Temperatures are rising, school is almost out and the official start of summer is just days away. What does this mean? Time to enjoy some vitamin D! For kids, it’s definitely time to take advantage of the sun’s rays because we all know what’s coming — the return of autumn leaves and homework. I don’t mean to be a downer, but getting older has taught me one very important truth: Time speeds up for every birthday celebrated. So get out there and have some fun, gosh darn it!
Speaking of fun, today is Father’s Day, so here are three cheers to all papas and papa-like figures out there! Because dads, kids and outdoor fun are a win-win-win combination, I’ve put together some reading recommendations promoting the super positive benefits of spending as much time outside as possible. Whether it’s taking a walk around the neighborhood, building a fort in the backyard, or packing a picnic and taking a hike in the woods, any activity that involves nature will help to strengthen family relationships and build a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors.
Gathering these recommendations made me reflect on my own childhood and time spent outside. While I did grow up with television (“Bewitched,” “The Brady Bunch,” “The Partridge Family” — big time favorites), my childhood wasn’t dominated by it. I spent plenty of happy hours running through the sprinklers, playing badminton, going on wildflower walks in the desert (I grew up in the Southwest) and walking and biking all over town. Smart phones weren’t even an option. In fact, I was in my late teens when I saw my first mobile phone: a beast of an object that now looks as antiquated as cathode ray tubes for televisions. That “mobile phone” was a novelty item to me worth about five minutes of my attention. What a difference a few decades make. Today, my smart phone is rarely out of my sight; and sad to say, even when I’m outside enjoying nature, the phone is never far away. Size-wise, it’s no longer a beast — but attention-wise, its “claws” are deeply embedded. Sounds like I need to take my own advice, so I shall strive to spend less time interacting with my smart-beast and more time enjoying Mother Nature.
Here’s hoping you and your family can disengage from technology this summer. Apply the sunscreen, get as much fresh air as possible and have fun!
