The Little Farmhouse in West Virginia

There are so many things to do on a farm. You could head to the barn to play with the kittens or go fishing in the small pond. You could grab a jar to catch fireflies in or swing high on the porch swing. Childhood outdoor adventures are fun to experience and they are fun to read about. Come along on this childhood adventure and imagine spending a summer with your family at a little farmhouse in West Virginia.

When I reminisce on my childhood, what stands out the most are my memories in nature. I look back fondly on these simple moments, far from screens and often even far from toys. Emerging research continues to highlight the diverse benefits children attain when they are allowed ample time to play freely outdoors. As screens become more prevalent, it can be difficult to find time to play outside. Screens are not evil. They provide significant advantages in many facets of life. The danger of screen time for children is that each moment on a screen represents opportunities for real world experiences that are lost along the way. When screen use is fairly minimal, this does not cause any significant problems. We must, however, be aware that child development is thwarted when there is a large imbalance between virtual play and outdoor play. This book is an offshoot of the 1000 Hours Outside movement, a movement I created in 2013 that challenges parents to match outside time with screen time over the course of a calendar year. Some time back I asked a question to adults on social media about where their love for nature began. The responses were endearing and inspiring. This book is my response to that question.

Ginny Yurich is a Michigan homeschool mother of five and the founder of 1000 Hours Outside. She is a thought leader in the world of nature-based play and it's benefits for children. One of her top priorities is to inspire parents to invest in spending time in nature with their children. Her 1000 Hours Outside movement spans the globe and many people from all walks of life continue to look to her for inspiration as well as practical tips on how to put down the screens and get outside. Ginny is a former public school teacher with a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Michigan.