Rain or Shine Mamma

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

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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
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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

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"Misconceptions about outdoor learning are fairly commonplace, especially in places where the climate or culture is less conducive to it. But it’s possible to get parents off the proverbial fence about outdoor learning in early childhood education."My latest piece for the Famly blog is a guide for early childhood educators who encounter skepticism about outdoor learning from parents and other caregivers. ... See MoreSee Less

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All learning begins with the body - this is why it's crucial to protect and promote outdoor play in childhood🤸🏽‍♂️ Enough with the worksheets and wall words and pressuring young children to reach academic milestones before they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready. If we truly want our children to succeed in school - and in life - we must understand how the brain works and how children learn. And this is what brain science tells us:🧠 Children learn by building connections between brain cells called neural pathways.🧠 As many as 90% of the neural pathways are set in the first years of life, making early childhood the fastest period of brain growth in a person's life.🧠 Some of the chemicals that are needed for these neural pathways to grow are only released when children move.🧠 The more the neural pathways are used, the stronger they get.🧠 Being physically active outside is crucial to growing children's networks of neural pathways and, as a result, improving memory and learning.For more interesting insights on the connection between outdoor play and brain development, check out this white paper by the Institute for Child Success: www.instituteforchildsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Childhood-Unplugged-Outdoor-Learning.pdf ... See MoreSee Less
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Rain or Shine Mamma
To all the parents who are worried about not providing enough enriching and educational activities for your children - this quote is for you. The fact that you're even anxious about it tells me that you're probably doing more than enough to stimulate your child's growth and development🙌🏽 Remember that the most important thing you can do for a young child, aside from providing a loving and supporting home, is to allow ample time and space for free play, preferably outside🌿All mammals, including humans, learn by playing, moving their bodies and mimicking older individuals.So go outside and feel the joy of connecting with the trees and the earth and the birds and the sky. Follow your child's curiosity and see where it takes you. Get excited about their discoveries. Let them climb, crawl, roll, jump, run, cartwheel. Let them fall and get back up and fall again. Dare to say 'yes' and embrace the mess. Let them get bored. Take a step back and trust in the power of nature play.Quote by @themainenanny ... See MoreSee Less
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1 month ago

Rain or Shine Mamma
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rainorshinemamma

Linda Åkeson McGurk
One of the reasons why I’ve always made a point One of the reasons why I’ve always made a point to get outside with my kids is that there’s so much valuable learning involved from being immersed in nature. And I’m not necessarily thinking of learning facts about plants and wildlife, even though that’s part of it as well. I’m thinking about life skills like problem solving, decision making, risk management and grit. All crucial to children’s future success in life. But I also want to connect my kids with nature to help them fully understand where they came from🌿

As I’m writing this, my 11-year-old and I are on a train on our way to Swedish Lapland, where we will attempt to climb Mount Kebnekaise, weather permitting. This area runs deep through my family history, since my parents and grandparents took me here when I was little and it forever made an imprint on my inner landscape❤️ 

While I’d love for my daughter and I to make it to the summit, it’s not my main objective with the trip. It’s for us to learn and grow together through physical and mental challenges on the mountain. And to make Lapland part of my daughter’s history as well🏔
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #outsideeveryday #wanderlust #wanderer #backpacking #backpackingwithkids
All learning begins with the body - this is why it All learning begins with the body - this is why it's crucial to protect and promote outdoor play in childhood🤸🏽‍♂️ Enough with the worksheets and wall words and pressuring young children to reach academic milestones before they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready. If we truly want our children to succeed in school - and in life - we must understand how the brain works and how children learn. And this is what brain science tells us: 

🧠 Children learn by building connections between brain cells called neural pathways.
🧠 As many as 90% of the neural pathways are set in the first years of life, making early childhood the fastest period of brain growth in a person's life. 
🧠 Some of the chemicals that are needed for these neural pathways to grow are only released when children move.
🧠 The more the neural pathways are used, the stronger they get. 
🧠 Being physically active outside is crucial to growing children's networks of neural pathways and, as a result, improving memory and learning. 

For more interesting insights on the connection between outdoor play and brain development, check out this white paper by the Institute for Child Success: https://www.instituteforchildsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Childhood-Unplugged-Outdoor-Learning.pdf
It’s during the dog days of summer that the sayi It’s during the dog days of summer that the saying “There’s no such thing as bad weather” is put to the test more than anything in my opinion. Because while you can always put on an extra layer or get a warmer coat to beat the cold, it’s harder to dress for the heat. At 95F/35C, I feel like not wearing any clothes at all most of the time, but when you have neighbors that’s not really a viable option🤣

So how do we beat the heat? These are three of my go-to actions:
🔥 Stay in the shade whenever possible.
🔥 Step down the activity level a notch and save more intense work for the coolest hours of the day. 
🔥 Hydrate.

