Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Unstructured outdoor play used to be the norm—but not anymore. And that’s unfortunate, as time spent outdoors enriches children’s lives.

It broadens their world; reduces the stress tremendously—it’s an amazing thing. Their attention is improved; they’re more creative in school. The kids who get outside and play, and especially play in nature are more resilient; they’re better problem solvers. They cooperate better with other kids.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. Many parents feel the world has become a dangerous place, and no longer insist their kids spend time outdoors, because then they’ll be away from mom’s or dad’s watchful eyes. But getting the kiddos outside is something parents should reconsider.

I think it’s going to be a conscious effort for parents to take their kids outside. It might be a trip to the park; it could be looking at how your community is built. Are there safe places to play where you can look out the window and see where they are?

Make getting outside a family activity; it’s is as easy as…

Deciding that an hour a day or a half hour a day we’re just going to take as family time. And why can’t that family time be outside. And just make it a part of your schedule.

We have links to outdoor family activities at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 2 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Unstructured outdoor play used to be the norm—but not anymore. And that’s unfortunate, as time spent outdoors enriches children’s lives.

It broadens their world; reduces the stress tremendously—it’s an amazing thing. Their attention is improved; they’re more creative in school. The kids who get outside and play, and especially play in nature are more resilient; they’re better problem solvers. They cooperate better with other kids.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. Many parents feel the world has become a dangerous place, and no longer insist their kids spend time outdoors, because then they’ll be away from mom’s or dad’s watchful eyes. But getting the kiddos outside is something parents should reconsider.

I think it’s going to be a conscious effort for parents to take their kids outside. It might be a trip to the park; it could be looking at how your community is built. Are there safe places to play where you can look out the window and see where they are?

Make getting outside a family activity; it’s is as easy as…

Deciding that an hour a day or a half hour a day we’re just going to take as family time. And why can’t that family time be outside. And just make it a part of your schedule.

We have links to outdoor family activities at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 2 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Although Valentine’s Day is typically for couples, why not make it a family affair? Grab your sweetheart and the kids and get outside to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.

Fishing is a simple and economical activity everyone can enjoy, and when you take your family to a Texas state park, you’ll fish for free. In addition, many state park lakes are stocked with rainbow trout this winter—an easy-to-catch, and tasty fish.

If you live in the Houston area, head over to Sea Center Texas, in Lake Jackson, where your family can learn about conserving coastal wetlands. The center also provides a “touch tank” so the kids can get up-close and personal with marine critters.

If you live in the Dallas area, check out Cedar Hills State Park for a family retreat. Spend time on Joe Pool Lake relaxing in a boat, or on shore. We have more suggestions for outdoor family fun at passporttotexas.org.

Family is love and sharing your love for the great outdoors can bring you closer together.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Alanna Jones… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Today’s children spend precious little time outdoors involved in unsupervised play, something nature educators and others view as a serious problem.

It’s a solvable problem, but this problem is growing, and we need to act now on it.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. She says the book Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, struck a chord, galvanizing a broad spectrum of concerned individuals and groups to address the issue.

From doctors and teachers and nurses and urban planners, ranchers, the people who’ve traditionally been in nature education, have all come together with the single combined vision of reconnecting children to nature.

You might wonder what affects this alienation from nature has on children.

Children who are confined indoors all the time, or confined with technology and not those nature and natural experiences, what happens is their world becomes very small. They have more trouble with attention. They have more trouble with stress.

They have more trouble, says Herron, coping with life.

Tomorrow, we examine ways to reintroduce children to nature, http://www.cnaturenet.org/.

That’s our show for today…remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 1 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Today’s children spend precious little time outdoors involved in unsupervised play, something nature educators and others view as a serious problem.

It’s a solvable problem, but this problem is growing, and we need to act now on it.

Nancy Herron coordinates outdoor learning programs for Parks and Wildlife. She says the book Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, struck a chord, galvanizing a broad spectrum of concerned individuals and groups to address the issue.

From doctors and teachers and nurses and urban planners, ranchers, the people who’ve traditionally been in nature education, have all come together with the single combined vision of reconnecting children to nature.

You might wonder what affects this alienation from nature has on children.

Children who are confined indoors all the time, or confined with technology and not those nature and natural experiences, what happens is their world becomes very small. They have more trouble with attention. They have more trouble with stress.

They have more trouble, says Herron, coping with life.

Tomorrow, we examine ways to reintroduce children to nature, http://www.cnaturenet.org/.

That’s our show for today…remember: life’s better outside… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Children & Nature, Part 1 of 2 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download