From Dirt to Discovery: The Crucial Role of Outdoor Play for Kids - Aby Rinella
Are your kids spending too much time indoors?
Join Yvette Hampton and Aby Rinella as they dive into the importance of outdoor play for homeschool families. Discover how time in God's creation can benefit your children both academically and spiritually, and learn practical tips for making outdoor adventures a joyful part of your homeschool journey—even if “getting out” doesn’t come naturally!
What You'll Learn:
How outdoor play benefits kids’ academic and emotional development
Tips for making outdoor time part of your family’s regular routine
Ideas for creative and easy outdoor activities
Overcoming common fears and challenges for reluctant outdoor families
Biblical encouragement for experiencing God’s creation together
Recommended Resources:
What if some of your homeschool’s best lessons are waiting just outside your door?
The Importance of Outdoor Play: A Guide to Homeschooling in the Great Outdoors is a free printable resource designed to help homeschool families make outdoor learning and play a natural part of everyday family life.
A backyard can become a science lab. A neighborhood walk can spark questions and conversation. A local park can become a place to explore, observe, create, and simply enjoy God’s creation together.
This guide will help you discover how to:
Make nature part of your homeschool without adding another complicated curriculum
Turn everyday outdoor observations into opportunities for science, geography, art, reading, writing, and faith conversations
Encourage curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, healthy movement, and family connection
Plan meaningful outdoor adventures using places you can find close to home
Teach your children to care for and steward God’s creation
Make outdoor time a regular family rhythm
Keep your family safe while exploring outdoors
The guide also includes ready-to-use printable activities, including:
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Outdoor Observation Journal
Family Hiking Checklist
Outdoor Adventure Bucket List
Scripture-based reading, reflection, discussion, and writing activities
You don't need expensive equipment, an elaborate outdoor classroom, or a faraway destination for this adventure. Start with what you have and where you are.
Download this free guide and discover how the great outdoors can become one of your homeschool’s most memorable classrooms.
Created by Schoolhouse Rocked in partnership with Liberty HealthShare.
The guide emphasizes that outdoor learning can happen almost anywhere—from a backyard or neighborhood sidewalk to a park or local trail—and encourages families to let children's questions and curiosity guide their learning.
Healthy Homeschooling Series on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
Ginny Yurich - 1000 Hours Outside
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children ~ Angela J. Hanscom
Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters! ~ Rachel Macy Stafford
Picture Books
Miss Rumphius ~ Barbara Cooney
The Curious Garden ~ Peter Brown
The Gardener ~ Sarah Stewart
RoxaBoxen ~ Alice McLerran
Blueberries for Sal ~ Robert McCloskey
Make Way for Ducklings ~ Robert McCloskey
Chapter Books
The Swiss Family Robinson ~ Johann David Wyss
My Side of the Mountain ~ Jean Craighead George
Call of the Wild ~ Jack London
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain ~ Alice Dalgliesh
The Sign of the Beaver ~ Elizabeth George Speare
Hatchet ~ Gary Paulson
We want to hear from you!
Is there a guest you’d like to hear from or a subject you’d like us to discuss on the podcast? How can we be praying for you? Talk to us here.
Sponsors:
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
Holman Homeschool Guide - Develop your family’s academic and biblical education with trustworthy resources from the Holman Homeschool Guide! Excite kids to study God’s Word through fun and engaging kids Bibles, study tools, and companion products that bring the Bible to life. Equip teens to go deeper in Scripture to apply it to their lives and find resources to encourage parents’ faith.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network. Our mission is to support and encourage the family by providing the very best podcasts on family, discipleship, marriage, parenting, worldview, culture, and education, all from a Biblical perspective. Visit the website for more great shows, like Culture Proof, the Renton Rathbun Show,Thinking Dad, the Nicki Truesdell Podcast, Gospel Shaped Family, and Homeschool Insights.
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