National Hop-A-Park Day: Swap Screen Time with Green Time

Today is National Hop-A-Park Day, but sadly it doesn’t get very much attention. I checked out my own state of Connecticut and didn’t see anything special being done to celebrate this event.

Nevertheless, the month of July is known as National Park and Recreation Month, and there’s never been a better time to enjoy the great outdoors. In fact, according to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation Study, the average child between the age of 8 and 18 spends 7 hours and 38 minutes per day “consuming media, such as watching TV, playing video games, and using a computer.” I love technology just as much as the rest of us, but I believe there needs to be a healthy balance. Being outside helps children learn about nature and themselves on the most basic, fundamental level. It also has tremendous physical and health benefits. The National Wildlife Association has composed a list of these benefits entitled Parents: 10 Reasons Kids Need Fresh Air. This article is a reminder to all of us as to how fresh air can lead to stronger bones and lower the risk for obesity, cancer, and depression to name a few.

So, in honor of Hop-a-Park Day and the National Park and Recreation Month, I have composed a list of activities that we can do in the great outdoors. Please feel to add to the list.

• Bike, skateboard, or bring a scooter


• Bird watch


• Boating activities such as, canoeing, paddling, kayaking, rafting, tubing


• Camp


• Catch fireflies


• Cloud watch


• Collect rocks and/or seashells


• Fish


• Grill


• Have a family day


• Have a picnic


• Hike
• Make a sandcastle/play in the sand


• Make S’mores


• See an outdoor movie


• See an outdoor play (A park close to us hosts a Shakespeare in the Park event every summer.)


• Start a nature scrapbook


• Stargaze


• Swim
• Visit gardens and/or start one of your own


• Walk and/or take a nature walk
  

And finally, if anyone finds these articles and this information interesting, you might also be interested in checking out...

• Baby Steps: Tips for Fun Outside with an Infant


• Ten Tips for Camping with Toddlers


• Sun Safety Tips for Summer
  

Have a great weekend “Swapping Screen Time for Green Time!”