19 minute read
FEATURE
NEW YEAR, NEW HABITS
Woodinville parent Maggie Homer spent three hours per day outdoors for 30 days with her two kids, Evie, 4, and Duke 1 1 / 2 . Welcome to 2020, the year when you finally become the perfect parent, eat right, save the world, and look fantastic doing it! Or not. The new year fills us with monumental expectations of our future selves. But rather than reinvent the wheel, let’s start small. Here’s how you can get outside and move more with your family while agonizing less about the outcome.
The 30-day outdoor challenge
We played outside for three hours every day for 30 days; here’s what happened
by MAGGIE HOMER / photo by JOSHUA HUSTON
The idea for the outdoor challenge emerged from
a place of desperation. It was fall, and I was anxiously anticipating the arrival of the rain and cold. Our children, ages 2 and 4, were fighting, agitated, and seemingly always frustrated. I felt stuck. Our family needed a new rhythm, a new focus.
Inspired by the philosophy of Angela Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook, a nature-centered program for children, I set a goal to get the kids and myself outdoors for at least three total hours every day for 30 days, and observe the results.
Fitting in the three hours daily wasn’t always easy. To make it work between school, extracurricular activities, nap times and play dates, I had to intentionally schedule outdoor time. On a typical day, we did one hour after breakfast, one hour after nap, and one hour after dinner.
The balancing act paid off. After 30 days, we felt a renewed sense of wonder in the world around us. There was a new sensory depth to our daily experiences that simply did not exist before. Instead of hearing sirens and honking horns, our ears tuned in to the birds twittering. Our eyes searched for pill bugs under rocks instead of watching television screens. Our feet wandered around muddy trails and grassy fields in place of flat concrete and carpet. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
< The 30-day outdoor challenge CONTINUED We now notice the tiny winter buds on the trees. We throw away stray pieces of trash. We move earthworms from the concrete to the dirt. We feel more connected to nature, to each other, and to our community because of the quality time we spend investing in each.
I plan to continue this journey through the Seattle winter, and invite you to join me. I find that even the simplest of plans improves the likelihood of success, so I prepared for winter with a few ideas that encourage outdoor exploration. It’s important to realize that each family rhythm is different, and I challenge you to play around until you find one that fits.
Unstructured outdoor play has benefits for every member of the family.
Communicate purpose
Quality time outdoors is one of our family values. We work to communicate this value to our children through our words and actions. Our words usually go something like this: “We’re going outside because outdoor play is important to our family. It helps us grow strong and healthy. Plus we get to spend time exploring with each other!” Our actions reflect our goal, because we go outside even with bad weather, complaints or a busy schedule. Nothing deters us from getting fresh air. Communicating our purpose allows our children to understand the change in our family rhythm, and it helps connect us to work together toward our family goal.
Fielding complaints
There are days our children don’t want to go outside, so we get creative. Maybe we race to see who can run around the outside of the house the fastest. Maybe I need help finding pine cones for table decorations.
And if all else fails, I set the timer for five minutes and promise that when it goes off, we’ll go inside. Each time we go outside, I add length to the time, until eventually they forget they’re waiting for a timer to go off. Breaking it down into smaller increments helps our children slowly acclimate to larger chunks of unstructured outdoor play. Our bedtime routine is no longer a battleground, but is now a welcome end to the day. The fighting has lessened, and I feel more calm, controlled, patient and healthy.
Bundle up
This year we invested in proper outdoor gear for the whole family. We set up a bin of handwarmers, readily available whenever someone’s fingers or toes start to get too cold.
On particularly chilly days, we play in our yard so we have the option to pop back in the house for a quick thaw. And at the end of the day, we cuddle up and read books with a strong nature presence. We love The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor, and The Mitten by Jan Brett.
Light the darkness
The long-awaited morning sun and the early afternoon darkness are barriers to getting outdoors. To combat this, each member of our family has a handheld flashlight, and we leave them by the front door as an open invitation to play under the dark sky. Together we strung up outdoor lights, and it adds magic to our yard. There is excitement in venturing out when it seems like the whole world is sleeping.
