Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

Green Hour Connection: On the Go Tips!

Some days its not always easy to fit in some Green Hour fun. Juggling errands, appointments, naptimes, and mealtimes make for a hectic enough day as it is, without trying to throw in some unscheduled outdoor time, right?  Today’s Green Hour post is about how to green up even your busiest of days!  You might not have hours on end of free time at your disposal, but everyone has a few minutes here and there – and if you plan it right, that’s plenty enough to recreate and restore your spirit before tackling the next big project.  Here’s how to make your Green Hours count…

C checking out the stream on a greenway pit-stop after running errands

1.  On the Way – Figure out where the local green spots in your neighborhood are – its easy to include a 15 minute stop at the park in the morning when its already on the way to the grocery store, and choosing to take a messy snack outside in the backyard rather than in the kitchen will probably actually save you time!

Enjoying some raspberries outside on a gorgeous spring day

2.  Keep it Simple – Don’t make things too complex by trying too hard.  A child has an amazing ability to imagine, and the best way to cultivate that ability is to allow him or her to use it without restriction.  Remember that children (and adults) benefit from Green Hours the most when the time is “unstructured.”

There’s tons of fun to be had for boys (both big and little!) in wide, open spaces!

A pair of sunglasses is much more exciting than the latest toy craze!

3.  On the Cheap – While the old adage of “You get what you pay for,” may be applicable to technical outdoor equipment, when it comes to Green Hours, a better motto is “The best things in life are free.”  While an expensive kite that needs an instruction manual to put together is fun to fly on a windy spring day, its just as much fun (and WAY less complicated) to run around in the open field chasing butterflies!

Cragbaby’s “pouting b/c Mommy won’t let me eat dandelions” face…

What are some of your strategies to get some quick and dirty outdoor fun in your life when your on the go?

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14 Responses to “Green Hour Connection: On the Go Tips!”

  1. We have a great park system here in Edmonton, with miles and miles of trails through the river valley that runs all the way through the city. Whether I’m at home or at school, it’s just a short walk to the valley, where I can forget that I’m in the middle of a city and enjoy the outdoors for five minutes or five hours. I have to agree that the best things in life are free.

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  2. I find dandelion faces quite tasty!
    🙂

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  3. RT @EricaLineberry Todays @Greenhour post has Tips for Squeezing in Outdoor Fun! http://bit.ly/gnafOS #recessrevolution #playoutdoors

    Reply

  4. Beth Lineberry

    That dandelion face is quite similar to Papa Joes’,”let me check the restaurant bill” face. I love it!

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  5. RT @ericalineberry Today’s @GreenHour post has Tips for Squeezing in Outdoor Fun! http://bit.ly/gnafOS #nature #playoutdoors

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  6. aww cute pictures looks like you had a lot of fun!

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  7. Christie

    oh my, how precious. He is ecstatic for his green hour and I cant wait to see his self expression, even if it is pouty. What a joy he is.

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  8. RT @EricaLineberry: Todays @Greenhour post has Tips for Squeezing in Outdoor Fun! http://bit.ly/gnafOS #recessrevolution #playoutdoors

    Reply

  9. RT @EricaLineberry Todays @Greenhour post has Tips for Squeezing in Outdoor Fun! http://bit.ly/gnafOS #recessrevolution #playoutdoors

    Reply

  10. I love this! I have a 14-month old and we live in a condo, but he can find so much fun in a little patch of grass. It’s inspiring!

    Reply

  11. RT @GreenHour: RT @EricaLineberry Todays @Greenhour post has Tips for Squeezing in Outdoor Fun! http://bit.ly/gnafOS #recessrevolution #playoutdoors

    Reply

  12. From NR Ambassador Erica: How to squeeze more outdoor time into your child’s day! http://bit.ly/gnafOS #nature #treetuesday #playoutdoors

    Reply

  13. Tips from NR Ambassador Erica on how to squeeze more outdoor #nature time into your child’s day! http://bit.ly/gnafOS

    Reply

  14. Unstructured green hours > benefit RT @NatureRocks: tips on how to squeeze more outdoor #nature time into child’s day! http://t.co/UK85Aiq

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“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN