Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Rain or Shine Mamma
  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Featured
    • Work with Me
    • Blogs I Follow
  • Book
  • Contact
  • Play in Nature
    • Outdoor Play
    • Tales from the Trail
    • Gear
    • Reviews
    • Holidays
  • Learn from Nature
    • What Is Forest School?
    • Outdoor Learning
    • Nature Activities
  • Make with Nature
    • Gardening with Kids
    • Nature Arts and Crafts
    • Recipes
  • Parent with Nature
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Green Living
    • Inspiration

Parents – Stop Worrying and Let Your Children Climb Trees!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy here.
March 16, 2019 By Linda McGurk

As long as I can remember, my girls have climbed trees. Skinny trees, big trees, crooked trees, straight trees, old trees, young trees, pine trees, deciduous trees… They’ve climbed trees in snow suits in the winter and barefoot in the summer. On more than one occasion, they’ve climbed trees wearing princess dresses. And you know what? Sometimes I join them on their tree climbing missions. (Minus the Disney dresses, that is…)

For my generation, tree climbing was a quintessential childhood experience, on a par with running under the sprinkler on a hot summer day and skinning your knees when riding your bike just a tad too fast on a gravel road. But today, it isn’t a given activity for many kids, and for a number of reasons. For one, we all know that they spend more time indoors on electronic devices, which leaves less time to romp around in the woods in the first place. Parents and caregivers also worry more about the safety of tree climbing and many simply don’t allow it. (A study by Play England showed that as many as half of all British children have been stopped from climbing trees.) In some cases, home owners associations or neighbors complain about kids climbing trees because they think it’s a nuisance, and in more than a few places, tree climbing is banned altogether.

And the kids are missing out.

Parents - Let Your Children Climb Trees! The many benefits of tree climbing for kids. Rain or Shine Mamma

I’m not saying that out of nostalgia. Tree climbing has real benefits for kids – physically, mentally, cognitively and socially. Just think about it. As your child scales the tree he’s building muscle strength, practicing gross motor skills such as balance and improving spatial awareness and proprioception (the awareness of your body’s position and movement, sometimes called the sixth sense). When he decides which branches are safe to stand on and how high to go, he’s learning how to judge risk and developing critical thinking skills. As he plans his path up through the limbs, he’s gaining decision-making and problem-solving skills, and if things don’t go according to plan, he gains emotional strength and resilience by trying again. When he successfully negotiates the branches, he feels a sense of accomplishment, which in turn boosts his self-confidence. Once in the tree, he lets his mind wander and engages in imaginative and creative play – maybe pretending to be a pirate on a ship or a monkey in the jungle. If he’s got friends with him, chances are they’ll join him, nurturing his social skills. As he feels the rugged bark against the palms of his hands and listens to the leaves ruffle in the wind, he connects with nature on a deeper, subconscious level. Most importantly – he’s having fun!

But what if he falls?

Surprisingly little data is available on accidents related to kids climbing trees, but statistics from the U.K. showed that in 2007, children were nearly three times as likely to be admitted to the hospital after falling out of bed than after falling from a tree. In 2016, researchers from University of Phoenix surveyed 1,600 parents who let their children climb trees and found that the most common injury by far was scraped skin. Only 2% of the parents responded that their child had broken a bone and even fewer had suffered from a concussion. Meanwhile, more than 3.5 million American children under the age of 14 receive medical treatment for injuries from organized sports every year.

Besides, what is often forgotten in today’s fear-driven culture is that risky play like tree climbing isn’t just completely normal for kids, it’s absolutely necessary for normal development. Psychologist Peter Gray, who is a thought leader on risky play, goes as far as saying that the decline in children’s play has contributed to a massive increase in mental disorders among young people the past decades.

“The story is both ironic and tragic,” Gray writes. “We deprive children of free, risky play, ostensibly to protect them from danger, but in the process we set them up for mental breakdowns. Children are designed by nature to teach themselves emotional resilience by playing in risky, emotion-inducing ways. In the long run, we endanger them far more by preventing such play than by allowing it.”

I know from experience that allowing risky play can be hard, because we’re wired to protect our progeny. That parental instinct is a good thing, until it turns into irrational fear of things that are actually healthy for our kids. Just like researchers believe being overly clean can cause the immune system to turn on itself and increase the risk of asthma and allergies, keeping kids overly safe can make them less able to manage risk and regulate their emotions.

