outdoors – Paige is Parenting

1,000 hour outside: progress update

Since January 1st, we have been on a mission to get to at least 500 hours of outside time by the end of this year. Sitting here at the tail-end of July, I am happy that 500 hours was our goal rather than the full 1,000.

Walking to the farmers market and getting some fresh blueberries to snack on. 30 minutes earned!

We finally cracked 100 hours at the beginning of this month. My husband laughed when I told him that and he said, that’s it? But I was and am very proud of the 109 hours Jameson has gotten so far this year.

I know it might not seem like a lot compared to the grand 1,000 hours goal, but I know we aren’t nearly done yet. This goal has really changed the way I plan our days now and I truly feel like Jameson has been benefitting from the time spent outdoors.

Having our meals outside. Another way we’ve been getting some more fresh air in.

We had a rough start to the challenge with pretty brutal winter temps and a fairly rainy spring. I know that doesn’t deter some families from heading into the great outdoors, but I’m just not there yet. Especially because Jameson’s speech is still developing and he isn’t able to tell me when he’s too cold or uncomfortable yet.

I’m pretty confident we will meet our mini goal of 500 hours outside this year, and I’ll be happy for that. And I think next year could be the year we tackle getting 1,000 hours outside, as we are working on building a house in upstate New York on 3.5 acres. What better motivation to step outside than having the space to run around and play in the grass?

Also, this mama can’t wait to have a nice cup of coffee on our own front porch.

Playing our way to 1,000 hours outside

The weather is finally warming up here in Southern Connecticut and we are loving it!

To be honest, the beginning of 2022 hasn’t held a lot of outdoors time for us, with the temperatures falling so low. I know that some people don’t mind freezing temps, but I get too nervous to risk it, since my son can’t really speak yet.

One of our favorite places to go has been our local botanical garden. It’s been a great way to immerse ourselves in nature and gives Jameson plenty of opportunity to explore and climb.

Why use the steps when you can scale the rocks?

We’ve also had fun visiting our local nature center, which has an awesome outdoor playground.

The playground is built into the side of a tall hill, which makes it seem like a part of the landscape. It’s beautiful to look at and lots of fun for kids!

I’m going back and forth about actually committing to a membership to the nature center though. It’s fun, but we already have so many memberships to other places in the area. But maybe a few more trips will convince me!

We’ve also spent a lot of time at our local playground. Simple, fun and always a good time!

Is it warming up where you are, or are you lucky enough to live in a place with year-round warm weather?

A getaway for mom and dad

For the first time in the history of parenthood for D and I, we took a vacation without the baby last week. It was fun, relaxing, and of course a bit anxiety provoking, not being with the baby for seven days.

But I will say that I feel way more refreshed as a parent and as a partner.

COSTA RICAN ADVENTURE

We started the week in Playa Coyote in the Guanacaste Region. We visited on the tail-end of the (very) dry season, and so were blessed with some rainy nights that helped cool down the land.

We got to eat a ton of fresh, local seafood and relax at the beach.

For this leg of the trip we stayed at an Airbnb home. This allowed us to go food shopping among the locals and save money by preparing some of our meals ourselves. Okay, by D preparing the meals…he is the chef in the family. But I did pour us some coffee now and then! lol

One of the delicious breakfasts prepared by D on our vacation

UP IN THE CLOUDS

To end our trip, we drove up to the cloud forest in Monteverde. I figured that was just a cutesy name, having done absolutely zero research on this area before we arrived (we added it to our itinerary as a last-minute decision during our trip). Well, I was wrong! It turns out, we were up so high that there were driving through ACTUAL CLOUDS! It was amazing and an unforgettable sight.

We spent the last two nights of our trip at El Silencio, which is a beautiful resort located in these mountains and surrounded by nature that looks as if it came straight out of a postcard.

View from El Silencio restaurant’s outdoor seating

Our drive to the resort took us (literally) up in the clouds

We got to go rapelling down a small waterfall, ziplining over the jungle canopy, and hiking to local waterfalls.

This hike was insane, but the views were worth it

Oh, and a spa. And a hummingbird garden. And more delicious food.

Guys, it was seriously such an amazing time. I highly recommend a mom and dad solo vacation to care for your self and your relationship.

I will admit that our trip was not the cheapest getaway and might not be right for everyone’s budget. But I think that even a mini staycation could be just what the doctor ordered for any couples out there feeling burnt out.

The 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge

Have you heard about The 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge yet?

Created by mom of five, Ginny Yurich, the challenge is for families to spend 1,000 hours playing outdoors.

Our “Day 1” of the challenge was January 2nd, at a beachside trail

In Yurich’s podcast by the same name, she explains that the premise for 1,000 hours of outdoor play came from the statistic that, on average, children in the United States spend 1,200 hours a year in front of screens.

Yes, you read that right. 1,2oo hours of screen time!

For me, hearing that statistic was shocking. But it also made me feel like if we can manage that many hours with a tablet or tv, maybe 1,000 hours of outdoor play isn’t so impossible after all.

To make it even easier for families to keep track and stay motivated throughout the year, Yurich has an instagram account that she updates frequently, as well as tracking sheets on her website.

She even has an app by the same name! I’ve downloaded it and it’s pretty good for keeping me motivated so far. Although I will say that it does glitch out fairly often and kick me out of the app (but I’m sure it’s relatively new and so, I don’t mind it so much).

You can track time, photos taken, and little notes from your outside time in the 1,000 Hours Outside app.

To be honest, as a working mother of a toddler with a pretty strict weekday schedule, I’m not sure if my family will meet the 1,000 hours of outdoor play goal.

But I plan on trying to anyway. If we manage to reach even 500 hours of outdoor time this year, I’ll be overjoyed.

I think the best thing to do when it comes to goals like this is make a really good effort every week. Then give yourself some grace when life or the weather gets in the way.

What do you think about The 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge? And are you up for giving it a try with your family this year?

Until next time! -Paige