If you have young kiddos, being able to play in water can really help keeping them happy on hot days. And you don’t need a big pool; even small amounts of water can make a big difference. I love this video of my girls from a few years ago when we filled up our wheelbarrow with water for them to play in!💦 

If you’d like some more fun water play tips for warm days, head over to the blog: https://rainorshinemamma.com/5-water-play-ideas-for-summer/.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #waterplay #outdoorplay #playoutside #playoutsideeveryday
To all the parents who are worried about not provi To all the parents who are worried about not providing enough enriching and educational activities for your children - this quote is for you. The fact that you're even anxious about it tells me that you're probably doing more than enough to stimulate your child's growth and development🙌🏽 Remember that the most important thing you can do for a young child, aside from providing a loving and supporting home, is to allow ample time and space for free play, preferably outside🌿

All mammals, including humans, learn by playing, moving their bodies and mimicking older individuals. 
So go outside and feel the joy of connecting with the trees and the earth and the birds and the sky. Follow your child's curiosity and see where it takes you. Get excited about their discoveries. Let them climb, crawl, roll, jump, run, cartwheel. Let them fall and get back up and fall again. Dare to say 'yes' and embrace the mess. Let them get bored. Take a step back and trust in the power of nature play. 

Quote by @themainenanny
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #freeplay #natureplay #lessismore #playisenough #letthemplay #letthembewild #wildchildhood #1000hoursoutside #parenting #naturalparenting
While we cook outside all year, summer is definite While we cook outside all year, summer is definitely our high season. I don’t plan ahead a lot, instead using the motto that most things that can be cooked inside also can be cooked outside🥘 Last weekend, we went with tacos and a dessert that I’ve been wanting to try out over the fire. I’ll share the recipe once I’ve perfected it!😋
@muurikkasverige 
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #cookingoutdoors #campfire #tacofriday #friluftsliv
🌞Happy Summer Solstice!🌞 Today marks the lon 🌞Happy Summer Solstice!🌞
Today marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and to me it’s a highlight of the year - literally. Recognizing the changing of the natural cycles is a simple way to realign your life with nature. Having grown up on these northern latitudes, I’ve always cherished these long summer nights. Today, the sun rose at 4:06 am and set at 10:12 pm where I live in southern Sweden. When is your sunset? 
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #summersolstice #summersolstice2022
There are a lot of good things about tech, but exc There are a lot of good things about tech, but excessive screen time is taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health today. Many apps and games have built-in mechanisms designed to make them highly addictive and children are even more susceptible to them than adults, since their brains are not fully developed🧠Screens are so ubiquitous in our lives today that it takes conscious effort to balance them with experiences IRL. 

For the past few years, our family has experimented with screen free or screen reduced Sundays. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy. But if the goal is to increase quality family time outdoors and encourage the kind of creativity that arises from a healthy dose of boredom, it does work🌳

Some other tips to foster a healthy screen time culture in your family are:

✅ Learn how to use the parent controls on your kids’ devices and set age-appropriate limits.

✅ Have certain times or spaces that are always screen free, for example around the dinner table, in the bedrooms and so on, and be sure to be consistent. 

✅ Create a buy-in for the kids by letting them help plan screen free activities for the whole family.

What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to keeping screen time under control?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #screenfreesunday #friluftsliv #outdoors #greentime
That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This qu That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This quote is from Meet the Wild, a new picture book by Lindsay Kellar-Madsen of @the.madsen.littles. Inspired by the outdoor learning and play culture in Scandinavia, Lindsay wrote the book to invite children to explore nature all year round, regardless of the weather. 
I personally love the message and sweet illustrations in this book❤️ If you have a little one in your life, you can buy the book by backing Lindsay’s Kickstarter campaign. Check out her Instagram for details!
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#meetthewild #picturebook #outdoorplay
📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚 A few y 📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚

A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! (Link in bio)

The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.

I must say that I LOVE this dreamy cover that the designers at @penguinrandomhouse created. What do you think? 

@tarcherperigee @penguinrandomhouse

#theopenairlife #rainorshinemamma #coverreveal #bookcover #friluftsliv #friluftslivbook
I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last weekend and it started out with sunshine and rainbows☀️🌈 Swipe to the last video to see how it ended➡️ 

We had set out to explore the northernmost island in our local lake and while we cruised up there with decent tailwinds, the wind picked up overnight. Going back the next day, we faced strong headwinds the entire time🌊 

For nearly three hours, we paddled in choppy waters, with waves sometimes so high that they splashed into the canoe. We had no choice but to paddle nonstop - if we stopped, we immediately started drifting backwards😩

The thing about being outdoors is that you’re never fully in control of all parameters - trips like these always involve a certain amount of risk. The weather can change quickly, and not always according to the forecast. What we can control is our reaction to the challenge, how we act on it and what we learn from it.

While none of us was happy about the situation, the girls did pull together and did an amazing job paddling💪🏻 And while they both vowed to never go paddling again, I told them that this will make a funny story later in life. They weren’t convinced at the time but I think they’ll come around eventually😅 

Do you have any stories of getting in over your head to share?😃
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #paddling #paddlingwithkids
Sunny days on the water can be lovely. But nothing Sunny days on the water can be lovely. But nothing compares to the stillness of the lake after an early summer drizzle. The water is dark and mysterious, the air thick with the smell of earth and lilacs. And we’re all alone. Not a single motor boat in sight to break the glass-like surface.

Evenings like these are worth putting of bedtime for. Even if it means padding in your pajama pants at 9pm🤩 
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #paddling #paddleboard #sup
Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know tha Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅) 

A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.

If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #ticks #tickprevention
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