If you go down to the woods today ......

I have just returned from a dog walk in some local nearby woods. Every time I go I think I should do this more often because it makes me feel so much better. Alone with my thoughts, absorbing the beauty and simplicity of the light falling through the trees, the quietness and peacefulness recharge me.

The children love it there as well although it has been a while since we have been. I have resolved that one day after school I will pack a picnic and we will go and play in the woods. No doubt there will be some initial complaints but when we get there I am sure they will enjoy it as much as they usually do.

Sometimes we need to get past the initial grumbling and complaining. We have a National Trust property place near us and whenever we go we have comments of hatred and boredom. We have even received threats to ring Child Line when our oldest is particularly uncooperative. Then when we leave it’s: “I love it here do we have to go?”

Distraction free

Anyway, back to the woods, the fresh air will do us all good. There will be plenty of time to do all those pressing things later …. no one has too much homework, reading, spellings or anything else that could be thrown at me. It will give us a chance to play or talk without the distraction of the TV or even the radio which I like to have on in the kitchen.

I want my kids to grow up playing and enjoying outside and appreciating nature so when it’s their turn to make choices concerning the environment they will have a sound basis of how they loved it as children and will hopefully go on to love it as teenagers (well maybe) and as adults.

Nature provides a lot of inspiration for adults, and kids – as well as writers. But what about other inspirational ideas for our children? Check out these ideas from the site; our affirmation cards, as well as some inspirational thoughts from film too.

Do you spend outside time with your kids? How do you encourage them to play outside?

Photo Credit: lkunl / freedigitaphotos.net