Screen Time v Time Outside
Screen Time v Time Outside
The Benefits of Outdoor Play
In this newsletter, we provide you with notes on How to Reach 1000 Hours Outside (January Launch Ideas) with Ginny Yurich, an episode of Minimalist Moms Podcast.
Host Diane Boden, is a mother of three and the voice behind the top-rated podcast, Minimalist Moms. Her guest, Ginny Yurich, is the creator of 1000 Hours Outside.
Read our notes below.
Topics Covered in this Summary
The Benefits of Being Outdoors
How to Reach 1000 Hours Outside
The Benefits of Being Outdoors
The entire goal of 1000 Hours Outside is to try to balance nature and screen time. In fact, if you break it down, 1000 hours outside is just under three hours a day for the entire year. Being outdoors helps our children develop self-confidence, independence, and self-esteem. In their play, they also become aware of limits, boundaries, and challenges.
If children can consume media through screens for an average of 1200 hours per year, then the time is there, and at least some of it can and should be shifted toward a more productive and healthier outcome!
How to Reach 1000 Hours Outside
Cloudy days and the winter season will still make a lot for you. If it is manageable for working parents, there is time before and after work. It is essential for parents to have a planned schedule, or else it will not happen.
Here are some outdoor activities to try to get you to 1,000 hours outside:
Go somewhere new. Whether it's a new park, field, or picnic spot.
Simple hikes or being outside in the yard is enough. Plan a camping trip or create a bucket list of places you want to visit each month.
Have meals outside. Eating outside is a simple way to increase your outdoor time. Pack picnic lunches or snacks to eat outside.
Walk more. 20-30 minutes of walking a day is a good start. Go count the birds, and feel the leaves and the wind. Go see the trees and the wild.
Celebrate milestones. You can do it by simply having a bonfire and making smores. Real life is to be celebrated, make new memories, and have fun with your family.
Learn cool survival skills like starting a fire or building a small shelter: While camping, why not brush up on some of those skills you learned in the scouts.
Track Your Hours! You should definitely take a few minutes every day to track your time outside. Otherwise, you’ll start for a few months, get sloppy, and just give up.
Remember that it is less about the number and more about the intention, experiences, being present, and what you gain from going outside.
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Listen to the original episode