Nature & Technology Connections

Playing outside is so much more than physical activity. Some of the many benefits include fitness, vitamin D and sleep. Being in nature also enhances focus and attention, it improves problem solving, reduces stress, increases empathy, improves mood. The influence of nature is dramatic and pervasive for all of us. There was a study that said that hospital patients, who have views of greenery outside their windows have shorter stays and fewer complications. Reducing screen time, increasing time in nature has the potential to change lives. Listen to Jean Rystrom of the Screen Time Action Network introduce an amazing and FREE resource: The Children & Family Inspiration Guide. It’s got everything you need to encourage your kids to get offline and outside. Listen today!

Autumn McKay is a childhood educator, author and parent, she has navigated the challenges of screen time management with her own kids and faced the very familiar scenario of dealing with tech tantrums and the “10 more minutes” meltdowns. In short, she's one of us! She's in the trenches. In this episode we talk about steps to take in early child development to foster lifelong success. Listen today!

Michael Jacobus figured out how to get more magical summer camp days out of his life by combining his knowledge of digital wellness with his experiences as a camp director for over 40 years. In the summer of 2018, he started the world's first clinical summer camp program for teens and adolescents suffering from unhealthy screen time, social media use, and gaming addiction. Reset Summer Camp is a camp for digital detox and life skills. Michael’s book: UnHappy Campers is a great read and a fantastic resource for families who want to implement more structure around tech in their home. In this episode we discuss the book, the camp and the ReSet app Listen today!

Sarah Szuminski runs the wonderfully fun and helpful Instagram channel and website called Simplifying Play. She is a wife, mom of two, and an advocate of play for all children. Sarah is passionate about the power of play and helping parents discover their role in playful learning. She advocates “less for more” when it comes to toy management and organization. Keeping it simple will result in longer periods of independent play and deeper learning. Listen to this episode for tips on simplifying play, life, and enjoying the results.

Jesse Hildebrand is the VP of Education at Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants, an organization committed to bringing exploration, travel, and adventure into your home and classroom! With live opportunities to talk to astronauts, Arctic explorers, and more, Jesse is at the forefront of bridging offline experiences and online learning and it’s all FREE! Listen and learn more!

Sandi Schwartz is the founder and director of the Ecohappiness Project, author of the parenting book “Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer,” and journalist specializing in parenting, environmental, and wellness topics. Her mission is to inspire and educate families to build a nature habit to feel happier and calmer. In this episode, we discuss how to create a nature habit and support a healthy balance of screentime and greentime.

Temple Grandin has the distinction of being named one of Time Magazine's most 100 influential people as well as an author, educator, and inventor. Her life’s work of understanding her own autistic mind and sharing that with the world has led her to a uniquely qualified position in which to explore technology, autism, and behavior. In this episode we explore things all families can do, both on and offline, to provide educational, enriching experiences. Temple discusses personal experiences with video gaming, lessons from her childhood surrounding engagement with others, and shares a pandemic plumbing frustration.