But let’s face it: even for parents who know the benefits of risky play and embrace it, it can be hard to stay totally cool when your child disappears 15 feet up into a tree. That’s why, as we head out into the woods, we need to remember that it’s our kids’ job to push their boundaries. Sometimes, them climbing a tree can make us feel nervous and uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t safe!

Let Them Climb Trees! The many benefits of tree climbing for kids. Don't miss these tips for staying safe while climbing trees! Rain or Shine Mamma

Tree climbing resources:

  • In Defense of Tree Climbing and Other Risky Play
  • 15 Reasons to Climb a Tree and other Benefits of Risky Play
  • Benefits and risks of tree climbing on child development and resiliency
signature

Related posts:

Default Thumbnail9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees 10 Must-Read Books for Nature-Loving Parents. Book tips from Rain or Shine Mamma.10 Must-Read Books for Nature-Loving Parents 13 Benefits of Outside Play That Are Backed by Science. As it turns out, playing outdoors isn't just fun for kids, it's a boon to their health as well.13 Benefits of Outside Play That Are Backed by Science Screen Time Recommendations for Kids. AAP's guidelines for screen time limits for preschoolers and older children.New Screen Time Recommendations for Kids: What Parents Need to Know
«
»

Filed Under: Featured, Inspiration, Outdoor Play, Parent with Nature, Play in Nature 45 Comments

Comments

  1. Diane Perazzo says

    March 20, 2019 at 10:59 am

    What a wonderful post! Thank you for spreading the word! My parents encouraged me to climb trees and some of my strongest and most powerful connections with nature happened while my legs were swinging from a branch. I encouraged my boys to climb trees and we built a tree fort together.???

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 21, 2019 at 12:37 am

      Thank you, Diane! I’m glad you had the opportunity to climb trees when you were little, and gave your boys the chance to experience it as well:)

      Reply
  2. Mary says

    March 20, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    We had a rule in our family that you could climb any tree that you could get into by yourself. No one could lift you into it, but you could go get a chair or step ladder, by yourself, to climb in. The thought was that, if you able to realize that the height needed a ladder, you were able to get into the tree. We had few, if any accidents from the trees. My brother did break his wrist running, and tripping, in the park though.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 21, 2019 at 12:38 am

      Those sound like sensible rules to me:) Yes, fractures while playing outside happen but fortunately kids’ bodies heal quickly.

      Reply
      • James Widen says

        June 30, 2019 at 6:32 pm

        My son actually fell out of a tree. Maybe 8 feet high. Broke his wrist. They casted it and it didn’t heal right. Then it had to be rebroken, this time adding pins. He was 5 and now has an arm with an unnatural curve. So I do not agree with your positive reinforcement about allowing children to participate in dangerous activities. And for the record, this occurred at his mother’s house.

        Reply
        • Ana Mac says

          July 1, 2019 at 7:01 am

          I don’t get your absolute reasoning? That would mean no-one should walk because you can sprain an ankle and never heal right? There’s a million cases of injuries healing bad, mostly due to medical incopetence or lack of proper phisiotherapy afterwards, or simply because you got damned unlucky. How can that extrapolate to deprive your children from living? to die you only need to be alive. Our job is to help them thrive, not turn them into houseplants. Learning and developing yourself has risks, that’s by definition why you grow and better yourself, to overcome difficulties, else why bother?

          Reply
    • Melissa says

      September 2, 2019 at 9:06 am

      That’s my rule too! My four kids climb trees. I was an avid tree climber in my day…. but I told my husband do not help them into the trees, if they’re unable to get into it themselves then they aren’t able-bodied enough to stay in or get out of the tree. This rule has done me well as they aren’t developmental or physical ready for that tree yet. Patience, perseverance pays off with the satisfaction of ultimately being able to climb that tree one day. I believe it helps with goal planning later in life.

      Reply
  3. Vickie Steele says

    March 22, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    My dad was a tree man for many years and my boys started climbing early in life…my eldest son now owns his small tree company…his 11 y.o. daughter can now run the equipment, bucket truck, has her own personal saw that fits her and not only climbs freely but has her own saddle and helmet for going really high…she’s been 50′ in a tree…she’s a tiny girl also ..I am proud they are following grandpa’s footsteps…

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 23, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      Wow, that’s amazing! I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to go up 50 feet – actually I know I’m not..!

