1000 Hours Outside w/ Ginny Yurich | The Spillover

Ginny Yurich created an online movement that changed families forever: challenging people to get outside for 1000 hours every year.☀️☁️ The idea stemmed from figuring out how to overcome her own feelings of inadequacy as a mom. Alex and Ginny discuss their fave parenting books, how to go from couch potato to adventure mom, and scientific benefits to prioritizing outdoor time for your kids. 🌱
Ginny Yurich’s work can be found on her website www.1000hourso..., and here is her Instagram / 1000hoursoutside !
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[@Not_a_witch]

I feel like I struck gold moving to a small town where all the kids play outside all day, and I just had a baby. He will definitely be an outside kid like I was.

[@rb7454]

Which town did you live to? All the small towns in MN where I’m at seem to just have everyone inside playing video games.

[@Not_a_witch]

@@rb7454 I’m in WA, it’s pretty outdoorsy here, although now that the rain has started, the kids seem to be more inside

[@PenelopeG96]

@@Not_a_witchnot central I assume?

[@Tory6177]

All the books mentioned: - 1000 Hours outside - Amusing ourselves to death - Balanced and barefoot - Simplicity parenting - Charlotte Mason books - Smart moves why learning is not always in your head - Dumbing us down - Free to learn - Learning all the time - The comfort crisis - There is no such thing as bad weather - Glow kids - Digital Madness - Take back your family - Hunt, Gather, Parent - Free Range Kids - Until the street lights come on

[@kristinnicoletaylor]

Thank you! Came to the comments hoping someone did this! 😂😊

[@meriam789]

You're amazing 😍 thank you. Was searching for that comment.

[@kylaboutin7638]

Thank you for this!

[@melissasierra3371]

Thank you❤

[@kyciarelli3847]

You are a gem! Thank you!!

[@elliechewny6924]

This lady is freaking lovely. She’s like listening to a hug.

[@marcusaurelius8605]

Preach, everyone needs to touch grass.

[@amandadryman5593]

I am watching my kids play outside as I listen to this with tears in my eyes thanking God that He let us do life like this😩

[@slee7991]

Do you have land or just a normal backyard??

[@jwren7]

Such a fun one! I am not a naturally outdoorsy kinda gal, but I’ve been so disheartened by my girls’ responses anytime they have to go outside for anything. It’s like the biggest inconvenience in the world to them. I feel so challenged to lead by example and really nurture a love and interest in being outside!

[@jaquirox6579]

Mama, how can I help?!! We are so outdoorsy 24/7, we have constant fun even just in the backyard. Have you considered a blow up kiddie pool, and perhaps an “unplanned” mud playing session??… that will get any kid giggling.

[@katemiller7874]

They will follow your lead. Get out there

[@rachelpehrson1996]

I started a morning walk routine about 4 months ago with my children (ages 3 and 4). My daughter threw a fit almost every time for a month or so. But once I learned to stay calm and just move foward with the plan she would comply and now she loves our daily walk!!! They usually ride a balance bike and I walk. They admire everything outside. She comments all the beautiful fall air and just how much she loves it. I hope my story is encouraging!

[@AshleyLorraine133]

I teach in a K-2 public schools. Students are at school from 7:15-2:30pm and only get one 20 minute recess. The rest of the time is packed with academic rigor. You wouldn't believe the amount of behavior issues and ADHD diagnosis' you see in a Kindergarten classroom. I want to study these types of books and podcasts to form a proposal to advocate for our state education department to mandate longer recess times for all schools. It is damaging our children. Edit to add: I know the ultimate solution to this is for parents to pull their kids out of school and homeschool them. I firmly believe that everything about public school goes against what children need to learn and thrive. I can't afford to leave the public school system financially so I'm trying to run my classroom the best I can and hopefully advocate for some change.

[@brookecarrillo3432]

Our pre-K-1st graders go from 8:20-4:00 in the afternoon! And that’s not including the time they spend on the bus which is usually another 30 minutes to an hour. I was so glad when I quit teaching because everything about it felt so wrong to me. I taught music so I actually got to have fun and teach my kids through games. Idk how classroom teachers do it all day it just seems so boring and unnatural. Hopefully we will see changes soon but I sadly feel we are headed even further away from the right direction.

[@AshleyLorraine133]

@@brookecarrillo3432 classroom teachers spend a majority of the day trying to "manage" student "behaviors" AKA - try to discourage kids from doing what is natural to them (playing with friends, talking, running, exploring, etc.).

[@brookecarrillo3432]

Yes!!! And then parents want to ague that homeschooling is bad because kids don’t get to socialize with other kids. Ummmm they probably get more natural socialization than any chilling sitting in a classroom.

[@anene4914]

20 min recess is ridiculous!! In Sweden, we get 10 min recess between every class and an hour recess starting from lunchtime. Why is the US so against recess?

[@brookecarrillo3432]

Because schools in the US were not originally created to truly educate children, they were made to create great factory workers who sit down, shut up, and do their job without complaining.

[@forlife84]

My husband homeschools our kids. I came home today and asked how the day was. The kids told me it was a great day. They did their school work in about 2.5 hours (they are 4, 6, and 8) and then played outside for about 3 hours. Guess what? On their state testing, my 6 and 8 yr olds both scored in the 90+ percentile in both math and reading. Kids do not need to be at a desk all day long. I'm 39 and I grew up in a family that was INTENSE. I went to school from 8-3pm, then gymnastics from 4-8pm four days a week. Then homework and sometimes my dad would make up homework for me to do if the school didn't give homework that night. My entire life was scheduled. I never had a free moment to even consider who I was or what I wanted in life.

[@samplautz5586]

I’m really thankful of the way my brother has raised my niece. She’s just like us when we were kids 20 years ago. Always outside, constantly learning new things, and she’s super smart and a really good reader. She’s read 14 books in a series in the last 3 months, and they’re all at least 150-200 pages. It’s crazy

[@nothanksmegan]

If you’re grieving, or depressed. Sure stay in bed for a day…. But then get outside! Go for a walk, compromise wearing sunglasses to cover sad eyes. Sob under a tree. It helps.

[@InDirectDiana]

Sooooo agree. I had postpartum depression and anxiety. A few minutes outside made a huge difference. Not sure what it was. The fresh air, the trees, grass, birds flying? Idk. But it helps so much.

[@samanthab5006]

I'm 34 and grew up just before everything really hit (Facebook was still for college kids only when I was a freshman with my dumb flip phone). We had one TV my grandfather who lived with us used all day and one computer in the kitchen. My sisters and I would end up outside as a result making up games. My dad could spend a few dollars on a ball from the grocery store and we'd spend hours making up games. I remember playing basketball in the driveway with my sister even when it was so cold it would hurt your hands. There were three of us but as soon as we got at least one more person we'd play kick the can or capture the flag or driveway roller hockey with a crushed can because we lost the ball. I'm so thankful for my childhood and trying to figure out how to give my 2 month old son the best parts of it.

[@itsnotme7969]

A little bit younger but close, I also have very fond memories of kick the can, capture the flag and night games. We used to get all the kids of various ages together to play. I always wanted my kids to do the same.

[@Prophetmother]

12:29 I've loved our Charlotte Mason inspired homeschooling over the last 15 years, most especially our time outdoors. There is so much wisdom in the approach.

[@anasbell213]

"I love being inside. I can clean my house forever. " Me too!

[@cheyenneomans4995]

Balance is definitely it! Our outside time goes up between Sept and May, and then we move with the shade during our 3 months of brutal heat. Getting outside during 9-11am is so important for me and my toddler, and we take advantage of all our playground options

[@StayAtHomeMeme]

My husband recently moved us up to Vermont onto a large farm and I swear it’s been so good for my 3 kids. There’s so much space and going outside is so beautiful. Outside at our old house was loud and full of cars and bad smells and trash people threw out their car windows. It was terrible. So even when we went outside it wasn’t great. Now when we go outside it’s so refreshing. My daughter goes outside at night just to star gaze and help with anxiety. I love sitting outside to drink coffee. The boys love literally just running across the field. Humans were supposed to be in nature. I think living in cities makes it really difficult to enjoy outside time as much.

[@monicageller226]

My family naturally does this, I had no idea it was a thing. Boy are we struggling currently with a newborn during this heatwave. Lord willing we’ll be at it again weather permitting as soon as the baby is a couple of months old.

[@MariaSantana-hx4bb]

Her joy just oozes!! Love this and am so inspired to get back to simple outdoor life. Thank you for this :)

[@Whippermill809]

She is so soothing. Like a kindergarten teacher. Brings me back

[@porkchoppeaches]

Omg ! I’ve never heard anyone ever name drop Neil Postman’s book, “ Amusing ourselves to death “ ! A woman after my own nerdy heart ❤

[@BadmamajamaC]

Ahhh, Charlotte Mason❤️❤️ I read one of her books over and over again and it brought me so much peace and even confidence to follow my instincts:) I have the best memories of hanging out under a tree nursing my baby too with fellow mom friends, just like you, while my other kiddos played during our once a week/day long/ park day!!

[@rebekahms]

I’m so glad you asked her about weather extreme situations! I was literally wanting to ask the exact same question because we are also having record breaking heat today in Texas. It’s almost impossible to bare going outside for more than 5 minutes in the afternoons. Definitely looking forward to fall when we can start going outside for long hours during the day!

[@Maverick-zy7yu]

Yes same boat here in Texas

[@annmardunly]

I liked the video before I even watched it 🤣🤣🤣 love 1000 hrs outdoors. Alex your podcast guest choices are chefs kiss and you are such an amazing podcaster - love your charisma and conviction and lines of questioning 👏👏👏

[@JessForbes2growlove]

I was thinking the same!! I knew I would like it before I even listened!!

[@FoodFreedomUSA]

51:42 as I kid I spent almost the entire day outside from age 4-6 and then every day I’d come home from school and immediately eat a snack and then go outside until sunset! Is fish, play, climb trees, build first, swim in The ocean, etc.

[@ashleyepps1358]

One of my favourite guests of all time! What a godly and joyful woman!!!

[@brightpage1020]

She clearly enjoys the fruit of the spirit.

[@katherinespain5285]

I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia & it is the PERFECT place to have constant beauty & Gods beautiful creation all around you! A great place to always want to be outside during every season 😍

[@JessicaK0907]

I love calling that area “home” 😊

[@FreeBorn4]

Amen!

[@brightpage1020]

Recently moved to Northern Michigan from Palm Desert, CA. It does not surprise me that a Michigander is promoting an outdoor life! For the 1st 4 months we lived here, my family kept looking around at all the trees 🌲 🌳 like “whoa! Look 👀 at all the trees!!! Isn’t this beautiful!?!?” The Desert succulents have their own beauty stamp but nothing as breathable there as in loggerland up here. I mean this state is famous for it’s water sports, including winter skiing, lake fun, trails galore, farming… We summered here and I just couldn’t get past how much things grow here! I wanted my kids to grow up with outdoor summers I n that sense of abundant life all around them. So far, so glad! We miss California, we were on trails and in pools and at parks a lot back there (their parks have way more playgrounds - ahem!) but here our new 40 acre yard from an old birch farm with the full chicken coop it came with… and the new chicks gifted by our nieces… who hate going back in their coop! Can you blame them? We go berry picking, throw crab apples for catch, sight snapping turtles 🐢 and catch frogs 🐸 in our pond. My kids met sledding and skiing and snow for their first time this year. Walking our yard trails at sunset is therapy. There is a camping cabin in the back… a fire pit we can make s’mores in… It is so thrilling and people around here like grow up taking their bikes for granted!