Winter wandering
We enjoy weekly winter tree-bud walks. The small intention of noticing tree buds focuses the children, and they observe more intently the changes in the trees as the season shifts. We slowly wander through the evergreen trees at Redmond’s Farrel-McWhirter Park that give our beautiful state its nickname. We breathe in the signature smell of the pine trees at Coal Creek Park in Bellevue; we even bite into evergreen needles. Whenever we go on these walks, we pack a warm thermos of hot chocolate to sip on as we explore St. Edward State Park on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, Kirkland’s O.O. Denny Park, our neighborhood, or wherever we end up.
Cook up warmth
Happiness to me is entering my front door to the smells of good food and the warmth of a crackling fire. Using whole foods and cooking homemade meals with your children brings nature into your kitchen, while also creating time for outdoor exploration while it cooks. This winter, we’re exploring Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple Food cookbook. Nothing reminds children that inside is warm like a long stretch of time spent outdoors in the cold. The hope of a warm meal and a glowing fire gets me through the coldest of days outside.
Join in
What would happen if we raised a generation of children who never experienced the beauty of sleeping beneath the stars, or digging deep down into the earth with their hands? Environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy reflects: “We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection with ourselves.”
Children need ample outdoor play experiences to understand who they are and what their place is in the world. They need a space to run free, climb, dig, and build without restriction. I challenge you to join me in a winter 30-day outdoor challenge and to observe what happens in your own family. I’d be thrilled to connect with you on Instagram @graciouslygrown. See you outside soon!
Required reading For more inspiration for your 30-day outdoor challenge, Maggie Homer recommends the following books on exploring nature with kids:
The Curious Nature Guide: Explore the Natural Wonders
All Around You by Clare Walker Leslie
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting
with Nature by Jon Young, Ellen Haas and Evan McGown
The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder through
the Seasons by Amanda Blake Soule and Stephen Soule
How to Raise a Wild Child
by Scott Sampson
Curious Kids Nature Guide: Explore the Amazing Outdoors of
the Pacific Northwest by Fiona Cohen
Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to
a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv
SHUTTERSTOCK Alyssa Royse says it’s not how you look, but how you feel.
Fitness feelings
by ALYSSA ROYSE / photo by JOSHUA HUSTON
Childhood is when we learn the habits and thought patterns that we will carry with us all our lives.
Yes, that means all the life skills and academics that we typically focus on, but it also means teaching our children how to care for, and about, their bodies. It means helping them develop fitness habits that bring them joy and keep them strong for life, without filling them with body-image baggage and injury.
As a mother and fitness coach, that last part can be really hard, especially this time of year. The new year tends to bring with it loads of media messages about what our bodies should look like. Those messages do more harm than good.
Let’s resolve to make some positive resolutions, and then find some fun ways to work fitness into the coming year. Give these a try: 1. No negative self-talk about our bodies. It can be hard to turn off the inner dialogue about needing to lose weight, or be better in some way, but try not to say any of that out loud.
2. Remind kids (and yourself) that every
single body is different. Some are tall, some are short. Our eyes, hair and skin come in all varieties. We are all different, it’s that simple. You can’t exercise yourself into being something that you’re not.
3. Help them focus on what bodies can do, not
what they look like. (Or as I like to say, “verbs not adjectives!”) “It’s so cool that you can jump like that!” “Look how fast you are!”
4. Work physical activity into your family
life. It can be hiking, dancing, biking, skiing, swimming… just normalize activity. Don’t even call it “exercise”; just make it a thing that you do together, as normal and essential as eating and sleeping.
With those basics established, how can we help our kids discover joy in fitness?