      Reply
  4. Samantha says

    March 22, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    This is great. And the photos are awesome!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      June 28, 2019 at 5:58 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Keith Carstens says

    March 22, 2019 at 10:13 pm

    It is good to see that we have finally removed the cotton wool that society has surrounded our children with these days. Fortunately I’m of the era that road push bikes without a helmet and survived other than a few skinned knees.
    The skills that they learn from climbing trees will be used throughout their life in all manner of sports and pursuits.
    Conversely;- not to allow your children to climb trees is a crime against the future.

    Reply
  6. Michelle says

    March 23, 2019 at 10:56 pm

    Oh I love this. My sisters and I grew up climbing the apricot and peppercorn trees at my grandmother’s house and we loved to see who could get the highest and get to the best spot. I think that’s why I love trees so much now. We had a massive peppermint tree in our yard a few years ago and my daughter used to swing from the long skinny branches like Tarzan lol…… one day a branch gave out on her mid swing and she landed on her bum…. was so funny but she got up grabbed another branch and started all over again……. tree climbing is the best fun…. you’ve inspired me to write a post on tree climbing being as I remember doing it with such love and joy.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:54 am

      I think many of us have special memories related to climbing trees and I think it says a lot about their powerful impact. Thanks for sharing your story; glad you’re feeling inspired!

      Reply
  7. Barbara Peaslee says

    March 24, 2019 at 9:24 am

    There is. Nothing more challenging, nor delightful, than climbing trees! I never saw a tree I didn’;t want to climb…and I climmbed most of them! Trees are wonderful places to watch the world around you!?❤️

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:52 am

      I agree! I need to do it more often myself.

      Reply
  8. Lillian Murray says

    March 24, 2019 at 2:56 pm

    Best article! We run a girls organization strongergirlstogether.com and one of their favorite activities is when we go climb trees! Risky play junkies! Several of them have never climbed and they are ages 8-12.

    I will continue to follow you and shared this article happily to all our readers and parents!

    Thank you ??♥️

    Lilly

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:51 am

      Sounds like a wonderful organization! Thanks for sharing this article:)

      Reply
  9. Amie says

    March 29, 2019 at 8:17 am

    I love this article. I went through my pictures after a friend shared this article and I have dozens of pictures of my whole family climbing trees. We have a very favorite climbing tree we visit on vacation up near Traverse City Michigan, near the National Sleeping Bear Dunes Shoreline. There was a huge storm there a few years ago and I was beyond relieved that “our” tree wasn’t damaged. I even took a group of middle school students on a field trip way up there and made sure to stop at “my” tree. You could tell which ones had been encouraged to climb trees and for some, it was their first time or they were completely unwilling to even try. We are so blessed to have nature’s playground in our world and thank you for your article encouraging parents to let their children play on it.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:50 am

      Thank you for sharing your memories; I love that your entire family are tree climbers! I think trees are an essential part of childhood and I’m glad you have a special tree in your life:)

      Reply
  10. Gwen says

    April 25, 2019 at 10:29 am

    My kids love climbing trees, especially the tall magnolia out front. They even rigged a pulley to bring up their lunch in a bucket and what a view they had! Climbing trees, exploring the creeks, and camping have been such an important part of their childhood fun- and as you note, important to their mental health. . Thanks for the encouragement! Best, Gwen

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:35 am

      Thanks for sharing, Gwen! Magnolia trees are often great for climbing and what a fun way to eat your lunch:) Glad your kids get to experience the outdoors.

      Reply
  11. Nicole says

    April 28, 2019 at 8:24 pm

    We’re one of the rare families with a serious tree climbing accident. My son was at Grandma’s & fell out of a tree at age 7 (and he was very small for his age, so about the size of an average 5 year old at the time). He not only had a severe concussion, but also a *skull* fracture. Fortunately he made a full recovery. That said, he still loves to climb trees & we let him. But I will be honest that it does give me anxiety, and I have been known to tell him, “That’s high enough!”

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:42 am

      So sorry to hear that:( I totally understand your anxiety; a little bit of caution will hopefully help moderate that. I’m glad you still let him climb!

      Reply
  12. Coleen Fraser says

    April 29, 2019 at 3:07 am

    But why use ‘he’ to refer to the child climbing the trees…why not ‘they’ ??

