🌲 Unlocking the Incredible Benefits of Outdoor Play for Kids

Today in 5 minutes or less you'll learn:

• The physical and mental benefits of getting your children outside

• Ideas you can use to get outside with your children

• Where and how to purchase an airgun to teach your child how to safely use a firearm

This past week we enjoyed some intentional time getting our kids outdoors and teaching them life skills outside the classroom. We jumped into learning how to safely and properly shoot a gun as well as how to bait a hook, cast a fishing pole, and catch fish.

It is so much fun seeing the delight in their eyes when they heard the steel target clang or reeled in a fish. I was also proud to watch them push through frustration when there was lack of patience, confusion, or frustration.

As technology increases so does the pull to a sedentary lifestyle in our children. The average American child spends about 4 to 7 minutes a day playing outside and over 7 hours a day in front of a screen. Just a couple decades ago it was much more normal for kids to play creatively outside. In fact it’s gotten so bad that this crisis as been given a name: nature deficit disorder. As parents we must be even more intentional to create the space for outdoor play to happen.

I also want to note that as a former collegiate athlete I think sports are great, but they aren’t a replacement for this. In this age of travel sports, late night practices, and high pressure we must ensure that we aren’t raising up children that find their self worth from their performance.

As a parent we should strive to not let sports become the primary driver of our time, attitude, and focus. I have no desire to live through my children, only to raise courageous, God fearing, and competent adults. We must create the space for them to develop life skills and unique personal attributes through the outdoors.

The importance of getting our kids outside learning life skills is significantly backed by research as well. In fact, not only are they good life skills but it’s important for their development as a child. Here are several reasons to get your kids outside shared in this Child Mind Institute article in detail and listed below:

• Builds confidence

• Reduces stress and fatigue

• Promotes creativity and imagination

• Teaches responsibility

• Provides different stimulation

• Gets kids moving

• Makes them think

There are so many different ways to encourage our kids to get outside, but often life just seems to get in the way. I don’t know about you but it seems like here in America we’ve created a culture of non-stop craziness. It’s one of the reasons we are moving onto land and choosing to homeschool our children. Time to be intentional to slow life down and BE with our children.

Among many here are 5 ways you can be intentional about getting your kids outside learning life skills. You can dig in further for more ideas in this article from the Child Mind Institute.

1. Build something. You can also reverse the process and make art with your kids that will support and nurture the natural world—things like bird feeders or flower boxes. Kids will keep coming back to watch an object they created provide for other living things.

2. Go fruit or vegetable picking. Coming home with a basket of food that they’ve gathered on their own is both rewarding and might make them appreciate their food, and where it comes from, more.

3. Give them the tools to discover. Gifts like a bug box, a magnifying glass, or a shovel will promote ways to explore the outdoors with a fun new tool that feels professional and empowering.

4. Plant a garden. Tracking the progress and seeing the eventual product of a seed your child planted provides a different, deeper sense of achievement than beating a difficult level in a video game or getting a lot of likes on your last Instagram.

5. Take a hike. Walking on a trail to a waterfall or breathtaking view also gives kids a sense of accomplishment, rewarding them for their physical efforts during the hike. This goes for bike rides, too. If there’s a swimming hole at the end, they’ll even be able to cool off. Just don’t forget to bring snacks and take short breaks to keep their energy up!

There are also many organizations that will help with getting your kids outdoors. One that we love is American Heritage Girls. They are a character leadership development program dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country. If you have boys then check out Trail Life.

Let’s fight the American average of 4 to 7 minutes of daily play time outdoors and build healthy and thriving children!

Poll Results

On average how many days a week do you eat dinner as a family?

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 0 (1)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 3 (1)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 5 (1)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 6 (2)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 7 (2)

7 Votes

via @beehiiv polls

Building continues to progress on the farm as they completed the stone work on the front of the barndominium and began installing the insulation inside.

As you can see the ground still needs graded after the geothermal lines were installed. We expect a muddy mess this year, and that comes with the territory of a new build. The kids love jumping in the puddles!

If you’re looking for an affordable and effective way to teach your kids how to use a rifle or pistol check out Pyramid Air. This company sells airguns that are the same size and build as the standard caliber weapon. This allows you to purchase bb’s or pellets along with CO2 and teach your children firearms safety through repetition and practice.

If this is your first time buying an airgun they have a guide to help determine the perfect airgun for you. Click here for the guide.

Once they become familiarized and comfortable you can now upgrade the caliber and weapon system as you feel appropriate.

Answer this anonymous poll below and let us know how comfortable you are with teaching your kids firearms use and safety….

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