It’s summertime, and that usually means more time outdoors. But in today’s world, it seems that “outdoor time” has come to mean “playground time.” I remember reading Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, and being reminded that there is a difference between “outdoor time with nature” and “outdoor time with slides and swings.”
In his book, Louv helped us understand the important benefits of outdoor play in nature. He also wrote about what happens when children don’t have that kind of free time to explore, discover and just “hang out” in natural surroundings. He coined the term “nature-deficit disorder,” and he believes that it’s responsible for obesity, attention disorders and depression. His perspective has helped many of us in early childhood look for ways to encourage nature-based outdoor time.
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is the toll of sharing in the emotions and concerns of the people that you care for. Compassion fatigue is more than burnout or weariness.
Educators and caregivers who look to Fred Rogers for inspiration often ask the
question, "how would Fred Rogers respond to today's landscape of social media and
personal devices?" Fred Rogers was certainly a pioneer in using technology ...
Prompt conversations between children and caregivers with questions on topics such as kindness and movement. Keywords: icebreaker, self-reflection prompt
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