[@JA-vv8wy]

Don’t forget about the book, “Last Child in the Woods”. Same concept. Very eye-opening. I took a trip to Italy and noticed that in the evening everyone comes outside to visit and kids play. They don’t have televisions in the home. When I came home to the USA, I noticed televisions flickering in every window at night and no one was outside.

[@Kunoichi139]

I grew up mostly barefoot and outside a lot and i almost never got sick. Now that I'm an adult and my lifestyle has changed, i started to develop bunions from modern shoes and now I get sick more often. I need to get outside more. Sucks when you live in the city without a yard though

[@alexiatrott2714]

This advice is full of so much truth. I lived in Brooklyn for a year and would just wake up and cry for what I thought was no reason, but I just missed fresh air and needed grass, and the only park nearby was constantly flooded with people everywhere to the point where you could barely even see the grass (not to mention how dirty it was! Dirty with human waste). And now I live in the extreme north in a small town where it’s too cold to go outside for most of the year which hurts as well. I think we need to know for ourselves what we need on that spiritual level, and nature I think definitely plays a part in this! I just hope at some point in the near future, we can move down south where it’s easier to get that time in that I so desperately want for myself and my family

[@talesfromthebrit.]

She is infectious in such a beautiful way! ❤ Loved this episode…now let me go download an app and buy some books✌️ 😅

[@nurd87]

Love Ginny and literally all her podcast episodes!

[@CJ2023Incognito]

2.5 and 5 month old and we are at 608 hours and 48 minutes in month 9!!!! 1000 is a lot, especially in a state with long harsh winters- but so worth it. Awesome motivating challenge for parents and kids. 😊☀️

[@gabriellaruhlman6688]

Do you do this with a spouse or are you on your own? 😭 struggling to get my husband to see the benefit of turning off the TV in front of our 3 boys and going outside instead!! If you're doing this on your own I am so motivated!

[@CJ2023Incognito]

@@gabriellaruhlman6688 Well, I’m totally logging/tracking on my own but my hubby is totally onboard which really helps. We do a lot of camping in the summertime so it helps to rack up the hours. I found a toddler hiking group on fb, which helps me to connect with like minded mommas. Maybe there is something like that in your area? I recommend going into it and seeing just how many hours you can get in one year and then just focusing on beating THAT goal the next year, not necessarily 1000. You can do this! 💪

[@gabriellaruhlman6688]

You're so kind and your advice extremely helpful!!! I never considered Facebook groups, definitely going to give that a try. Thank you for responding!

[@WondaElizabeth]

This was so worth the three days it took to watch the entire thing. Thanks Alex and Ginny.

[@culturallydifferent]

I think this is perfect for Midwest. Midwest weather is great to do it every season. But I absolutely agree with everything she says. We used to live outside, but now kids are barely moving inside their houses

[@JuniperLynn789]

Yes Ginny!!! She’s incredible! I’ve been following her since last year and we completed the 1,000 hours Outside as a family in 10 months. She is changing lives everywhere!!!

[@tunkytunky]

As a Las Vegas resident, I take my kids to the park from about 6-7:30 in the evening sometimes longer in the summer or turn them out onto the backyard. We even used to walk in the mornings when my babies woke up early. Also… pools, anyone? Even if it’s an indoor pool I’m sure we can count it lol. You don’t have to be outside for 3 solid hours, you can break it up cuz no way I’m going out in the afternoon like that in June unless it’s a splash pad or pool situation. I used to teach in Japan and BOY do they do all the things she talked about at the 25 minute mark. These kids were so miserable! I knew college kids who were getting graying hair.

[@samy141]

I loved this episode, thank you for getting together with Ginny, you two ladies make my absolute favorite podcasts😃

[@Fixyourfatigue]

Nothing makes me feel better than being outside in the sun.

