Balancing screen time and green time

Finding it hard to get your children off their gadgets and going outside to play?

Maybe it’s time to take the “If you can’t beat em, join em!” approach which is what the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) seems to be taking.

A constant challenge for parents to balance the role of technology in their kids lives with the simple pleasures and enormous benefits of outdoor play, an NWF report explores the positive benefits of technology and outdoor exploration. The report doesn't try to scare parents about how much time their kids are spending with technology. Instead, the authors offer ways that kids' media habits can both positively and negatively impact health, learning and social development.

So how do parents use technology to get kids moving, exploring and interacting with the outdoor world around them?

Here are some of their tips:

- Use technology to help plan or inspire your next outdoor adventure.

For example if you are going somewhere outdoor, you can work with the children to come up with more information about the place/outdoor activities to do, so that the experience becomes a lot more meaningful and increases their excitement and curiosity.

- Keep a record of outdoor experiences with the help of electronic photos, videos or an electronic journal of adventures

- A technology themed adventure can provide an equal balance between technology and nature.

Such as the app Ubooly ( www.ubooly.com/rangerrick ) lets kids turn a walk in the park into an interactive experience with scavenger hunts, nature hikes and mindfulness games.

- Use technology to learn and play outdoors - let kids use their gadget's camera to try to capture the most amazing nature shot. Or let them surf the Web to look up the tree or bird that they saw in the park.

Bottom line: Technology is here to stay, so why not embrace it and utilize it as a tool to help your children fall in love with nature?

So take some time out, unplug, disconnect and get your kids to connect with the outdoors, not shutting them off from their virtual world but rather helping them find that balance between their virtual and real world.

So Let's Pledge to Be out there! 
Watch the NWF video below -

References:

http://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/recreation/how-to-get-kids-and-their-gadgets-outdoors/article_5bdd69fa-8fc3-5fd7-af96-39067c336cc7.html

http://www.nwf.org/Be-Out-There/Why-Be-Out-There/Balancing-Technology.aspx

Adventures of Raghu - the trek with Uncle Seher (Part 1)

“Wow!” shrieked Raghu as the low lying hills of the Himalayan range started giving way to the upper snow covered ranges. Raghu sat staring outside the window of the car as though lightening had struck him.

It was his first time ever in the Himalayas. His mouth wide open, Uncle Seher looked at the astounded Raghu and smiled. “So boy, welcome to the mighty Himalayas. Nowhere in the world would you have seen such majestic ranges. We’re now moving towards the Kullu district in Himachal where we’ll trek to Jalori pass and Sarolsar lake.” Leela barked in approval while Raghu’s eyes remained glued to the view outside.

It was the second week of May and Raghu was on his way to Jalori pass and Sarolsar Lake with Uncle Seher and his dog Leela, in the Himalayas as had been planned. (9th April 2014, Adventures of Raghu - Camping with Uncle Seher)

Raghu didn’t speak much until Uncle Seher stopped the car and prompted everyone to pick up their bags and move out of the car. “We’ll begin our trek on foot from here. There’s a small guest house just up the hill there Raghu. You have two hours to take a short rest, get ready, eat something and then we’re off.” Raghu stepped out of the car with his bag, took a deep breath as though trying to take in as much oxygen as his lungs would allow and began running, calling Leela to follow him. Leela was jumping in excitement as Raghu was dodging her. “You both need some rest now, you can play later!” called out Uncle Seher as he went to check into the guest house.

Two hours later Raghu was standing at the steps of the guest house with his rucksack. Uncle Seher had a much bigger rucksack as he was also carrying the tent. Leela had a small waist pack tied around her waist with dog biscuits. “Water bottle, food supplies, sweater, extra pair of socks and unders, sleeping bag, ropes? All set?” asked Uncle Seher. Raghu responded as he put his feet together in attention position and hand to his forehead “Yes Sir!” “Lovely, then let’s begin!!!” called back Uncle Seher.

So they set off for trekking towards Jalori pass.

Sarolsar lake was further about a 2 hour walk from there where they would spend the night camping. They passed steep mountains with narrow snow covered paths. Leela trudged along carefully as Raghu followed. There were snow covered peaks, cattle grazing on the sides, all varieties of flowers growing on the ground. They took their time to view the beauty around, had fun sliding down snow covered mountains as they walked along.

After a trek of 5 hours, around 4pm they reached the magical Sarolsar lake.

The water was crystal clear and the bright blue sky above was reflecting itself in the lake later. Raghu and Leela started running around to investigate the place and touch the lake water. Uncle Seher in the mean time started looking for an appropriate place to put up the tent. “Raghu get the pins to tie the tent ropes to.  Let’s also start collecting wooden sticks to make a campfire.” They got down to work and had a fire rolling by about 6pm. As darkness started setting in, Raghu put out his sleeping bag and lay down on it with Leela at his feet to view the night sky. Slowly millions of stars became visible in the sky above. “Could heaven really be anywhere else but here Leela?” said Raghu softly.