2622: Why Getting Outside, and Doing New Things, Makes Your Kids Happy by Jay and Heather Harrington of Life And Whim

[00:00:01] Wenn jemand Charles und Melanie gesagt hätte, dass sie nach ihrem Tinder-Match gemeinsam einen Channel mit crazy Aufgaben starten, also wirklich crazy, fünf Tage auf einer einsamen Insel verbringen, eine Zipline an einem Gurt runterrasen, eine Million Views knacken, eine Wand mit Saugnöpfen hochklettern und falsch hier im Springen in Ägypten? Das hätten die beiden niemals geglaubt. Aber das ist das Ding mit Tinder. Es führt dich an Orte, die du nie erwartet hättest. Wohin es dich aufführt. It starts with a swipe. Tinder.

[00:00:30] Hey Spotify, it's Dampson Idris here to celebrate Tommy Hilfiger's Apex GP Collection. Angetrieben vom Nervenkitzel der Geschwindigkeit und der Kraft des außergewöhnlichen Styles vereint die Capture Collection von Tommy Hilfiger performance-orientiertes Design mit grenzenlosem Selbstbewusstsein. Das ist mehr als neuen Look. Es ist die Uniform für alle, die ihre Träume verwirklichen wollen. Discover Tommy Hilfiger's limited edition Apex GP Collection. Inspired by F1 The Movie. Only in cinemas, June 25th.

[00:01:00] This is Optimal Relationships Daily. Why Getting Outside and Doing New Things Makes Your Kids Happy. By Jay and Heather Harrington of LifeAndWim.com When you live in northern Michigan, like we do, there is a strong sense of urgency when summer arrives. The season is short, so we try to pack in as much sun and fun as we can while we can.

[00:01:25] Judging by the throngs of people at the beach, on the trails, outriding bikes, and on boats in the region, we're not the only ones who have stepped away a bit from our offices and keyboards to soak in what summer has to offer. One of the most satisfying, and exhausting, aspects of all this summer fun has been watching our kids frolic in the great outdoors. They're wearing us out. But we wouldn't trade these days for anything,

[00:01:50] because we know that they are forming the most important moments that will matter over the course of our life together. Kids crave experiences over things, too. You've probably heard about the research that shows that adults derive more happiness from spending their money on experiences than they do on things. Unlike material possessions that are satisfying at first but quickly lose their luster, experiences get better over time.

[00:02:17] Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, conducted a study in which he asked people to report their happiness with major material or experiential purchases. Initially, people rated them about the same. Over time, however, their satisfaction with material objects decreased, while their satisfaction with experiences increased. Gilovich explains that our experiences become a much bigger part of our identities than our possessions. Quote,

[00:02:46] You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things. But nonetheless, they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are a part of you. We are the sum total of our experiences. End quote. It turns out that the same inclination toward experiences over things holds true for kids. According to a recent study conducted by Professor Cindy Chan from the University of Toronto,

[00:03:16] kids get much more out of an experience than they do from all of that stuff lining the toy store shelves that they clamor for, but quickly lose interest in. Research shows that memories born out of experiences form emotional anchors that give kids comfort during tough times, they promote brain development, and they help forge close bonds between family members. This research really resonates with us. There is no doubt that our kids are more content and get along better with each other,

[00:03:43] and with us, when they are experiencing new things, rather than playing with toys or watching TV at home. And it's not the size of the experience that matters. They seem to be as happy at a local beach as they are on a spring break trip to a new destination. In our experience, the biggest factor in planning an activity that we can all enjoy is making sure that it takes place outside. The desire for an outdoor lifestyle is what led us to move to Traverse City in the first place.

[00:04:12] We wanted to provide our three young girls with an upbringing that involved as much adventurous time spent in nature as possible. Over time, we've grown from a family that considered a trip to a local park and adventure to one that hikes and camps, fishes, and skis together. Three simple ways to create more outdoor experiences together as a family. Spending more time outside as a family is great, but it's not always easy. With all the alternatives available to them,

[00:04:41] kids often resist the idea of a boring afternoon exploring with their parents and siblings. And it's not always easy for parents to find the motivation or energy to pull things together for a family outing on the weekend. Here are a few ideas to help plan more fun, active time outside. Number one, schedule it. Time is precious, and feeling the pressure of trying to plan something fun and adventurous while time slips away on a Saturday morning is not a good way to start the weekend.

[00:05:10] Just as you plan your shopping list, spend 30 minutes during the week mapping out your outdoor family activities. That way, you can have a planned agenda, bags packed, and driving directions set in advance so you and your family can get out the door and off to your adventure free of stress and full of anticipation. Number two, create something together. Some of the most rewarding time outside is spent building things with kids.

[00:05:37] For example, our girls look forward to planting a vegetable garden every spring, which pays outdoor dividends all summer, as they feel responsibility to tend to the garden as well. We've also built sit spots with our kids, which are special places in the yard for them alone, and we love building fairy houses in the wooded trails near our house. Creating something doesn't require a table saw, ladder, and carpentry skills. It just means working with your kids on something simple outside that your kids care about

[00:06:07] and consequently will care for. Number three, schedule your own time. If you're motivated to raise kids that love the outdoors, you probably love the outdoors yourself. It's important, therefore, to schedule your own time for outdoor recreation. It's obviously more difficult to find that time once you have kids, but it's necessary in order to stay motivated while nurturing your family's love of nature. Plus, it's good for kids to see their parents hurtling down the trail on a mountain.

[00:06:37] Or cruising across the bay on a paddleboard. You just listened to the post titled Why Getting Outside and Doing New Things Makes Your Kids Happy by Jay and Heather Harrington of lifeandwim.com Hey Sandra, wir haben uns ja lange nicht mehr gesehen. Grüß dich, Nadine. Mensch, du siehst ja toll aus. Ja, danke. Ich hab mein Plus bis gesündere Ich entdeckt. Was?

[00:07:06] Komm, ich zeig's dir. Die Bewegungskurse der AOK Plus. Kostenfrei für AOK Plus Versicherte. Entdecke dein Plus fürs gesündere Ich und starte mit unserem Selfcheck. Ganz einfach online auf aok.de. Aus Liebe zur Gesundheit. AOK Plus. Lass die Party starten. Mit der JBL Flip 7. Mit dem AI Soundboost holst du noch mehr Power aus deinen Tracks, wenn du so richtig aufdrehen willst.

[00:07:38] Mit AuraCast vernetzt ihr eure Speaker und macht gemeinsam richtig Stimmung. Bis zu 16 Stunden Akkulaufzeit und die Party nimmt kein Ende. JBL Flip 7. Made to be heard. So what I loved about this article is I think what some people may dislike actually. And that is the idea of putting pure spontaneity to the side. And we talked a lot today about being very deliberate when it comes to fun.

[00:08:07] And many of us see fun as anything but that. They see fun as no thinking, no planning. And while there is certainly space for that, it's also true that the more we plan fun, or anything really, the more we're able to make the most of these opportunities, as well as holding ourselves accountable to make them happen, rather than saying something like, you know, oh, work ended up getting in the way. I couldn't do it. Not to mention that this approach gives you and your children an opportunity

[00:08:36] to think in advance about what would be the most fun. So everyone has input and everyone has a chance to think in advance about how to extract the most from the experience. All good things. And now, folks, the time has come, unfortunately. So I hope you enjoyed this one. And I hope you will come back with me tomorrow, where I will have another post for you. That's where your optimal life awaits.