[@FoodFreedomUSA]

33:09 Amen. Spot on sis!

[@audreyatanasov3896]

I love both of your podcasts and the algorithm just suggested this one! I didn't know you guys did an episode together. Yay! Amazing.

[@heidi6544]

I totally agree with everything she says about being outside! I live in North Dakota and we have 6 months of winter. In the summer I feel so wonderful and we spend every moment outside;)

[@screechinglilies]

I saw her stuff 6 years ago when I had my first son, didn't even know she had a podcast!

[@sonyaberry9805]

This is so interesting. I have been taking my kids (age 8 & age 4) to run errands & we park at one place and walk to all the places where we have to run errands. They like it & it helps save gas money.

[@Lalidottii]

My kids play in the backyard for hours until dusk. We eat breakfast together and I then open the door and let them be boys. They climb, wrestle/rough house, dig, play in mud by the time they’re ready for lunch they have gotten a lot of energy out and they’re ready to sit and eat with us again. I didn’t realize we were doing it right. I kept thinking I should be doing workbooks and academic base things majority of their day. Don’t get me wrong we do read and color and sing together but I think I was being hard on myself.

[@jessicawatt2925]

You’re doing great, Mama!

[@Ben_Green]

24:47 this broke my heart.

[@lis_daily_]

Love this so much! This is so motivating to me. Mother of two toddlers, another on the way. We need to spend more time outdoors!

[@heatherwoods5703]

A book I'm surprised wasn't mentioned is "Last Child in the Woods." I think it was referenced in "Free-Range Kids." It helped me to be more intentional with my three sons when they were little. 💗

[@KaitlynLangham-c3k]

LOVED this conversation!!!

[@StayAtHomeMeme]

We raise monarch catapillars every year. My kids love it. When they first come out of the chrysalis, their wings are still wet so they can’t fly yet. So you can actually hold the butterfly on your finger. And oh my God, no matter how many times we do it, holding a brand new butterfly in your hand and watching it dry its wings is magic. We had a butterfly one year that didn’t want to leave. The wings were dry. It could fly. But it wasn’t ready. I walked around all day with a butterfly on my shoulder. By late afternoon it decided it was finally ready to go and flew away. But it was really cool to have a pet butterfly for a day. I fed it sugar water and watermelon and it literally just sat on my shoulder. Nature is magical.

[@Ninjaflyingpinkducks]

I love being outside. I was outside countless hours as a child and as an adult I feel so miserable if I lack outside time. Outdoors ideas. Bicycle, unicycle (yeah that's right), scooter, skateboard, walk, hike, park/playground, learn new ways to whistle, pull weeds, garden, sand box, frisbee, ball sports, chalk, swing set, trampoline, jump rope, hopscotch, read, write, relax, picnic, collect unique rocks sticks sea shells or leaves, kayak, surf, scavenger hunt, fairy garden, cloud watch. Leave the dirty dishes in the sink and enjoy the outdoors. 🏞

[@susanallen9795]

Wow!!!! This is so encouraging and inspiring thank you for this podcast

[@MotherPugger1]

Your guests have been hitting lately!! If I still had my podcast going these would all be guests I’d have

[@freetobe15]

Wow, loved this episode! Thanks, Alex and Ginny!

[@adrianabarnard6402]

My daughter was born in Louisiana and we just recently moved back to Las Vegas and I have so much nostalgia for going back there it felt so natural to go outside there were playgrounds in the apartments we lived in there were playgrounds on the community where we rented a house and when we bought a house we had a 1/2 of an acre so we had a playground for my daughter we would go hiking and so much more I fail in love with nature and now I can’t even find grass within a mile I have to drive to a nice park but it feels so dead to begin with Las Vegas is not a kid friendly place but having my entire family here I struggle to choose between them two and I just want to take them with me. I’m hoping I can because idk how much longer I can take of living in this city. The “entertainment” is so no worth it and I say that as someone who grew up here most of my childhood.

