we spend more time outside especially our kids. Our bodies are not designed to be indoors all day looking at screens and sitting. I definitely agree that in some cases just time outside could really have a lot mental health benefits for those that feel depressed. These are great ideas to get the kiddos outside.
ReplyDeleteSummer can be tough. We need more activities to keep our little one entertained. It has been raining all week and we have been stuck inside.
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing ideas! One needs to have a summer activity list for sure
ReplyDeleteMy son is only 2 years old but he already know how to appreciate nature! He loves summer as much as he loves the rain!
ReplyDelete-Kelly Reci
I have always encouraged my kids to have outdoor play. To motivate them more, I go bike riding with them. It not only gives them fresh air, it also helps strengthen their muscles and bones.
ReplyDelete