Before I started blogging, I’d never heard the term “green hour.” The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) defines it as time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world.
You don’t need to convince me that a green hour is a good idea. I know our kids need more time to play outside and connect with nature – and to do so without parents controlling how it’s done.
But here’s my own little reality check: Not even I can squeeze a green hour into every day.
That’s one reason why last summer, we participated in the KidsDiscoverNature.com 30-Day Outdoor Challenge. The idea was that by getting outside for at least 30 minutes a day for a month, we’d make doing so a habit.
And we did – for a while. But guess what? Summer and its long, lazy, warm days eventually came to an end. They were replaced with fuller school schedules and cooler, grayer days. Before long, I realized we’d become more weekend nature warriors than anything else.
And while I’m glad we still make it a priority to take to the outdoors together on weekends, I’m feeling the serious need for more green time every day.
So we’re at it again: Making time every day to get outside connecting with the natural world. Not for 30 days or 6 months, but for good.
And this time, I’ll be sharing our real-world experiences here; the challenges and successes, along with tips and ideas to help you get started, too. (Of course, if you’re already doing so, great – feel free to share your tips with me!)
We’ve been at it a little more than a week now, and I’m ready to offer my first little nugget of advice.
GREEN HOUR TIP: KEEP A JOURNAL
Include the date and day of the week, weather, time of day, total time spent outside, what exactly the kids (and you) do, and any other notes worth mentioning.
How it helps: Writing things down makes you accountable – even if only to yourself. It’ll help you notice patterns, too, like potential hurdles (bad weather, busy schedules) and successes (which deserve reward!).
I’d love to hear how you make green time a priority in your family!
@Jodi: Thanks for hosting it! It was a great learning experience. 🙂
Hi Debi, I just saw that you included the KDN 30-Day Outdoor Challenge. Thanks a bunch! Hope all is well.
@Colleen: That's great! I think becoming aware of what you'd like to fit in to your day is a great place to start. I can't wait to hear how it goes!
Wow. A half-hour really doesn't seem like so much and yet, you're right, there are many days when we don't get outside to explore nature at all. And we live in temperate Southern California! I don't think I can commit to a green half-hour every single day, but I'm going to be more aware of it and make more of an effort to make it happen.