By Kristin Palen, OTR/L The plans are made, it’s a beautiful day and everything is ready. But there is one problem, your child doesn’t want to go outside! Maybe it’s the clothing layers, the gloves, the wind, the rain, the cold, or the heat holding them back. Neither you nor they may know the barrier, but it’s evident something is impeding their… Read More
What you need to know about outdoor play in the winter
When you live in Scandinavia, outdoor play in the winter is a given and the practicalities of it all is just something that you’re socialized into. New parents can tap into the collective, accumulated knowledge of their own parents, friends, preschool teachers, teachers, midwives, doctors and other health care professionals, who are all supportive of the idea that kids should… Read More
9 tips to get outside with teens and tweens
“When my kids were little, getting outside was easy but now, when they’re older, it’s hard to get them engaged in outdoor pursuits. I don’t know what to do – it’s almost like starting over again.” Sounds familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Almost on a weekly basis, I’m contacted by parents who are at a loss for how to… Read More
How to really enjoy – and not merely survive – winter
When I lived in Indiana, a curious thing happened every year around the time when the Thanksgiving turkey was in the books and the morning frost began to drape the neatly mowed small-town lawns. The drop in temperature and gradual loss of daylight seemed to signal that it was time for outdoor activities to come to a close and long-term… Read More
Don’t lock up our kids – they need outside play now more than ever
As I was lazily browsing my Facebook feed last night, a heated thread about an elementary school in Indiana caught my attention. The school has opened again after closing because of Covid-19 last spring, but is subject to severe restrictions put forth by the state. As a consequence, the playground equipment has been shut down and the children now must… Read More
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 33
- Next Page »