Nature as our classroom

Today’s children often have limited opportunity to connect with the natural environment.  Modern family life has altered in a dramatic way over the last two decades.  Children spend more time viewing television and playing video games on computers than they do being physically active outside. There are a whole host of reasons as to why this is, safety of our children is a major factor in this shift. Time, work/life balance and the ever increasing demands upon the modern family. Families are also eating more processed, high-calorie foods due to their busy schedules which can make a family sit-down meal a rare event. These changes have led to an epidemic of childhood obesity, which presents serious health threats for children including heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems. In the past decade, the benefits of connecting to nature have been well documented in numerous scientific research studies and publications.  Collectively, they show that children’s social, psychological, academic and physical health is positively impacted when they have daily contact with nature.

Inspired by the change in weather this week – that’s right folks – it’s England and we have some sunshine, it is even due to last until the weekend! So, a picnic, some biking, visits to the park and exploring the local woods are all on the agenda! I wish you all lots of vitamin D and the peace and joy that nature can bring you.

Be well

🙂

Reset yourself…

Artificial light allows us to work and play into the wee hours, interfering with the natural light-dark cycle that, over most of human history, began at sunrise and ended just after sunset. But there’s a price to be paid for this modern shifting of biological clocks: research shows that long term indulgence in these late sleep schedules leads to unwanted weight gain and obesity, mood problems, substance abuse, and, of course, morning sleepiness. Light and sleep are critical to good health.

Relaxation strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation and visual imagery have been shown to be extremely effective treatment components for reducing stress and anxiety. These proven techniques encourage mental and emotional health and provide tools for people who suffer from sleeping problems, anxiety and worries.

So, this weekend spend time lying in the soft grass, reset yourself with nature or camping or walking, spend time imagining you are sitting in a peaceful cave or are flying like a bird. These relaxations aim to develop confidence and creativity, I however, will be found travelling through Westeros in my reading corner once my little man is sound asleep…

Be well 🙂

My BEAUTIFUL Vango Airbeam…thing of beauty xxxx

Pushing my limits…

One week on and this still utterly freaks me out! Thank you to @AnimalManBham at the EdShow for encouraging some fear facing!!!

Leave that comfort zone a bit tomorrow friends 🙂

Tabula Rasa…

Tabula Rasa, a Latin term meaning blank slate

Suggesting that the mind begins as a blank slate. According to this notion, everything that we are and all of our knowledge is determined by our experience

I recently read and article written by Dr Kathryn Asbury, discussing her new book ‘G is for genes’ where the nature v nurture debate was explored. The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest issues in psychology. The debate centres on the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development. Some philosophers such as Plato and Descartes suggested that certain things are inborn, or that they simply occur naturally regardless of environmental influences.

As an educator I have seen the influences of both throughout my career, but would love to know what others feel on this matter…

Be well 🙂