1. Expose them to as many things as possible, so that they can discover what makes them
happy. It could be circus, dance, CrossFit, capoeira, gymnastics or anything else. Let them pick their own activities so they feel like they’re in charge. I like the idea of always having one structured activity that they do, but they’re in control of picking what it is. Most kids will
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10 parentfriendly workouts in Seattle
Barre: Build your core, strength and grace. Onsite child care is available. Locations across Seattle. (503) 206-8396. barre3.com Belly dancing: This musical, low-impact workout is one of many offerings in this larger facility that includes a Kids Korner. 5301 Leary Ave. NW; (206) 789- 5010. olympicathleticclub.com BodyPump: A barbell class to strengthen your entire body with squats, presses, lifts and curls. 7751 63rd Ave. NE; (206) 452- 1500. macseattle.com
Bouldering: Climb together with a variety of bouldering routes, both kid and adult-friendly. 900 Poplar Pl. S.; (206) 299-2300. seattleboulderingproject.com Family yoga: Practice breath awareness, yoga postures, and creative play with parent and child. 7901 35th Ave. SW, 2nd floor; (206) 963-8973. limberyoga.com HIIT: High-intensity intervals pack a huge workout into a small amount of time while your child enjoys playcare. 6323 35th Ave. SW; (206) 935-2034. hiitlab.com Muay Thai: Thailand’s kickboxing sport, this aerobic workout is available to both beginners and advanced, with on-site child care. 11552 15th Ave. NE; (206) 789-2411. mkgseattle.com Parkour: Run alongside your little one or jump along your own path as you play in the park. 2101 N. Northlake Way; (206) 227-7192. kongacademy.org Swim lessons: Parents pair with children younger than 4 for songs, games, and water fun. Locations across Seattle. (206) 684-4075. seattle.gov/parks Stroller Strides: Total body conditioning; try strength training and cardio with kids in tow. Locations across Seattle. (866) FIT-4MOM. fit4mom.com
— Kate Hagan
Your guide to a kid-friendly city the go » seattleschild.com
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Guide to Active Indoor Fun
100% bounce around for a while until they find something that they like, which is great. Their body, their choice. There’s no reason to specialize. 2. Ask them how they feel. Sports are a great way for kids to learn how to identify and handle their own feelings. Ask them questions, rather than resorting to “I’m proud of you,” which is about you, not them. Questions like “What was the hardest part?” “What was your favorite part?” “What surprised you?” and “What did you learn?” offer your child a way to explore their feelings. They also offer you a way to connect with your kids and form communication patterns that you’ll really want when they’re older. Yes, sometimes it’s like trying to put socks on a rooster, but keep asking anyway. Even if they don’t answer you, they’re learning to expand the way they think about things beyond just “good and bad” or “win and lose.”
3. Unstructured physical activity is equally
important. Whether it’s playing on the playground, kicking a ball around with a friend or anything else, it’s important to keep your kids connected to physical activity without the rules and expectations of sports. As fun as organized sports are for some kids, it’s more important to instill a habit of general activity. Being active “for no reason” is often the best way to stay active for a lifetime. 4. Focus on fun. Especially when they’re young, it doesn’t matter if they’re learning concrete athletic skills, it just matters that they’re having fun. If you’re able, expose them to lots of things; let them figure out what they enjoy doing. Why? Because humans are fun-seekers; this is how you form the habit of fitness as a lifestyle. Besides, our bodies don’t care if we’re “winning,” our bodies just want to move. Our joints and muscles want to be stressed in order to stay strong and agile. Your lower back doesn’t care if you’re the best at anything; it just cares that you keep all your muscles strong to protect it as you age.
I think our society overthinks fitness. I think we’ve become obsessed with achievement and competition. Sometimes when I drive past a playground, and I see all the children running and jumping and swinging and throwing, I wonder when they’ll lose that. That’s so sad. At some point, almost every adult I work with has lost the ability to swing from the monkey bars, do a cartwheel, or run breathlessly in pursuit of nothing at all. More than that, they seem to have lost the unbridled joy that children have when they play.
That’s why when I think about fitness, I think about it as a lifelong daily habit that enables us to do everything we want to do in life, for as long as possible. No rules, no winners, no losers. Fitness is about two things: joy and longevity.
When you look at it that way, fitness is both a physical and a psychological foundation for a happy, healthy life. So as we’re making New Year’s resolutions, let’s resolve to reframe how we think about fitness with our families.
Alyssa Royse and her husband own Rocket CrossFit in South Seattle. She spends most of her time consulting on the intersection of fitness and inclusivity.