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 29, 2019 at 3:46 am

      Hi Coleen – Thanks for writing; I agree that it’s important to be mindful about using gender pronouns. As a non-native English speaker, the pronoun ‘they’ has for some reason never come naturally to me. Since I have two daughters, I tend to use ‘she’ the majority of the time, so I consciously try to insert ‘he’ sometimes to balance things out.

      Reply
      • Janet says

        April 29, 2019 at 3:39 pm

        “They” is a plural pronoun, which has come to be used in our politically correct society as a singular pronoun, but I find it silly. I sometimes use “s/he”, but really, life is too short to be concerned about it either way, in my opinion.

        Reply
  13. Sharon Hirschhorn says

    May 2, 2019 at 12:34 pm

    explain how to test a branch so they can determine if it will hold their weight, then let them go. I did have to climb a tree when my son got so high he got scared to come down though. Hadn’t climbed a tree in about 30 years but I had a ball reliving my youth while rescuing my son

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 4, 2019 at 5:10 pm

      I’m glad your son’s little mishap gave you a chance to rediscover the joy of tree climbing:)

      Reply
  14. Rudy Anderson says

    May 2, 2019 at 5:07 pm

    Thank you, Linda, for this post. I couldn’t agree more. As a 70-year-old man, I prune our apple trees, and it is amazing how much core strength it takes! I feel it now and realize more how climbing trees truly is a great exercise in a purely physical sense. Of course as a child in Colorado, I nearly lived in our trees. My friends and brother built all kinds of forts in the neighborhood trees.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 4, 2019 at 5:09 pm

      Yes, it takes some strength for sure! I’m working on getting myself up in the trees more often – as an adult it’s easy to forget how much fun it is:)

      Reply
  15. Anne says

    May 7, 2019 at 11:09 pm

    I read a quote a while ago that basically said if children do not learn to love nature when they are children, they are not going to want to preserve it when they are adults. This can be said for trees. If children don’t learn to love trees when they are young, they are less likely to want to protect and save trees when they are adults. Climbing trees is one great way to develop a love for trees.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 8, 2019 at 3:47 pm

      Yes, totally agree! That connection to nature in general and trees in particular is so important to foster environmental stewardship – and Mother Earth needs it now more than ever.

      Reply
  16. Abby says

    May 24, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    Moved to the country so my children could have more outdoor experiences. 3 days after the move my son fell out of a tree and broke both wrists and one elbow. I’ll let you imagine the looks we got while he was in 1 full arm and 1 half arm cast. Before his wounds were healed we built a tree house to encourage climbing to it instead of climbing to the top of the tree. A few months later he fell back off a stool and fractured his shoulder blade. Life lessons, I suppose.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 28, 2019 at 4:11 am

      Oh no…! Sounds like he had a really bad streak:( Fortunately, kids’ bones usually heal quickly. Great idea with the tree house!

      Reply
  17. Wendy says

    June 11, 2019 at 2:15 pm

    Yes, I understand how outdoor adventure could link to a child exploring and learning of their capabilities and building confidence. Whether, they are climbing trees, walking a mountain, ghyll scrambling, there’s so many great activities they can do to realise what they can achieve and also, as a family together to help and encourage each other.
    I am of an age where my childhood in village life was climbing trees regularly. However, I not sure this truly built resilience for my mental health, I found and still find it difficult to build a resilience to personalities that are cruel natured, Whether this is at a work place, relationship or people easily ‘trolling’ on the internet.
    We can not just expect children to climb trees and be able to deal with the emotional bullying they may receive.
    Teaching children via school and parenting how to deal with unkindness, and teaching them how to be kind, how to support friends when life isn’t always going to plan would be a better impact, than expecting climbing trees to prevent mental health issues.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      June 19, 2019 at 12:15 am

      Hi Wendy – I don’t think there’s anything that’s 100% effective when it comes to preventing mental illness but spending time in nature has proven benefits and can reduce the risk for it, as can so called risky play. Research professor Peter Gray, who is a big advocate for free, risky play has written a great article about the link between play and mental health that I often share: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/freedom-learn/201001/the-decline-play-and-rise-in-childrens-mental-disorders. Having said that, I think teaching children about empathy, both at school and at home, is incredibly important. I’d say both strategies are needed and complement each other, so one doesn’t need to exclude the other.

      Reply
  18. John LeDuc says

    June 11, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    Thank you so much for this. I saw this when a friend shared the post on social media and I responded in kind.

