The Importance of Outdoor Play - Aby Rinella (Best of 2019)

"Outdoor play is a child's natural inclination and is crucial for their physical and mental health." ~ Aby Rinella

Watch this full interview on our YouTube Channel.

In this "best of" episode from 2019, Aby Rinella was back for her second episode ever! Aby and Yvette Hampton, discuss how we were created to be in the garden, and the importance of getting our kids, and ourselves, OUTSIDE! There are SO many benefits to the great outdoors, including dirt, sun, exercise, and especially, pointing our kids to their Creator through His creation! 

Aby's first episode on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast was "the Why of Homeschooling". Don't miss this episode if you haven't already heard it. It is excellent! She and Karen DeBeus also recorded a special 1-hour roundtable, "The Who, Why, and How of Homeschooling", which you can listen to here.

📚 Topics Covered:

- Benefits of outdoor play

- The decline of outdoor play and its impact

- Engaging children in less extreme outdoor activities

- Connecting outdoor play with biblical principles

- Addressing fears of outdoor activities

- Practical tips for incorporating nature

- Physical and mental benefits of outdoor play

- Practical ways to integrate nature into daily life

- Summer break opportunities for homeschooling families

Come back tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday for another "best of" conversation with Dr. Josh Mulvihill.

Has the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast been a blessing to you? Support from our listeners allows us provide resources, support, and encouragement to homeschooling families around the world. Would you please consider a year-end gift to support the Schoolhouse Rocked ministry?

Recommended Resources:

Podcast Note-Taking Guide

Strings Attached: The True Cost of School Choice (Special Feature)

Ginny Yurich - 1000 Hours Outside

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children  ~ Angela J. Hanscom

Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!  ~ Rachel Macy Stafford

Picture Books

Miss Rumphius ~ Barbara Cooney

The Curious Garden ~ Peter Brown

The Gardener ~ Sarah Stewart

RoxaBoxen ~ Alice McLerran

Blueberries for Sal ~ Robert McCloskey

Make Way for Ducklings ~ Robert McCloskey

Chapter Books

The Swiss Family Robinson ~ Johann David Wyss

My Side of the Mountain ~ Jean Craighead George

Call of the Wild ~ Jack London

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain ~ Alice Dalgliesh

The Sign of the Beaver ~ Elizabeth George Speare

Hatchet ~ Gary Paulson

 

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Discussion Questions:

1. **Reflection on Outdoor Play**: Aby Rinella emphasizes the natural inclination of children to play outdoors. How do you observe this natural tendency manifesting in your own children or childhood experiences?

2. **Screen Time vs. Outdoor Time**: Both Aby and Yvette highlight the decline in unstructured outdoor play due to the rise in screen time. What are some strategies you've found effective in balancing screen time with outdoor activities in your family?

3. **Facing Fears**: Yvette Hampton brings up common fears associated with outdoor play, such as ticks and sunburn. How do you manage and mitigate these concerns in your household to encourage outdoor activities?

4. **Creative Outdoor Activities**: Aby suggests non-traditional outdoor activities like painting or visiting a garden center. What unique outdoor activities have you tried or would like to try with your children?

5. **Homeschooling and Outdoor Play**: How does your homeschooling routine incorporate outdoor play, and what benefits have you observed from this?

6. **Encouragement for Teens**: Aby speaks about the importance of outdoor activities for teenagers. What are some effective ways to encourage teenagers, who may be initially resistant, to spend more time outside?

7. **Biblical Connections**: The episode links outdoor play to biblical principles and the opportunity for children to connect with God through nature. How have you seen nature play a role in your family's spiritual development?

8. **Mental and Physical Benefits**: The episode discusses the physical and mental health benefits of outdoor play, such as walking on uneven ground for mental equilibrium. What specific benefits have you observed in your children?

9. **Parental Influence**: Aby and Yvette emphasize the role of parents in fostering a love for outdoor play. How do you model and communicate the importance of outdoor activities to your children?

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