[@DigitalResurrection]

So many book recommendations! ❤ Man my TBR list is growing fast.

[@milo_thatch_incarnate]

49:34 - This is why I'm on board for ALL of this except full-on free range parenting. Child trafficking is worse today, in 2024, than it has EVER BEEN. The world IS legitimately less safe now than it was even in the 80s. I don't have kids yet, but when I do, I will strive to give them as much freedom and independence as I can, so they can grow. But this world is no longer safe enough to let our kids bike and walk all over the city without supervision all day, _let alone_ Europe. The events of the movie Taken are real, and they happen all the time. Especially to naive teenagers who really think they've got everything handled. Not happening.

[@angielogan1923]

Yes outside is great! When my first kid was almost two and I was about to have the second everything was crazy. I went to the park my crazy boy calmed down. I went every day it was so nice. I did take a week off but the baby was so quiet at the park.

[@joannaholden943]

I am so ecstatic for when the blistering heat is over and we can go outside for long periods of time again. ❤ I grew up with a mom who kept us outside and took us outside as much as possible. I thrived! So I have been working on doing the same with my kids. Where we live, it is HARD for about three months out of the year. So during the summer we allow more screens. But we are easing back off of them again. And its making me think - how much does Mommy exercise what I preach to the kids? 🤔

[@s.a.6082]

Do you live in Arizona? 🥵

[@joannaholden943]

@@s.a.6082 Texas. Tomay-to, tomah-to 😄

[@SKimilku]

Awesome episode!! All I can think of is how many indoor playgrounds people go to these days. It’s soooo man made it sucks

[@schatzi321]

Our modern society has taken childhood away from kids, so we could turn around and sell it back to them in the form of a lower quality experience (youth sports, school, childcare programs). These things are great when they are in balance, but that is not the case for the majority.

[@alexasparling5553]

Have heard of Ginny before, so happy to get to know her through this episode!

[@jaquirox6579]

This is definitely my family! And I’ve noticed how I’m a bit of an oddity with all our backyard time, compared to other moms. Me and my son are always outside together, even now in my 3rd trimester with another. But other moms just aren’t into it like we are… and I find that strange honestly. It’s kind of cool to hear that I’m doing something right in this way, by just doing what I naturally wanted to do as a water and sun baby myself. We spent about 2/3 of the day today in the backyard playing in our swimsuits, trying to load up on vitamin D before the fall lack of UV kicks in. Now I’m tremendously curious about who this lady is and all her content, and also about Charlotte Mason whom I keep hearing referenced about a particular HS ideology! Is she secretly me from 200 years ago?!! 😂♥️🙏🏽

[@LegoGirl1990]

I am not a fan of outside. Bugs, hot + humid, cold + dry, allergies, sunburn...

[@jaquirox6579]

@@LegoGirl1990 But there’s so many great and fun things to do outside! You just have to dress according to to the conditions that you want to avoid. Like if there’s a lot of bugs, wear long jeans, and bring a light sweater. For sunburn, bring a UV shirt that you can put on after an hour or so. For temperature issues, just go outside when the temp is not at a peak. Like maybe earlier morning times in the summer, or midday around lunch in the winter. I cannot imagine my life without all the outdoor fun I’ve had!! My most cherished memories growing up were outside. And my most cherished memories as a mom have been outside too! I was even purposed to by my husband outside, when we were on a hike in the mountains, by a beautiful river, while it was raining. He kneeled in the mud to ask me.

[@s.a.6082]

You’re not like other moms 😎

[@jaquirox6579]

@@s.a.6082 That’s kind of you to say, thank you. I guess I don’t have much of a reference for what “most people” are doing.