1
Jan. 5
A Messy Winter Afternoon
Make seed feeders and pamper your furry and feathered friends. Spend the afternoon at the Kent Library, get your hands sticky with glue and bird seed while you create fun winter crafts.
2
Jan. 18
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Based on the timeless C.S. Lewis tale and brought to life on stage by Redmond’s SecondStory Repertory, four siblings go on an exciting adventure through a wardrobe to the magical land of Narnia.
3
Jan. 20
MLK Youth March
Join a youth-led march from Garfield High School and help create tangible change in the community. The theme is “What is Your 20/20 Vision?” Events include an opportunity fair, workshops, and pre-march rally.
4
Feb. 1
GroundFrog Day
Head north to Snohomish where “Frognosticator” Snohomish Slew will predict if we’re in for spring weather or six more weeks of winter. Then stick around and enjoy other fun activities.
5
Feb. 20-23
Wintergrass
This annual bluegrass music festival in Bellevue features four days of toetappin’ concerts, dances, jams and workshops for adults and kids. Free for ages 11 and younger.
„ For our mobile-friendly, totally searchable, frequently updated calendar go to seattleschild.com »Calendar
What’s happening around town
Jan/ Feb 2020
by LEAH WINTERS
Wednesday, January 1 New Year’s Day
SEATTLE AREA Free State Parks. Start the year off with a free hike through a beautiful state park. FREE. Parks throughout Washington. www.parks.state.wa.us Happy “Noon” Year Party. Ring in the “Noon Year” with a unique ball drop and learn about holiday traditions around the world at this musical celebration. 11 am to noon. FREE. Kent Library. www.kcls.org Polar Bear Plunge. Start the New Year off by jumping into Lake Washington and enjoying games, a photo booth, music and entertainment. Warm refreshments provided. Noon. FREE. Matthews Beach Park, Seattle (Sand Point). www.seattle.gov/parks
Resolution Run and Polar Bear
Dive. 5K run/walk, kids’ dash (ages 10 and younger, FREE), optional Polar Bear Dive includes a dip in Lake Washington. 9 am registration, 10:30 am run/walk, 11:30 am kids’ dash. $$$. Magnuson Park, Seattle (Sand Point). www.clubnorthwest.org/resolution-run Winter Fishtival. Hands-on activities, special talks and opportunities to learn more about the aquarium’s fish, birds, tidepool animals and marine mammals. Each day highlights different animals and activities. 9:30 am to 5 pm through Jan. 5. Included with admission. $$ to
$$$, free ages 3 and younger. Seattle Aquarium, Downtown Seattle. www.seattleaquarium.org Snowzone at PacSci. Visit a magical light installation by Lusio Lights with falling snow and twinkling lights. And watch out for the Abominable Snowman! Snowball fights three times a day (11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm). 10 am to 5 pm through Jan. 5. $$-$$$ (ages 2 and younger free). Pacific Science Center, Seattle. www.pacificsciencecenter.org
Northwest Folklife presents Movin’ Around the World: Winter at Seattle Center Armory.
EASTSIDE Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink. Glide around the region’s largest open-air holiday ice skating experience. 10 am to 11 pm today; various times through Jan. 20. $$. Bellevue Downtown Park. www.bellevueicerink.com Polar Bear Plunge. Greet the New Year with a dip into the refreshing, but cold, lake. 1 pm. FREE. Marina Park, Kirkland. www.chumpchange.org/ polar-bear-plunge
SOUTH SOUND Polar Bear Cub Plunge. Cub Plunge (ages 9 and younger) at 11:30 am, adult and family plunge at noon. Life jackets available and lifeguards will be on duty. Heaters and hot drinks available afterward. $. Point Defiance Boat Launch, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org Polar Bear Plunge. Hot cocoa, coffee, a fire and music at noon, then jump into chilly Long Lake at 1 pm. FREE. Long Lake Park, Lacey. www.ci.lacey.wa.us
Thursday, January 2
SEATTLE AREA
FREE Museum Visits on First
Thursdays. Explore a new exhibit or enjoy a favorite gallery. Participating museums around Seattle have free admission today. Various times and locations; check museum websites. FREE. www.freemuseumday.org Pop-Up Burke Museum. Get an up-close look at artifacts from the Burke Museum, and experience hands-on displays. Today’s theme is Insects. 1 to 3 pm. FREE. South Park Branch Library, Seattle. www.spl.org
Friday, January 3
SEATTLE AREA
Legally Blonde The Musical, Jr.