    This is so important for every reason you stated. I don’t have any anecdotes other than my tree-climbing ways in the early 70s. I’m still fit enough to do this, haha. I’ll give my grandkids a run for their money. Since they’re too young to earn real money then that’s a safe bet 😛

    One other very very very important aspect is self-preservation. I have always told my kids they need to maintain a weight and physical strength to be able to climb a fence or out of a hole. One never knows when a natural (or man-made) disaster will strike. I’ve been through a few floods and although I’ve never needed to use my climbing skills to survive, I have adequate confidence to know I could if I needed to. No sitting on a roof, squawking for help from me!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      June 19, 2019 at 12:16 am

      That’s a really good point! It never hurts to increase your chances of getting out of a potentially hazardous situation:)

      Reply
  19. Tania Mantovani says

    August 11, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    Love your article on tree climbing and its benefits. My fondest memories are those of climbing the many huge fruit trees in my suburban back yard. Most were taller than the roof line, which made it even more exciting as I was able to climb onto the verandah or garage roof to pick the sweetest, ripest fruit from the tops of the tress. Much to my mother’s dismay (rather than cleaning house), I spent many, many days perched in the fork of whichever tree was fruiting (figs, apricots, locquats) with a cushion for my back and my favourite Edin Blyton book ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’, reaching out my hand to pick the juisiest fruit from the tops of the trees.

    Now I’m an Early Childhood Teacher and I actively encourage my children to climb the many trees at our centre. The main rule being, they must be able to climb up and get down by themselves. (No lifting into the trees). Of course I will support them to problem solve if they find they have climbed too high and need some critical thinking strategies to help them get down again.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      August 11, 2019 at 11:18 pm

      Those are some really nice memories! I can’t think of a better place to enjoy a good book than in the fork of a tree:)

      Reply
  20. Serra says

    January 19, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    I struggle continually parenting my now six year old. I relate and celebrate everything you say here and I let him play rough, but I worry about him damaging nature. I want to teach leave no trace. I don’t want him climbing small trees and breaking their branches off. He broke a major branch of a young apple tree last summer and although he was hurt a little I didn’t worry about him, but about the tree. And about his developing respect for nature. The same thing happens when were in the forest and he ways to explore of path. I want him to explore and feel comfortable being adventurous, but I also want him to respect that paths are there to protect nature around then. Do you have any thoughts about this?

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 19, 2021 at 11:28 pm

      I think the best you can do is to try to strike a balance. Definitely keep talking to him about not damaging nature “do not disturb, do not destroy” but it’s inevitable that kids’ actions sometimes will be destructive. My first strategy would be to redirect his energy into something that is a little less destructive, for example whittling sticks that are already on the ground instead of breaking branches off trees, climbing bigger trees instead of smaller ones etc. I wouldn’t worry too much, though. I’m sure the respect for nature will come as he matures and as you keep guiding him. The damage done to nature by a six-year-old is still comparatively small and something that nature can usually easily recover from. I’d say the damage from keeping him away from nature would be much greater in the long run:)

      Reply
  21. Matthew DAlbora says

    April 13, 2021 at 1:19 pm

    I love your matter of fact attitude: let kids be kids. Growing up my greatest memories are in trees.
    I came upon your site because I was trying to tell how much climbing and what kind of climbing are age appropriate. My little climber is 3 1/2. He’s been climbing for at least 2 yrs according to pictures. (Although it sometimes seems like he’s been climbing for like 4 years.)
    Lately, he’s hanging from the branches and is starting to let go. 😱 I was not expecting that from a 3 yr old.
    Any thoughts? (Besides the obvious safety concerns. LOL)

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 10, 2021 at 2:28 pm

      Sounds like your little one is keeping you busy:) I think the hanging from tree branches is a natural development from the climbing phase, swinging back and forth stimulates a child’s vestibular sense, which is crucial for a healthy development. If he’s high enough in the tree that you’re worried about him getting injured when he lets go, you can always spot him from the ground. Otherwise, I’d stay back and let him do his thing as much as possible.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

BUY THE BOOK

There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confident Kids. “Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children."

“Linda McGurk offers a perfect antidote to the hyper-vigilant, extra-electrified, standardized-tested, house-arrested, 21st-century childhood and the experts who push it. Practical and wise, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather proves just that, and much more.”
—Richard Louv, bestselling author of LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS and VITAMIN N

Let’s keep in touch!