[@Tithulta1]

Really enjoyed this! My daughter will be 18 in Jan, no way we hit 1000 hr outside, but we did go hiking quite often. Need to go again soon it’s been too long

[@InDirectDiana]

Just here waiting til it stops being 104 degrees outside... then we'll be out all day 💃

[@BriBayly]

Loved this episode!

[@jessicasteed8023]

Love this podcast!

[@Sammiejammie521]

Now I have about six pages open on my internet browser filled with new books to read 😂

[@FoodFreedomUSA]

47:21 We are buying land in the same area! And moving the mother in law so our two babies can grow up in nature with chickens and horses.

[@vintagebeliever5023]

Great chat.. thank you

[@TabithaPowell]

I freaking love her!!

[@guest0407]

I'm a Charlotte Mason homeschooling mom who unfortunately lives in an Arctic environment that makes it very inconvenient to be outdoors as much as I'd like. In the late spring/summer/early fall (5 months total), I have the kids outside as much as possible, even if all they're doing is helping me with outdoor chores, throwing rocks in ponds, or scribbling on the driveway. Just anything to keep them outdoors bc once late fall/winter hits, it gets VERY cold, VERY dark, and very hostile to young children who cry after ten minutes of being outside bc the cold penetrates through anything less than 2 layers of mittens and face protection. I feel like a failure of a parent every winter.😞 Like what am I supposed to do, Miss Mason?

[@bridgetulrich1711]

love John Gatto!

[@ddchomeschool]

Amusing Ourselves to Death is sooooo good.

[@kristincash1919]

So good 👏!

[@flashesofashley]

Loooove Ginny and 1KHO!

[@sammipedroza6207]

God creation never disappoints

[@steelgear3876]

With my son, we spend time outside every day. Been doing it since he was a week old. Also, don't let him watch TV. Never heard of this podcaster but she seems to know what she is talking about.

[@MrsKAndFam]

loved this

[@BlendedBarbieDoll]

I desperately am trying to improve my children’s childhood. What can I do when I don’t get support or buy in from my husband? He doesn’t care to be outside and will not give up his phone or tvs?

[@MrsYasha1984]

Do what you can alone. Don't expect him to tag along, don't force him, but always invite him. Plan stuff that won't overtax yourself if he does not come with you, or does not actively help. Plan stuff with other families to take the burden off of you. And then have fun! After a while, he may! Want the fun you have, and starts to open up. But you can't change him, just yourself. So make the changes you can make, and pray to God almighty that his heart will soften.

[@canelareina3795]

Easy, leave him on the couch and go outside.

[@bridgetulrich1711]

Our kids free range and our neighbors from up north and california (they flooding into the south... wonder why?!) are like you let you child go alone into the woods?? Or ride their bikes unaccompanied in the neighborhood... I LIVED outside as a kid growing up in SC. I was outside until it was too dark to see and I was happy and my parents (lol) were happy.

[@charityneverfaileth22]

My kids live outside, and my kids almost never fight outside. I think doing 1000 hrs for them would be obsolete, but I am going to do it for me:). Because I don't join them very much. I feel like free outside time is so good for my kids, but my son's best friend is in public school and super scheduled after school, and she is always bragging to him about all of the things she is involved in. My son comes home from playing with her feeling inadequate and like the things he does and enjoys don't matter. It is confusing to me and him. We try so hard to have a slow happy childhood for our children, but I'm feeling discouraged and like I am failing my kids... but I can tell you that waiting for the kids to be ready to read does work. My oldest didn't read well till 9, even though I tried so hard to push him to read "on time," but it never worked until he was ready and then when he took off, it was so fast! I wish I hadn't pushed when he was little because it just made him feel stupid and frustrated. Thank goodness he still loves reading, but it could have turned him off forever.

[@jenniferLemkeMomma]

I keep seeing things that I really wish I knew while my kids were younger but it's NEVER too late to start my youngest is 7 with autism and he loves playing outside but we need to do it much more. I think 🤔 it would probably have really helped with his brain 🧠 mapping but I know he will still benefit from it.