Young actors with the Hi-Liners present a tale of self-empowerment and humor, based on the hit film. 7 pm tonight; various times through Jan. 12. $$. The Burien Annex, Burien. www.hi-liners.org
Small Frye: Storytelling + Art.
Preschoolers and their caregivers can enjoy dramatic storytelling by Seattle Children’s Theatre in the galleries, followed by art-making. 10:30 to 11:45 am on first Fridays. FREE. Frye Art Museum, Seattle (First Hill). www.fryemuseum.org
EASTSIDE
FREE Bellevue Arts Museum.
Admission is waived on the first Friday of each month. 11 am to 8 pm. FREE. Downtown Bellevue. www.bellevuearts.org
Saturday, January 4
SEATTLE AREA Jack and the Beanstalk. The Fremont Players present their unique take on this classic tale in a panto play for all ages. 4 and 7:30 pm today, 1 and 4 pm Sun. $ to $$. Hale’s Palladium, Seattle (Fremont). www.fremontplayers.com
Merry It Is! Family Concert.
Discover instruments and songs of the 13th-15th centuries in this family-friendly discovery concert. 1:30 to 2:30 pm. $$. Good Shepherd Chapel (Wallingford), Seattle. www. historicalarts.org
EASTSIDE Ranger-Led Hike. Explore the natural and cultural history of Lewis Creek Park. Look for signs of wildlife and learn what to do when encountering animals in the wild. 10:30 am. FREE. Lewis Creek Park, Bellevue. www.parks.bellevuewa.gov
SOUTH SOUND
Family Nature Walk: Winter Won
derland. Take a naturalist-led walk through the parks while learning about plants and animals and how they adapt to the winter. 10 am. FREE. Swan Creek Park, Tacoma. www.metroparkstacoma.org
NORTH SOUND
Worst Day of the Year Run.
Costumes encouraged at this fun run that isn’t likely to have great weather. 9 am registration, 10 am 10K, 10:15 am 5K. $$ to $$$. Space is limited, pre-register. McMenamins Anderson School, Bothell. www.worstdayrun.com
FARTHER AFIELD Mochi Tsuki Festival. Try your hand at the traditional art of making mochi by pounding sticky rice into a sweet treat. 11 am to 3 pm. FREE. Woodward Middle School, Bainbridge Island. www.bijacevents.org Eagle Festival. Learn all about eagles, plus watch a raptor show ($) or take a wildlife hayride (free). FREE; small fee for some activities. Various times and locations in Concrete, eastern Skagit County. www.concrete-wa.com/ skagit-eagle-festival/
Sunday, January 5
SEATTLE AREA A Messy Winter Afternoon. Get your hands sticky and covered with glue and bird seed as you make winter crafts at the library. 2 to 4 pm. FREE. Kent Library. www.kcls.org
EASTSIDE Family-Friendly Ranger Hike. Join a park ranger on a guided hike and learn about the birds and animals that call the park home. Pre-register. 2 to 3:30 pm. FREE. Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, Bellevue. www.bellevuewa.gov
Juanita Bay Park Interpretative
Tour. Take a guided hike through wetlands filled with birds, amphibians, turtles and beavers. Bring binoculars. Ages 6 and older. 1 to 2 pm. FREE. Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland. www.eastsideaudubon.org
Wednesday, January 8
EASTSIDE
BIG KID Student Wednesdays at BAM. Explore the Bellevue
PICK Arts Museum after school on the second Wednesday of every month. 11 am to 6 pm. FREE for students with downloadable coupon. www.bellevuearts.org/visit
NORTH SOUND Reading with Rover. Build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog.
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T H E W O R K S H O P S E R I E S 1
C A M P S & C L A S S E S