Search

Categories

Popular Posts

9 tips to get outside with teens and tweens

How to enjoy winter like a Scandinavian

How to really enjoy – and not merely survive – winter

Even during a pandemic, children need to play outside. In fact, outside is one of the best places to be to avoid infection.

Don’t lock up our kids – they need outside play now more than ever

The Unexpected Ways Free Outdoor Play Sets Your Child Up for Success

Recent Tweets

    Sorry, no Tweets were found.

Latest on Pinterest

  • Is getting your tween or teen out the door an uphill battle? Check out these tips for cutting screen time and adding more "green time" to your child's life! #outdoors #teens #tweens #outdoorlife #screentime
  • 9 tips to get outside with teens and tweens
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
  • 9 Safety Tips for Kids Climbing Trees. Does your tree climbing child make you nervous? These tips will ease your own fears and help your child learn how to negotiate risk. Rain or Shine Mamma. #treeclimbing #kids #tree #riskyplay
Follow Me on Pinterest

Latest on Facebook

Rain or Shine Mamma

12 hours ago

Rain or Shine Mamma
Have you heard this word? Hands up if you think this should make it into the dictionary!🙋🏼‍♀️"Coddiwomple: (v.) to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination." 😉 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Rain or Shine Mamma

3 days ago

Rain or Shine Mamma
I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻_____________________________#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Rain or Shine Mamma

1 week ago

Rain or Shine Mamma
The best part about rainy weather? Why, the puddles of course!💦☔️😍 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Rain or Shine Mamma

2 weeks ago

Rain or Shine Mamma
Do any of these grow near you? If so, it’s a good idea to be able to identify them. Don’t forget to show the kids!🌿A friendly reminder to all of our US friends and followers, we are really lucky we don't have these in the UK.... ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Rain or Shine Mamma

2 weeks ago

Rain or Shine Mamma
"Children are wired to be fascinated with nature, but it’s harder than ever for little ones to get out in green spaces. It’s nobody’s fault, really. We could point to technology reliance, dense cities or the pandemic to explain why we’re not getting out as much. But the good news is, you can reverse this trend...Whether you're a veteran green thumb or just beginning with a humble patch of dirt, [gardening] is one of the most enriching outdoor activities you can give to children."Great post from Famly, packed with tips and inspiration!🌿 ... See MoreSee Less

The best Early Years teacher is a garden | Famly

www.famly.co

Let's explore how you can dig deeper when gardening with children.
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

latest on instagram

rainorshinemamma

Linda Åkeson McGurk
I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
_____________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote
Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

Have you ever tried sleeping in a camping hammock? I bought my first one a few years ago and I ❤️ it!
_________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #sleepingoutside #camping #campinglife #hammock #sleepingoutsidechallenge #freshaireveryday
Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and fe Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and feel like you're constantly negotiating/fighting/fretting over your child's screen time👋🏼 

Well, you're not alone😰 

Since 2011, when mobile internet had its breakthrough, teens' and tweens' screen time has increased dramatically. At the same time, physical activity has decreased significantly. The WHO recommends that teenagers get at least one hour of physical activity every day, but in reality 85% of the girls and 78% of the boys globally don't meet the target.

Making outdoor activity a normal part of your daily routine can help  your tween or teen get the exercise and fresh air they need  and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. I'm the first to admit that it isn't easy, but then again, nobody said parenting would be a cakewalk🤪

Hang in there and check out a few of the strategies that help me balance screen time with 'green time'. Do you have any tips to share?
______________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #parenting #parentingteens #parentingtweens #getoutside
“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha “I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
- Pamela Druckerman

Forty-four laps around the sun today and I still find that the passing of time is one of life’s greatest mysteries.
_______________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #aging #44 
@pameladruck
This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in na This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in nature and why I find it so relaxing. When I’m outside with my kids I’m really present in the moment and there’s no place I’d rather be❤️ Hope you feel the same🌿

Quote by @awilderchild 
______________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #optoutside #outside #outsideisfree #theairisfree #wildchildhood #letthemexplore #letthembekids
They don’t always want to come hiking with me bu They don’t always want to come hiking with me but when they do, they want hot chocolate 100% of the time❤️😅

What’s your outdoor comfort food?
__________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #outdoorfood #friluftsliv #outsideeveryday #optoutside #vitaminn
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations @conn This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations @connectedmothering, you are our winner!🙌🏻🎉🎊

💨💨💨GIVEAWAY💨💨💨
Air is the element that is constantly on the move, blowing through the trees, helping flowers pollinate and oxygenating our bodies. It’s something that we can’t live without, yet often take for granted. Fortunately, children’s author Simone Nofel is here to do air justice with a brand new and beautifully illustrated picture book that will inspire you to explore this essential element with your little ones📚 The best part? You now have a chance to win a copy of Air: Exploring the Elements!
 
