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Quote of the Week
"Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." --John Muir
How Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier And More Creative
"Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and our behavior, helping us to reduce anxiety, brooding, and stress, and increase our attention capacity, creativity, and our ability to connect with other people. “People have been discussing their profound experiences in nature for the last several 100 years—from Thoreau to John Muir to many other writers,” says researcher David Strayer, of the University of Utah. “Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally more healthy when we are interacting with nature.”
While he and other scientists may believe nature benefits our well-being, we live in a society where people spend more and more time indoors and online—especially children. Findings on how nature improves our brains brings added legitimacy to the call for preserving natural spaces—both urban and wild—and for spending more time in nature in order to lead healthier, happier, and more creative lives."
This week's feature from Greater Good Science Center reveals scientific effects of being in nature on our brains and bodies, inviting families to unplug and surround yourselves in nature more often. [read article]
Reading Corner
 Title: How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature
By: Scott Sampson
Stages: Pre-school through Teen
"Sampson, a paleontologist and host of PBS’s Dinosaur Train, sounds the clarion call for parents and other adults to help kids connect to nature before it’s too late. He cites research indicating that overscheduling and too much time spent indoors and in front of screens lead to obesity, stress, and other negative consequences for kids and, in general, for the planet’s sustainability. Nature, he claims, is good for the physical and emotional health of all humans, and children have suffered a “progressive alienation” from nature. [...] He offers practical tips (such as to visit local farms and go on hikes) along with 10 “secrets” for making nature an integral part of a child’s life." --Publisher's Weekly
Recommended by Kindful Kids Editors
Be The Change
Gather a group of kids in your neighborhood to go for a hike in the woods. Organize a group of teens to help out at a beach clean-up day or volunteer together at an environmental cleanup day. Clean up trash at a local park or take a bike ride along a trail. Show by your example that everyday is "Earth Day"!
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