Let’s get outside! 1000 Hours Outside is a global movement that attempts to match nature time with screen time. 1,000 hours seems insane to you as a busy mom, but we promise it’s feasible – it breaks down to roughly 2.5 hours a day! It’s time to put the tablets down and get reacquainted with the great outdoors.
The time spent outside matters. There is something so raw, beautiful, and imaginative about soaking up the sunshine, running barefoot through the grass, and listening to the whoosh of the wind. Nature holds tremendous power – it’s almost healing. Now that it’s finally nice outside (after what seemed like the longest winter, ever), it’s time to get outside.
Interested in joining the challenge? Check out their homepage for 1000 Hours Outside printable trackers. You can join for free and be part of a growing community dedicated to getting their kids more time outside.
To set you up for success, let’s dish out some strategies to ensure you and your family can get your 2.5 hours a day in!
- Plan, plan, plan!
Make a list of outdoor activities before you start the day. It’ll help you be more intentional about how you spend your time.
2. Do something you love
Passionate about camping? Use that as a foundation when coming up with ideas! Backyard camping, camping under the stars, glamp, hammock camp, etc.
3. Reward charts work
Make a point to reward kids with a sticker chart or acknowledgement for choosing to play outside. It’ll inspire them to try new things and help form new habits.
4. Snacks always work
When all else fails, bring along the snacks! Make your park visit a picnic adventure. Play “Find the Goldfish” or have them “feed” food to their dinosaurs or dollies.
5. Track your time
1,000 Hours Outside has great printables for tracking time, but we also suggest tracking time as well – keeping track of what kept the kids busiest or what you enjoyed the most.
1,000 hours outside seems daunting, but there are also thousands of activities (both summer & winter) to do that are fun for the entire family. Here are just a few to get started!
- Treasure hunts
- Go camping
- Pokemon Go
- Hikes and biking
- Bug catching
- Jog or run
- Go to a playground or park
- Collect leaves and make a book
- Find constellations
- Ice skating
- Tag, hide & seek, Red Rover, etc.
- Science experiments
- Build a fairy garden
- Swim at the pool or a lake
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