How to enter👇🏼
 
✅ Like and save this post.
✅ Follow @rainorshinemamma and @heartyandfree
✅ Comment with your favorite way of enjoying the wind
 
The giveaway closes on April 10 and we will draw a random winner after that. You must be 18 and live in the U.S. or Canada to enter. This giveaway is not associated with or sponsored by Instagram. Good luck!❤
I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my fair share of exotic places, the farther the better🌎 Sometimes, I’d stay for a week, sometimes for months, or even a year. But in the past few years, my horizon has narrowed, and not only because of the pandemic. 

The effects of global climate change are real and it’s becoming harder and harder for me to justify flying for recreation. I’m not here to say that I’m swearing off flying altogether (we have a lot of family abroad that we can only get to by air) but I’m mostly trying to satisfy my craving for adventure at local destinations these days. And it’s been an eye opener🤩

There’s so much more to discover locally than I’d ever thought and going on these micro adventures makes me feel more rooted in my community and the history of this place. Hopefully, my girls will feel it too🌳

What are your thoughts on exploring more locally?
_________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #microadventure #microadventures #sweden #outdooradventures #åsletå #hornborgarsjön
When I became a parent, one of the first books I r When I became a parent, one of the first books I read was Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy and I felt like I’d finally found somebody who “got it.”🙌🏻 Somebody who stood up and said enough is enough with the helicopter parenting trend, questioned the need for baby knee pads and reminded everyone that it’s okay for kids to be bored, drink out of the garden hose, climb trees and play without intervention by adults who are trying to make the activity more “educational.” Somebody who understood that free play is learning. And for that, we thank her🙏🏻🙌🏻
______________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #freerangekids #freerangekid #wildandfreechildren #wildandfreekids #wildandfree #wildschooling #freeplay #playingislearning #letthemplay #letthembekids #letthembewild 
@lskenazy
A follower recently asked me when she could start A follower recently asked me when she could start hiking with her kids, to which I responded that I’ve always hiked with mine, ever since they were babies👶🏻 I kept going after they graduated from the carrier, but obviously “hiking” with a toddler is a lot different than hiking by yourself and I think it’s important to be prepared for and accepting of that, or nobody is going to have a good time.

If you’d like to know more about hiking with toddlers, I share some tips in this post: https://rainorshinemamma.com/hiking-with-toddlers/. 

What are your thoughts on hiking with little kids? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share?💡
______________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #hiking #hikingwithkids #hikingwithtoddlers #hikingwithbabies #optoutside
Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 What the picture doesn’t show is us making a wrong turn and losing the trail, resulting in a 1.5-mile detour with heavy packs and sunset closing in on us before we finally reached our campsite🙈

One of the reasons why I love hiking and backpacking is that even though it’s about “living simply”, it also involves a great deal of problem-solving. I actually like it when things don’t go exactly according to plan, because you learn more that way. Not just practical things, like figuring out your location and getting on the right track, but also about yourself and your reaction to challenges🙌🏻

In this case, the wrong turn was just a minor misstep that we were able to correct by backtracking, but it was a good way to test our reasoning skills and resilience at a point when we were both starting to get a little tired.

This was our fourth time of sleeping outside at least once a month for a year, a challenge I jumped on thanks to my friend @jeanetteosterman. I’m not normally one to do challenges but this has been a fantastic way to push my boundaries and learn new skills. Who knows, maybe sleeping under the open skies once a month will become my new normal?😜🤩
_________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #optoutside #outdoorexperten #camping #campinglife #springcamping #backpacking #backpackingwithkids #vitaminn
I think it’s safe to say that if more of us trie I think it’s safe to say that if more of us tried to see the world through a child’s eye, this Earth would be a much more loving and compassionate place❤️

Thanks @awilderchild for your amazing nature poetry🙏🏻
____________________________
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #nature #naturepoetry #quotes #naturequotes
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Privacy Policy and Disclosures · Copyright © 2022 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs