My name is Tom Smallwood and here you will find my posts and those of guests, on the positive effects of time spent outdoors.
When do you give your children the time to speak, the time to formulate a thought or give an answer with the time to get it wrong and start again? No clocks, no homework, no digital distractions, no rushing.
When, as a matter of fact, do you spend 2 hours talking to your children? I mean, no distractions, just you chit-chatting about this and that, without telling them what to do.
Read More“Can you keep it down a bit please? We can’t make as much noise as we want.”
“No, we have to wait a bit before pitching the tent.”
“Sorry, we can’t invite all your friends.”
“No, we can’t light a campfire this time.”
These are all things I have said to my seven year old and all have solicited the all too familiar reply of “Why?"
Read MoreThis microadventure gave Emma the chance to truly sleep under the stars for the first time. Last time we were out she was in the tent with her friend whilst I slept outside and having seen me just lying under a sleeping bag in the grass she absolutely loved the idea of doing away with the tent.
Read MoreI have just been writing an article for a magazine about how to travel a little more adventurously, with young children and, at the risk of sounding like Carrie Bradshaw, it got me thinking...
How did I manage to get my own daughter to enjoy spending time in the outdoors?
Emma is six now and she is pretty adept with an ipad, she loves reading, colouring, cartoons, dressing up, and o of course "anything from Smiggle". Sound familiar?
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