[@LizRealGirlBeauty]

Yes! Independent, kid directed play is ESSENTIAL! I know parents who never give their kids even a minute of independent play, who see it as dangerous! My kid plays how he wants all the time! When we play with him, it's us joining him in what he's doing, and if he doesn't want to play with us, that's ok too! (I know a family who had a "one adult per child" rule, meaning that each child needed an adult with them for the entire time they were awake. It was crazy!)

[@humblejoy3564]

I agree 💯

[@ailene_e]

Alex do you have a list of books you’ve read or plan to read, available in public somewhere? I’d love to get a peek at it!

[@samanthakwait8782]

I wanna do this with my kids so badly. We are outside every day in the summer but it’s so cold in Alaska in the winter. I hate to go out😂

[@slee7991]

Do they have a lot of indoor play spaces for children in alaska-just curious

[@granesperanza6478]

Love the concept. What do you do with crawlers who eat everything they can get their hands on?

[@brookecarrillo3432]

You let them crawl and eat dirt haha.

[@intothekey]

​@@brookecarrillo3432Sounds like a good way to get your child featured on monsters instead me. Maybe wait till their older.

[@yevar]

When I'm outside I can be truly present to my kids and the moment. However I have such a hard time fitting in outside time and the basics of homemaking with a baby and a toddler. In summer my house is a dirty mess because we are outside a lot and I try to let go but I just feel horrible once I get back in and see the chaos and dirt and scrambling to finish dinner cooking etc. Anyone else feel this way and have you found any solutions? Or just resign yourself you complete chaos, dirt and overwhelm?

[@katerinabykova444]

I wish we had a social set up in the UK to homeschool.

[@neuralsodar]

Please add the links for Ginny- not showing up yet in the description

[@alwaysjoie309]

Did someone right down all the book names? Because I want to read them all and I should have been taking notes

[@princessgemz271]

Our previous house was on five acres and the yard had huge, ancient trees. It’s was so inviting. The house was old and run down so we spent most of our days outside. Our new house (moved to a new state) is larger and more modern. We have more acreage but it’s very uninviting. There are hardly any trees around the house. There aren’t very many large trees on the property. It’s not as magical as the last one. My kids have picked up on this and spend a ton of time inside. They don’t like our massive uninspiring yard.

[@christinemccluskey4022]

If you’re not too attached to the landscaping, we just made jumps and stuff for our bikes and tore the place up on ratty old Barbie jeeps and bicycles. It was kind of a dry dusty place, but filled with kid vehicles it was really fun. We weren’t strong enough to build anything big enough to really hurt ourselves too badly.

[@manylaughs9002]

💗

[@pinkroses135]

Even if the weather isn't permitting, kids need that body time for lack of a better word. Craft, chore, something. Too much head time with youthful energy doesn't work.

[@teaheichler9735]

❤❤❤

[@FoodFreedomUSA]

27:47 So true. The biggest things that parents need to inculcate are love, boundaries, and, values/religion. You don’t need “school” to learn. I plan to homeschool my kids as well. As a society we have completely abdicated responsibility, and our own children to the government megalith.

[@jonniegalvan4976]

Whooooo hooo!!!! Gen X occupational therapist here and I approve alllll of this message! I spent from morning until the street lights came on outdoors. If I had one gift to give any of my pediatric patients it wouldn’t be my skill set, it would be my childhood. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@oursweetiebirdshome]

Yes! All the books in the world will not prepare our littles for the world. Not a single book. ❤

[@bekki3112]

Please be careful with TOO much sun! Skin cancer is brutal and kids are especially vulnerable! I could have died from melanoma, but, fortunately, it was caught early! I now protect my skin and my kid’s skin from the sun as much as possible!

[@latterdaycovenantliving]

Our “outside” sucks our backyard is two feet around our house