5 Ways we Engage Our Child Outdoors

Wow, the last few weeks (months or years...depending on which breath I say this in) have flown by.

I'm currently plopped in a stool at the local coffee shop, enough coffee consumed to actually focus, Little Phil is having a play date with our San Diegan Mother, Big Phil is making sure I actually hit publish this time. Just a day in the life.

The adventures of our little fam bam just keep piling up...the photos in our dropbox are added to every day...and every day I keep putting off sharing.

Then I look at my little boy, who is practically a 16 year old trapped in a 3 year old body, and wonder why I haven't shared some of these many moments on here?! For my own sake more than anybody! Memories being made, memories being documented, memories being relived. So much easier when you get that second step actually happening'!

I thought about back tracking and filling this blog in with the past stories & adventures that have led up to this point, but then I get busy in the current ones - and then those are now old. Haha. It's a mad cycle.

Tonight I'm going to keep it simple & just feel like sharing a little glimpse into our most recent trip to Alberta Canada. We flew up there a day before we had a scheduled Socality meeting which allowed for us to head to the mountains for a wonderful day with our friends first thing. It really set the tone for the trip & was just simply stunning. We were so happy to be back in the pristine beauty of the Canadian mountains as a family. We ended up getting in three separate trips to the mountains within our 10 day visit! Glorious!!

Little Phil and Sydney are just about the cutest thing together...after some recent hit & miss experiences with his friendship abilities (kids confuse him apparently - the joys of being an only child who hangs out at coffee shops with their adult friends) we weren't sure how he'd do, but they were a match made in heaven and it made everything so much more enjoyable to not have to play referee by constantly reminding to share, use words etc.

For Phil & I being intentional is key as we look to instill a love for nature (or anything for that matter.) As parents we realize we are the best & most impactful examples our children can have. For our family we want our son to grow up with a healthy balance of respecting, appreciating & enjoying creation. There are so many excellent ideas & tips & tricks out there, but here is just a few simple things that we honestly DO on regular basis when we are out (really anywhere) with Little Phil. It's the little things my friends, it's the consistent little things.

5 Ways we Engage Our Child Outdoors

1. Pointing out the different colors and objects. Blue water, blue skies, green trees, green moss, white bench, white snow, etc.

2. Be vocal about what you (as an adult) are seeing AND feeling "This fresh air and beautiful lake make me feel so good!" We want our son to know that we are refreshed & excited to be in nature.

3. Ask questions. "What do you see?" "Can you show me the tallest mountain?" "Would you want to hike it?" "Which animals live over there?"

4. Allow for experiences by preparation & flexibility...(i.e. pack extra clothes/shoes...and pretty much extra everything). I love that he always wants to get in the water because who are we kidding...that was straight up me as a kid. There was like a magnet thing going on when it came to water.

5. Express how privileged, thankful & excited we are that we can enjoy God's creation - as well as "subtle" (read the signs posted out loud, talk to yourself while they're standing right there type of "subtle") reminding of our duty to obey signs, leave no trace & to take care to not disturb anything so as to keep this beauty in tact so that others can enjoy.

Alrighty folks, much love & hope you have a great Thursday!!

-Esther

Photos are a mix taken by myself, Philip, and Jonathan Zoeteman.